12. Jim Price
A high school star in Indianapolis, Price was recruited by John Dromo, Crum’s predecessor at Louisville. He’s on today’s list because Price had a pretty fantastic senior season in Crum’s first year at the helm of the Cardinals program, though we’re considering his entire career in today’s selection.
Price was a phenomenal athlete, a 6’3 point guard who was an important piece in Dromo’s final two seasons before rising further into stardom under Crum. He averaged 16.5 points per game as a junior but put up his best performances to end his career. In that first season under Crum, Price averaged 21.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds a game and was a Second Team All-American. He ended his collegiate career in style, leading Louisville to their second-ever trip to the Final Four by scoring at least 23 points in all four games.
I wrote a Denny Crum appreciation that will post in the AM. Signs that the San Fernando native was bound for stardom were apparent long before he went to Louisville as he apprenticed under John Wooden. Many UCLA fans wanted him to replace Wooden. Louisville is lucky he didn’t.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) May 10, 2023
Drafted 16th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, Price would spent seven years playing in the NBA, averaging 15 points per game early in his career and becoming an NBA All-Star in 1975. He was dynamic during his basketball career and also spent time coaching at IUPUI after retiring. He remains one of the top free throw shooters in Louisville history and his senior season still ranks 7th among the highest-scoring seasons in program history as well.