University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Numbers Game: The Impressive Production of Hall of Famers Larry Harris & Jerome Lane
9/30/2022 8:55:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt Basketball legends Larry Harris and Jerome Lane are being inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Friday evening at Acrisure Stadium in recognition of their storied careers on the hardwood. Harris, an elite scoring forward from 1975-78, and Lane, a prolific power forward from 1986-88, remain among Pitt's all-time leaders in several categories after filling up the box scores throughout their careers.
Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove remembers the careers of both Panther greats fondly and provided his insights on the tandem.
"Larry was a clutch shooter who wanted the ball in big moments," said Hillgrove. "He didn't have the picture-perfect jump shot, but boy did it work for him, especially in the clutch. I will never forget UMass Athletic Director Frank McInerney stopped the game when Larry broke the Pitt scoring record to present him with the game ball."
While Harris clearly had the clutch gene, Hillgrove also identifies Lane as one of the three most talented players to don the Pitt jersey. His lasting legacy was further solidified by the tomahawk dunk against Providence that shattered a backboard at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House, delaying a national ESPN telecast for more than 30 minutes. Legendary analyst Bill Raftery punctuated the moment with his unforgettable call of "Send it in, Jerome!"
"Jerome was talented beyond belief," said Hillgrove. "He had a great knack for rebounding the basketball, but also possessed an uncanny ability to pass the basketball, especially for someone who was such a great rebounder."
With two more pioneers of Pitt Basketball taking their place in the Hall of Fame, it is the ideal time to look back at their storied careers and the numbers that set them apart from their peers.
Larry Harris – 6-6 – 205 – Forward – Lorain, Ohio (Clearview)
Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove remembers the careers of both Panther greats fondly and provided his insights on the tandem.
"Larry was a clutch shooter who wanted the ball in big moments," said Hillgrove. "He didn't have the picture-perfect jump shot, but boy did it work for him, especially in the clutch. I will never forget UMass Athletic Director Frank McInerney stopped the game when Larry broke the Pitt scoring record to present him with the game ball."
While Harris clearly had the clutch gene, Hillgrove also identifies Lane as one of the three most talented players to don the Pitt jersey. His lasting legacy was further solidified by the tomahawk dunk against Providence that shattered a backboard at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House, delaying a national ESPN telecast for more than 30 minutes. Legendary analyst Bill Raftery punctuated the moment with his unforgettable call of "Send it in, Jerome!"
"Jerome was talented beyond belief," said Hillgrove. "He had a great knack for rebounding the basketball, but also possessed an uncanny ability to pass the basketball, especially for someone who was such a great rebounder."
With two more pioneers of Pitt Basketball taking their place in the Hall of Fame, it is the ideal time to look back at their storied careers and the numbers that set them apart from their peers.
Larry Harris – 6-6 – 205 – Forward – Lorain, Ohio (Clearview)
- Two-time All-Eastern 8 selection
- 1,914 career points, third all-time at Pitt
- One of three Pitt players (joining Don Hennon and Billy Knight) to average 20 or more points per game in three different seasons
- Led the Eastern 8 in scoring at 22.9 points per game in 1977
- 17.9 ppg. career scoring average is fourth all-time
- Recorded two of the top six single-season scoring averages at Pitt
- Recorded a program record 81 consecutive double-figure scoring games (3/8/75-3/3/78)
- Scored 30 or more points 14 times
- Posted a career-high 39 points twice (at Maryland, 2/15/77 and against Syracuse, 12/6/75)
- Scored 74 points over a two-game stretch (35 vs. Duquesne, 2/12/77 and 39 vs. Maryland, 2/15/77), second-most in program history
- Scored 20 or more points 19 times in 1977, second most at Pitt
- Shot 50.7 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the foul line for his career
- Fourth-round NBA draft pick of the Buffalo Braves in 1978
- Spent nearly three decades as an assistant coach at the college level
- Two-time All-America selection
- Posted 1,217 points and 970 rebounds in just three seasons
- Ranks 26th all-time in scoring
- Ranks third all-time in rebounds
- One of five players with at least 1,000 career points and 900 career rebounds
- Recorded 53 double-figure rebounding games and 46 double-doubles
- Set program records with 28 double-figure rebound games and 26 double-doubles in 1987
- One of two players in program history to averag
eover 12.0 rebounds per game in consecutive seasons - Combined with Charles Smith to lead Pitt to consecutive Big East titles (1987 and 1988) and NCAA berths
- Shot to stardom as a sophomore when he became the smallest player since Elgin Baylor (1957) to lead the NCAA in rebounding (13.5 avg.)
- Led the Big East in rebounding for two consecutive seasons (1986-88), becoming the first player to accomplish that feat
- First round NBA draft selection by the Denver Nuggets in 1988
- Also played for the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers
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