JIM SPEER RHS 1974
In his senior year at RHS, “Speer was selected among the top ten Class A players in the state by the Arkansas Democrat.”
Jim Speer started playing basketball in the ‘pee-wee’ league and finished his basketball career playing for Harding College [now Harding University].
Growing up in Greenway, Jim played for Coach Ted Box [inducted into the RHSSHOF as a coach in 2011]. The following was provided by Coach Box:
“Jim was just developing as a player his sophomore year and became a good player his junior year and would have been one of the best players in our district his senior year, but transferred to Rector that year. He averaged 10.6 pts. per game his sophomore year. I know he was one of our leading scorers and rebounders his junior year. He averaged somewhere around 17 to 20 pts. per game. He was either the leading rebounder or 2nd leading rebounder on our team that year…When I went to Greenway in 1971 the program was very weak. We made a lot of improvement by that 2nd year and Jim was a big part of that.”
The following data were taken from newspaper articles during his junior year at Greenway:
Between his junior and senior years, Jim moved to Rector where he continued his basketball career. The following represent a part of his accomplishments on the court during his senior year at RHS:
The following data were taken from newspaper articles during his senior year at Rector:
Opponent Points Opponent Points
Dan Foley, Sun Sports writer said: “Speer, a dominating factor on both ends of the court with his rebounding, defense, and scoring, finshed with 26 point…”
COLLEGE HONORS OR DATA
Earned a letter at Harding College [now Harding University] in his first year playing as a sophomore.
The following was taken from newspaper clippings relating to his Harding days:
“…Jim Speer came off the bench and put in nine points in the last five minutes.”
“…Speer with 13 points…three of three field goals and seven of nine free shots.”
“…(against) Ozark 13 points…(against) UCA 10 points…”
Jess Bucy [former coach at Harding College stated the following: “Jim Speer was an outstanding high school player and I recruited him at Harding. Unfortunately for me, he dropped out of his college career to be a part of the family farm interest.”
OTHER:
In his senior year at RHS, “Speer was selected among the top ten Class A players in the state by the Arkansas Democrat.”
Jim Speer started playing basketball in the ‘pee-wee’ league and finished his basketball career playing for Harding College [now Harding University].
Growing up in Greenway, Jim played for Coach Ted Box [inducted into the RHSSHOF as a coach in 2011]. The following was provided by Coach Box:
“Jim was just developing as a player his sophomore year and became a good player his junior year and would have been one of the best players in our district his senior year, but transferred to Rector that year. He averaged 10.6 pts. per game his sophomore year. I know he was one of our leading scorers and rebounders his junior year. He averaged somewhere around 17 to 20 pts. per game. He was either the leading rebounder or 2nd leading rebounder on our team that year…When I went to Greenway in 1971 the program was very weak. We made a lot of improvement by that 2nd year and Jim was a big part of that.”
The following data were taken from newspaper articles during his junior year at Greenway:
- Marmaduke 26 Knobel 23
- Brookland 33 Weiner 28
- Dell 20 Carway 27
- Piggott 42 Brookland 21
- CRA 23 Grubbs 13
Between his junior and senior years, Jim moved to Rector where he continued his basketball career. The following represent a part of his accomplishments on the court during his senior year at RHS:
- Arkansas College All Tournament team
- NEA All Tournament team
- All-District
- Scored 528 points
- 14.3 ppg
- 54.7% field goal average
- 387 rebounds
- 10.5 rebounds per game
- 66 assists
- 73% from free-throw line
The following data were taken from newspaper articles during his senior year at Rector:
Opponent Points Opponent Points
- Highland 17 Westside 16
- Turrell 8 Nettleton 20
- Marmaduke 29 Marked Tree 20
- Augusta 14 Osceola 13
- Salem 8 Luxora 8
- Manila 24 Marmaduke 14
- Highland 24 Manila 13
- Walnut Ridge 13 Hoxie 6
- Nettleton 20 Holly Grove 14
Dan Foley, Sun Sports writer said: “Speer, a dominating factor on both ends of the court with his rebounding, defense, and scoring, finshed with 26 point…”
COLLEGE HONORS OR DATA
Earned a letter at Harding College [now Harding University] in his first year playing as a sophomore.
The following was taken from newspaper clippings relating to his Harding days:
“…Jim Speer came off the bench and put in nine points in the last five minutes.”
“…Speer with 13 points…three of three field goals and seven of nine free shots.”
“…(against) Ozark 13 points…(against) UCA 10 points…”
Jess Bucy [former coach at Harding College stated the following: “Jim Speer was an outstanding high school player and I recruited him at Harding. Unfortunately for me, he dropped out of his college career to be a part of the family farm interest.”
- Arkansas College [now Lyon College] basketball camp
- Senior All-Star team
- 2nd place in rebounding
OTHER:
- A long time member of the RHS school board