Philadelphia's Top Late Blooming Pros

Philadelphia's Top 10
Late-Blooming Pros

    This list represents Ted Silary's opinion of Philadelphia's Top 10 Late-Blooming Pros from high schools in Philadelphia's three city leagues (Public, Catholic, Inter-Ac) through the 2014 basketball season.
    None of these guys received first team coaches' all-league honors in high school; some did not even play the sport in which they eventually starred.
    To the right are links for other teams: NFL, NBA, MLB, Overall.
    Most statistical information on the players' pro careers was researched on www.pro-football-reference.com.

No. 1
Paul Arizin, Basketball, F
La Salle / Villanova
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Tried out for the varsity as a senior at La Salle, but was cut. Entered
Villanova the following September and played for a CYO team in his
native South Philly. 'Nova coach Al Severance attended one of Arizin's
games and told him afterward, "We'd like to have you at Villanova."
Arizin responded, "I already go to Villanova." He made the team as a
soph in 1947-48 and merely led the nation in scoring by his senior year.
In the NBA . . .
Teams: Warriors, 1951-52/55-62 (served in Marines, 1953-54).
All-Star Game: Nine times.
All-NBA: First team three times; second team once.
Notes: Averaged 22.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists . . . Best scoring
average: 26.4 in 1959 . . . Averaged 24.2 points in 49 playoffs . . . Played in
713 games . . . Won NBA title with Warriors in '56 . . . Listed among Top 50
all-time players in '96 . . . Hall of Fame inductee.

No. 2
Jahri Evans, Football, OL
Frankford / Bloomsburg
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Played sparingly as a junior at Frankford, then missed his entire senior
season after suffering a knee injury in a church league basketball game.
Earned a scholarship to Bloomsburg due to his academic prowess (No. 5
in class) and Frankford coach Tom Mullineaux told Bloomsburg's coaches
that they might want to give Jahri a long football look, as well. (During
Jahri's senior year at Frankford, in a game at 29th and Chalmers, players
smashed into the down marker, rendering it useless, on a play along the
sideline. Thereafter, the refs used Jahri's crutch to mark the ball's position.)
In the NFL . . .
Team: Saints, 2006-13.
Pro Bowl: Five times.
All-Pro: Four times.
Notes: Has been a starter in all 126 of his lifetime appearances . . . Prior
to the 2010 season, he became the NFL's highest paid interior lineman . . .
The stalwarts behind him have been QB Drew Brees and RB Pierre
Thomas.

No. 3
Harry Swayne, Football, OL
Dougherty / Rutgers
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Was considered Dougherty's second best defensive lineman on the '82
squad and earned second team coaches' All-Catholic honors. Headed for
Rutgers as someone with potential, but was hardly considered a finished
product.
In the NFL . . .
Teams: Bucs, 1987-90; Chargers, 1991-96; Broncos, 1997-98; Ravens,
1999-2000; Dolphins, '01.
Pro Bowl: None.
All-Pro: None.
Notes: Was a full-time starter in seven seasons . . . Played in four Super Bowls
-- with Chargers in XXIX, Broncos in XXXII (champ) and XXXIII (champ),
and Ravens in XXXV (champ) . . . Played DE in first two seasons . . . Made
starts in 13 career playoff games.

No. 4
John Tracey, Football, LB
Northeast / Texas A&M
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Never played football at Northeast. Began playing while serving in the Army,
first at Camp Atterbury in Indiana and later at Fort Carson in Colorado. At the
latter, he was spotted by a friend of Bear Bryant. That friend told Bryant, then
coaching at Texas A&M, about Tracey and he entered upon his finishing his
Army stint.
In the NFL/AFL . . .
Teams: Cardinals, 1959-60; Eagles, 1961; Bills, 1962-67.
Pro Bowl: Twice.
All-Pro: None.
Notes: Played in 110 career games . . . Made 12 interceptions with a high of
five in 1963 . . . He and two partners started together for 62 consecutive games
with the Bills, setting a pro record . . . Won AFL titles in 1964 and '65.

