Hank Siemiontkowski
Encyclopedia
Hank Siemiontkowski is a retired American
basketball
player. He played forward for the Villanova Wildcats
and the Cleveland Cavaliers
. Born & raised in the Port Richmond section of philadelphia, Hank graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in 1968 and was a big part of the 1967 Phila. Catholic League and City Championship teams which defeated Monsignor Bonner & Overbrook H.S. Hank was voted the Catholic League Northern Division MVP in both 1967 & 1968. In 1968 he was part of the varsity squad suspended by Coach Jack Friel for not returning to school on time after a breakfast. This story made national headlines as The North JV team then took the court at the Palestra and defeated the Varsity team from Bishop McDevitt in the Quarter finals of the Catholic League playoffs. The North varsity were reinstated but later lost the semi-final game at the Palestra to Cardinal O'Hara High on a buzzer beater. Hank retired with the Highest single season scoring average in North Catholic school history at 22.6 PPG (later equaled by Joe Schoen in 1977).
Siemiontkowski scored nineteen points in the Wildcats' loss to the UCLA Bruins
in the 1971 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
in Houston, Texas
. In the semifinal game the 6'5" junior scored a career-high 31 points in an overtime defeat of Western Kentucky University
. Coached by Jack Kraft, the Wildcats became the first Philadelphia and northeastern United States
team to reach the NCAA championship game since La Salle University
in 1955. Siemiontkowski was named to the 1971 NCAA
East Regional all-tournament team along with his teammate Howard Porter (basketball)
. Siemiontkowski finished his career at 'Nova with a 13.6 PPG average and is currently 12th All-time All-time in rebounding with 739 boards.
He was selected by the New York Nets
of the American Basketball Association
in April 1972 and chosen 50th by the Cleveland Cavaliers
in the 1972 NBA Draft
. Siemiontkowski was placed on waivers by the Cavaliers in October that year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He played forward for the Villanova Wildcats
Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats is the name of the athletic teams of Villanova University. They compete in the Big East for every sport except football, where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association .-Men's basketball:The Villanova Wildcats compete in the Big EAST and are currently coached by Jay...
and the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. Born & raised in the Port Richmond section of philadelphia, Hank graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in 1968 and was a big part of the 1967 Phila. Catholic League and City Championship teams which defeated Monsignor Bonner & Overbrook H.S. Hank was voted the Catholic League Northern Division MVP in both 1967 & 1968. In 1968 he was part of the varsity squad suspended by Coach Jack Friel for not returning to school on time after a breakfast. This story made national headlines as The North JV team then took the court at the Palestra and defeated the Varsity team from Bishop McDevitt in the Quarter finals of the Catholic League playoffs. The North varsity were reinstated but later lost the semi-final game at the Palestra to Cardinal O'Hara High on a buzzer beater. Hank retired with the Highest single season scoring average in North Catholic school history at 22.6 PPG (later equaled by Joe Schoen in 1977).
Siemiontkowski scored nineteen points in the Wildcats' loss to the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
in the 1971 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. In the semifinal game the 6'5" junior scored a career-high 31 points in an overtime defeat of Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
. Coached by Jack Kraft, the Wildcats became the first Philadelphia and northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
team to reach the NCAA championship game since La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
in 1955. Siemiontkowski was named to the 1971 NCAA
East Regional all-tournament team along with his teammate Howard Porter (basketball)
Howard Porter (basketball)
Howard Porter was an American professional basketball player. At 6'8" and 220 pounds, he played as a forward and a center....
. Siemiontkowski finished his career at 'Nova with a 13.6 PPG average and is currently 12th All-time All-time in rebounding with 739 boards.
He was selected by the New York Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
in April 1972 and chosen 50th by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in the 1972 NBA Draft
1972 NBA Draft
The 1972 NBA Draft was the 26th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 10, 1972 before the 1972–73 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. Siemiontkowski was placed on waivers by the Cavaliers in October that year.