High School Cage Draft Killed by NBA

April 23, 1958

Detroit -- The Board of Governors of the National Basketball Association yesterday eliminated the controversial high school draft.

Meeting just before the NBA player draft got under way the board decided that after the current draft no team will be able to draft any high school basketball player.

Several years ago, the Philadelphia Warriors were awarded territorial rights to Wilt (The Stilt) Chamberlain, before the sensational scorer entered college. Under regulations adopted today, the Warriors retain territorial rights to Chamberlain but must exercise those rights in the first round of next year's draft. Chamberlain now a star at Kansas, will graduate next year.

In the case of Jerry Lucas, a high school sensation from Middletown, Ohio, the Cincinnati Royals applied earlier this year for territorial rights to Lucas. The NBA decided today that those rights will be granted unless Lucas attends college in another team's territory. Lucas reportedly is headed for the University of Cincinnati.

Source: Associated Press,