Detroit PSL Basketball

 

Pershing’s Ralph Simpson, a 10-year professional, was a member of the Detroit News’ All-Metro first team in 1967 as a junior. He missed the opportunity to repeat his senior season due to the Detroit newspapers’ strike — there wasn’t a Detroit News team.

(Editor’s Note: Every attempt has been made to include accurate information on players, coaches, and teams. If you encounter any errors you have documented proof of, please contact one of us with that information.)

1969 All-City
John Sark, Detroit Austin; Tom Targosz, Detroit Holy Redeemer; Marvin “Corky” Taylor, Mumford; Tom “Cookie” Marsh, Northern; Mike “Mike Rob” Robinson, Northeastern
All-PSL
Mike “Mike Rob” Robinson, Northeastern; Ralph Powell, Northwestern; Marvin “Corky” Taylor, Mumford; Tom “Cookie” Marsh, Northern; Jeff Walker, Central; Coach Bob Taylor, Northern
East Side
Jim Saros, Finney; Charles Odom, Osborn; Lindsay Hairston, Kettering (NBA); Carl Jamison, Southeastern; Gary Tyson, King
West Side
Gary Waters, Mackenzie; Mike Zenn, Henry Ford; Carvin Melson, Murray Wright; Bill Elwood, Redford; Chris McClure, Cooley

1968 — (No Newspaper Teams Due to Detroit Newspapers’ Strike)
PSL Athletic Manual’s All-League
East League
Pace Preston, Cass Tech; Lee Tolin, Eastern/King; Tom “Cookie” Marsh, Northern; Ralph Simpson, Pershing (NBA/ABA); Matt Anderson, Southeastern; Coach Gene Bolden, Murray-Wright
West League
Oliver Ogden, Central; Carl Coleman, Mackenzie; William James, Murray-Wright; Lindell Reason, Murray-Wright; Curtis Jones, Northwestern

1967 All-City
Spencer Haywood, Pershing (NBA/ABA); Nick Ferri, Detroit Catholic Central; Craig Van Dam, Cody; Harold Lowe, Detroit Visitation; Curtis Jones, Northwestern
All-PSL
Spencer Haywood, Pershing (NBA/ABA); Curtis Jones, Northwestern; Craig Van Dam, Cody; Charley Heard, Southwestern; Mike Murdock, Mumford; Coach Bob Whitehouse, Southwestern
West Side
John Mayberry, Northwestern (MLB); Norwaine Reed, Southwestern; Lindell Reason, Murray Wright; Gary Lincoln, Henry Ford; John King, Cooley
East Side
Ralph Simpson, Pershing (NBA/ABA); Dave Bryson, Northeastern; L.C. Williams, Eastern; Matt Anderson, Southeastern; Charley Hunter, Central

1966 All-City
Larry Moore, Mumford; Mark Bugaj, Hamtramck St. Ladislaus; Spencer Haywood, Pershing (NBA/ABA); John Mayberry, Northwestern (MLB); Denny Cavanaugh, Detroit Austin
All-PSL
Larry Moore, Mumford; Spencer Haywood, Pershing (NBA/ABA); John Mayberry, Northwestern (MLB); Session Harlan, Mackenzie; Alex Williams, Eastern; Coach Sam Taub, Mumford
East Side
Arnold Stafford, Northern; Isiah Jones, Northeastern; Bill Lyle, Denby; William Elias, Osborn; Pete Mays, Southeastern
West Side
Charles Hudson, Western; Mike Kudlas, Cody; Charley Heard, Southwestern; William James, Murray Wright; Bryan Stanhouse, Henry Ford

