donald r. Pruett
Donald R. Pruett is considered by many to be one of the best all-around athletes in Rector High School Sports history. He was focused on winning. Bob Milburn, a teammate of his, recently stated: “’Winning’ to Donald Ray Pruett was not an option, it was an obsession.” The Clay County Democrat stated in 1953: “No one tries harder and wants to win more than Donald Ray Pruett; 5’10”, 148 pounds.”
Milburn also said: “Donald Ray Pruett was without a doubt, the greatest offensive high school basketball player I ever saw.”
In 1953 the Clay County Democrat reported that in the in the Clay County tourney Donald scored 42 points against Corning and 38 points against Greenway.
In the NEA tournament in 1953 Pruett was all-NEA. He scored 25 points against Paragould and 11 points against Leachville. The radio announcer said of Pruett that he was “the spark plug of the Rector team.”
In 1954, Rector had a record of 20-12, believed to be the first 20 win season and had no players over six feet tall. In the District tourney Pruett scored 43 points against Bay; 44 points against Piggott; and 28 points against Jonesboro before fouling out early in the 3rd quarter. (Jonesboro was undefeated that year and won the state championship.) Pruett’s point totals set the all-time District’s scoring record. In the 1953-54 season he totaled 883 points and his season average was 27.5 ppg.
Highlights and honors: All-county in 1953, 1954
All-NEA.tournament team in 1953
All-District in 1953, 1954
Scored 40 or more points in 12 games
In baseball, Pruett played on the Rector American Legion team in the 1952 and 1953 seasons.
RHS did not have a school sponsored baseball team those years. He played third base and batted near the .300 average. With his quick speed Donald was known for taking second on a routine ground ball single.
In track, Pruett participated in the following events: 100, 220, and 440 yard dashs/runs while only losing one race. He anchored the 440 relay team during the 1952-53 track season. Bob Milburn recalls that season with the following quote: “The first year we ever had a track team, Donald Ray was our ace-in-the-hole. His speed was awesome. Our first track meet was at District level and held at Jonesboro. Donald Ray started things off for us in the 100-yard dash. You had to use ‘starting block’. He was not familiar with them as we didn’t have any. The start gun/whistle is sounded and Don stumbles, he rapidly recovers and wins the race by 6-10 lengths. No wonder he was called “Flash”.”
The following was reported in the Clay County Democrat in March and April of 1954: “Coach Benson said there was no doubt that Pruett was the outstanding all-around boy on the Rector team and in the tournament play. He said that he expected Pruett to make a name in college basketball.” The Democrat reported, “If Rector could have gone on to the Sate tourney, there is no doubt among basketball supporters but that Pruett would have been on the all-state selection.”
Scholarship offers: Pruett was scouted by and had offers from a number of regional colleges including a contact by Kentucky. Prior to that he had volunteered for the Military service. After a two year stint in the military, physical health reasons prevented him from
accepting a scholarship to play college basketball.
Milburn also said: “Donald Ray Pruett was without a doubt, the greatest offensive high school basketball player I ever saw.”
In 1953 the Clay County Democrat reported that in the in the Clay County tourney Donald scored 42 points against Corning and 38 points against Greenway.
In the NEA tournament in 1953 Pruett was all-NEA. He scored 25 points against Paragould and 11 points against Leachville. The radio announcer said of Pruett that he was “the spark plug of the Rector team.”
In 1954, Rector had a record of 20-12, believed to be the first 20 win season and had no players over six feet tall. In the District tourney Pruett scored 43 points against Bay; 44 points against Piggott; and 28 points against Jonesboro before fouling out early in the 3rd quarter. (Jonesboro was undefeated that year and won the state championship.) Pruett’s point totals set the all-time District’s scoring record. In the 1953-54 season he totaled 883 points and his season average was 27.5 ppg.
Highlights and honors: All-county in 1953, 1954
All-NEA.tournament team in 1953
All-District in 1953, 1954
Scored 40 or more points in 12 games
In baseball, Pruett played on the Rector American Legion team in the 1952 and 1953 seasons.
RHS did not have a school sponsored baseball team those years. He played third base and batted near the .300 average. With his quick speed Donald was known for taking second on a routine ground ball single.
In track, Pruett participated in the following events: 100, 220, and 440 yard dashs/runs while only losing one race. He anchored the 440 relay team during the 1952-53 track season. Bob Milburn recalls that season with the following quote: “The first year we ever had a track team, Donald Ray was our ace-in-the-hole. His speed was awesome. Our first track meet was at District level and held at Jonesboro. Donald Ray started things off for us in the 100-yard dash. You had to use ‘starting block’. He was not familiar with them as we didn’t have any. The start gun/whistle is sounded and Don stumbles, he rapidly recovers and wins the race by 6-10 lengths. No wonder he was called “Flash”.”
The following was reported in the Clay County Democrat in March and April of 1954: “Coach Benson said there was no doubt that Pruett was the outstanding all-around boy on the Rector team and in the tournament play. He said that he expected Pruett to make a name in college basketball.” The Democrat reported, “If Rector could have gone on to the Sate tourney, there is no doubt among basketball supporters but that Pruett would have been on the all-state selection.”
Scholarship offers: Pruett was scouted by and had offers from a number of regional colleges including a contact by Kentucky. Prior to that he had volunteered for the Military service. After a two year stint in the military, physical health reasons prevented him from
accepting a scholarship to play college basketball.