Jerseys In The Rafters: Bobby Speight (1951-53)

Most likely one the greatest NC State players you have never heard of, Bobby Speight led the Wolfpack to back-to-back Southern Conference Championships in 1951 and '52. A 6'8 rebounding machine, Speight still sits 4th on the All-Time NC State Rebounding List with 1,057. In 1952 and '53 he earned All-Conference honors and was also named as a 2nd team All-American in '53. Speight was just the 3rd player in NC State history to score more than 500 points in a season as he ended his career with 1,430 points.

Bobby Speight was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in 1953, with their 2nd pick. After 2 years in the NBA, Speight's career ended when he enrolled in the Army.

Speight passed away in 2007 after a long battle with cancer. Today, NC State remembers him by having their basketball practice facility's lobby named after him and by hanging his Jersey in the Rafters.

Jerseys In The Rafters: Sammy Ranzino (1948-51)

Many NC State fans are well versed in the history of the University and it's basketball program. On the other hand, there are also a large number of fans that have never heard all the stories or know all the players who helped build the storied history of NC State. Throughout the off-season we will be highlighting each and every player that had a big enough impact to have their jersey hung in the rafters of the RBC Center. Previously we debuted "Jerseys In The Rafters" with Dick Dickey. Up next: Sammy Ranzino.

Much has been said about the historical pipeline that NC State has developed with the state of Indiana throughout the years. It all began when Indiana native Everett Case came down to Raleigh to coach the Pack. Case started the Indiana recruiting pipeline when he reeled in Dick Dickey in '47 and he solidified his ability to recruit his home-state when he snared Sammy Ranzino one year later.

Sammy Ranzino was 6-2 Forward out of Gary, Indiana. His career at NC State was one for the record books...literally. Ranzino's accolades place him at a table that only a few players in NC State basketball history are fit to sit at. Sammy is one of only 3 players in the history of Wolfpack Basketball to earn All-American honors 3 times (David Thompson and Dick Dickey). He did what even few great players have done, leading his team to four conference championships (Southern Conference) in four years. Sammy's Senior campaign caught the attention of nation, earning consensus All-American honors. The Rochester Royals were impressed with his 20.8 points per game that year and took him with the 8th overall pick in the 1951 NBA draft. Ranzino left NC State as the All-Time leading scorer with 1,967 career points, and this was a record that he would hold onto for 24 years, until David Thompson came along and put up 2,309 in a short three-year span. Ranzino currently ranks as the 4th All-Time leading scorer in Pack history. He was posthumously honored on February 22, 1999, when his jersey was raised to the rafters in what was a memorable night in Reynolds Coliseum.

Jerseys In the Rafters: Dick Dickey (1947-1950)

Many NC State fans are well versed in the history of the University and it's basketball program. On the other hand, there are also a large number of fans that have never heard all the stories or know all the players who helped build the storied history of NC State. Throughout the off-season we will be highlighting each and every player that had a big enough impact to have their jersey hung in the rafters of the RBC Center. Without further ado, we'd like to introduce... "Jerseys in the Rafters."

Let's start off with a few questions for all you NC State Basketball historians out there.




Who was...

- the only 4-time All-Conference selection in NC State history?

-the first NC State Basketball player to be drafted to the NBA?

- the 8th leading scorer in school history?

If you answered all three questions with "Dick Dickey", you'd be correct. When talking NC State Basketball history, many will throw out names like Thompson, Monroe, Corchiani, but few mention the accolade-laden Dickey. Dick, born in Alexandria, Indiana, was the first real superstar to wear the red and white. Recruited by Everett Case, Dickey was one of the pioneers of the college game and helped put NC State basketball on the map by being named to the National All-American team 3 different times, one of only 3 Wolfpackers to ever accomplish such a feat. The Pack has been to the Final Four on three separate occasions. Most of us are well versed in the previous two Final Fours, however, the trip in 1950 is not as well documented. In 1950, NC State was led by the marvelous scoring and nationally recognized star, Dick Dickey. Although the Pack did not take home the trophy that season, Dickey was named to the 1950 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team. This capped an extremely successful and extremely consistent career in which he scored 1,644 points and led the Wolfpack to an overall record of 107-82.



After college, Dickey was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets, making him the first player from NC State to ever play in the NBA. He ended up as a journeyman, playing for the Anderson Packers(NBL) before moving on to the Boston Celtics. In 2005, Dickey was inducted into the college basketball hall of fame and also voted one of the top 5 players to ever play at NC State University, and having the privilege of getting his "Jersey in the Rafters."



Dick Dickey passed away in 2006. He was 79.