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Spring 2004

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The Highest Honor
Al Skinner's jersey takes its rightful place in the rafters




	#30 Al Skinner in the Mullins Center. (photo by Ben Barnhart)

CURRY HICKS CAGE NEVER LOOKED so good. UMass’s former basketball star, Al Skinner ’74, had to take a second look to make sure this was the court on which he played in the early 1970s. Decked out with carpeting and white tablecloths, the cage had been transformed into an elegant banquet hall for pre-game dinner guests in honor of Skinner’s jersey retirement on Feb. 18. Skinner was a three-time All-Yankee Conference winner who led the team to a pair of league titles while calling Curry Hicks home.

For Skinner, highly regarded by his peers and fans for his sincerity, humility and team ethic, the retirement of his number is the culmination of a stellar basketball career. It began in inner-city New York, took shape at UMass, propelled him to the NBA, and now finds him coaching Boston College’s winning men’s team—since 1997. In 2001, he was named Big East Coach of the Year as well as National Coach of the Year.

Even though Skinner hired a bus to transport him and Boston-based friends, family and colleagues to the event, it was a night for remembering his glory days at UMass.
Skinner led his team in rebounding from 1971-74 with 749 rebounds. He set a school record for highest career field goal percentage (.577) and held the single-season record (.620) for nearly two decades. He led the league in scoring in 1974, averaging 18.7 points a game and became only the eighth player in UMass history to join the 1,000 point club, finishing his career with 1,235 points. He was inducted into the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.

“I’m truly appreciative to the University of Massachusetts for the recognition,” said Skinner during the ceremony. “I hope my teammates take as much pleasure in this as I have, because in order for an individual to receive this kind of recognition, you had to have played on some great teams.” After UMass, Skinner played with the New York Nets, the Detroit Pistons, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Sixteen former teammates came to honor Skinner. Julius Erving ’86, who served as master of ceremonies, would have played with Skinner had he not left school early for the pros. Teammate Rick Pitino ’75, who had been a driving force in getting Skinner’s number retired, was unable to attend the ceremony. Skinner’s proud coach and mentor, the late Jack Leaman, also spoke at the event.

After dinner, the party moved to the Mullins Center for a men’s basketball game against Rhode Island. The crowd of 4,630 gave Erving and Skinner standing ovations. At halftime, Skinner tugged on a black cord at center court to reveal his newly retired number hanging in the rafters. “I want to thank the university for bestowing this honor upon me. It’s truly the highest honor that a student athlete can achieve,” said Skinner. “I had a great experience at the University of Massachusetts. I hope the students and the fans that come to the game will continue to support and enjoy this university as I have.”

Skinner’s is the fourth number to hang at the Mullins Center along with Erving’s No. 32 and Lou Roe’s ’95 No. 15. George “Trigger” Burke ’71, who wore No. 32 before Erving, also has his number honored.

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