No. 5
Ollie Johnson, Basketball, F
Southern / Temple
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Never played hoops at Southern. Entered the Community College of
Philadelphia after working in a factory (and growing six inches) and was eyed
there by Temple assistants Skip Wilson and Jay Norman. Played his final
three college seasons for the Owls.
In the NBA . . .
All-Star Game: None.
All-NBA: None.
Notes: Played 10 seasons in the NBA (1973-82) for the Trail Blazers/Jazz/
Kings/Hawks/Bulls/76ers . . . Averaged 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8
assists . . . Seven times played in at least 70 games . . . Shot 49.6 percent
from the floor.

No. 6
J.T. Turner, Football, OL
Franklin / Duke
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Played one season of varsity football at Franklin, but earned no all-league
honors. Was barely 17 years old at graduation; finished fifth in the senior
class academically. His primary sport, incredibly, was fencing, and he
starred in that as a freshman at Duke while also mixing in football. Opted
to concentrate on football thereafter.
In the NFL . . .
Teams: Giants, Redskins, 1977-84.
Pro Bowl: None.
All-Pro: None.
Notes: Played eight seasons in the NFL (1977-84) for the Giants/Redskins
. . . Full-time starter for six seasons ('78 to '83) at right guard with the Giants
. . . The QB during that time, mostly, was Phil Simms.

No. 7
Jim Washington, Basketball, F
West Catholic / Villanova
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Did not earn All-Catholic honors in his senior season with WC in 1961.
Was the Burrs' third leading scorer with 97 points in 14 league games (6.9
average). Was good enough by his sophomore year at 'Nova to claim first
team All-Big 5 honors; he did so again as a junior and senior.
In the NBA . . .
Teams: Hawks, 1966; Bulls, 1967-69; 76ers, 1970-72; Hawks, 1972-75;
Braves, 1975-76.
All-Star Game: None.
All-NBA: None.
Notes: Averaged 10.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists . . . Best scoring
average: 14.0 in 1969 . . . Averaged 8.8 points in 42 playoffs . . . Played in
774 games.

No. 8
Jesse Richardson, Football, OL
Roxborough / Alabama
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Was a two-way performer at Roxborough (class of 1948), but did not earn
coaches' All-Public honors. Was collared by Alabama.
In the NFL/AFL . . .
Teams: Eagles, 1953-56/'58-61; Patriots, 1962-64.
Pro Bowl: Once.
All-Pro: None.
Notes: The Sporting News named him a first team All-NFL performer in
'59 and '61; United Press International gave him second team honors in '60
. . . Key performer for Eagles' '60 NFL champs.

No. 9
Jim Cooper, Football, OL
Dougherty / Temple
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
Was a football starter at Dougherty, but did not earn coaches' All-Catholic
honors. Also started in basketball and won the shot put in the '73 CL track
championships with an effort of 53 feet, 3 inches. Earned a grid scholarship
to Temple.
In the NFL . . .
Teams: Cowboys, 1977-86.
Pro Bowl: None.
All-Pro: None.
Notes: Except for brief stints, was a full-time starter for eight seasons . . . Made
appearances in 17 playoff games . . . Member of Super Bowl champs in '78
(XII) . . . Gave major support to QB Danny White and RB Tony Dorsett.

No. 10
Tom "Trooper" Washington, Basketball, F
Edison / Cheyney
Before he began the climb to fame . . .
A starter for Edison in the '62 season, but did not earn coaches' All-Public
honors. Scored 71 points in eight league games for an 8.9 average. Did not
complete the season. (Perhaps he suffered an injury or was a mid-year grad.)
In the ABA . . .
All-Star Game: None.
All-ABA: None
Notes: Played for the Pipers/Stars/Floridians/Nets from 1968-73 . . . Averaged
10.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists . . . Shot 53.2 percent in his career
. . . Thrice claimed at least 750 rebounds . . . Won ABA title with the Pittsburgh
Pipers in 1968.