1965 All-City
Richard “Bird” Carter, Northwestern; Jerry Swartzfager, Detroit DeLaSalle; Dwight Jones, Detroit Holy Redeemer; Howard Heard, Southwestern; Mike Gearty, Detroit Catholic Central; Coach Lyle Van Deventer, Southwestern
All-PSL
Richard “Bird” Carter, Northwestern; Willie Edwards, Northeastern; Greg Ranney, Osborn; Howard Heard, Southwestern; Cliff Riley, Western
West Side
Roger Strong, Redford; Joe Neely, Northwestern; Bill Gardner, Cody; Larry Walker, Mackenzie; James Norman, Chadsey
East Side
Marchel McGhee, Southeastern; Willie “Spider” Griffin, Northeastern (Harlem Globetrotter); Larry Moore, Mumford; Sherwin Jones, Pershing; John Hankerson, Central

1964 All-City
James Pitts, Northwestern; John Orr, Detroit Cathedral; Gerry Geistler, Redford; Jim Bigham, Grosse Pointe St. Paul; Billy Tally, Northern
All-PSL
James Pitts, Northwestern; Willie “Spider” Griffin, Northeastern (Harlem Globetrotter); Jerry Geistler, Redford; Billy Tally, Northern; Willie Iverson, Pershing (ABA); Coach Fred Snowden, Northwestern
West Side
James Pitts, Northwestern; Lloyd Mitchell, Chadsey; Jerry Geistler, Redford; Andy Cunningham, Southwestern; Larry Walker, Mackenzie
East Side
Greg Ranney, Osborn; Joe Moore, Mumford; Willie “Spider” Griffin, Northeastern (Harlem Globetrotter); Billy Tally, Northern; Willie Iverson, Pershing (ABA)

1963 All-City
Cliff “Chain” Williams, Southwestern (NBA); Dennis Bankey, Detroit St. Thomas; Bill Hayes, Detroit Benedictine; Dick Smith, Pershing; Jim Bigham, Grosse Pointe St. Paul
All-PSL
Cliff “Chain” Williams, Southwestern; Dennis Rogers, Redford; Sam Williams, Northern (NBA); Dick Smith, Pershing; Bob Kemp, Southeastern; Coach Will Robinson, Pershing
West Side
Cliff “Chain” Williams, Southwestern (NBA); Dennis Rogers, Redford; Tim Flowers, Northwestern; Jim Manuel, Wilbur Wright; Bill Hill, Mackenzie
East Side
Bob Kemp, Southeastern; Ben Harris, Central; Sam Williams, Northern (NBA); Dick Smith, Pershing; Duane DuHart, Cass Tech

1962 All-City
Stan Washington, Northwestern; Ken Dillard, Detroit Visitation; Oliver Darden, Western (ABA); John Rowser, Eastern (NFL); Gary Schick, Grosse Pointe St. Paul
All-PSL
Stan Washington, Northwestern; Jerry Pettway, Northern (ABA); Oliver Darden, Western (ABA); Bill Yearby, Eastern (AFL); John Rowser, Eastern (NFL); Coach Bob Samaras, Eastern
West Side
Stan Washington, Northwestern; Steve Gossard, Redford; Oliver Darden, Western (ABA); Doug Garrett, Mackenzie; Cliff “Chain” Williams, Southwestern (NBA)
East Side
Jerry Pettway, Northern; John Rowser, Eastern; Bill Yearby, Eastern; Leroy Haywood, Northeastern; Ted Sizemore, Pershing (MLB)

1961 All-City
Reggie Harding, Eastern (NBA/ABA/Goose Tatum, Harlem Roadkings); Bill Downs, Detroit Catholic Central; Larry Carpenter, Northwestern; Dan Dinunzio, Harper Woods Notre Dame; Marcus Sanders, Pershing
All-PSL
Marvin Mitchell, Chadsey; Larry Carpenter, Northwestern; Reggie Harding, Eastern (NBA/ABA/Goose Tatum Harlem Roadkings; Marcus Sanders, Pershing; Roosevelt Mitchell, Northern; Coach Bob Samaras, Eastern
East Side
Marcus Sanders, Pershing; Dorie Murrey, Cass Tech (NBA); Reggie Harding, Eastern (NBA/ABA/Goose Tatum Harlem Roadkings); Roosevelt Mitchell, Northern; Henry Lewis, Northeastern
West Side
Marvin Mitchell, Chadsey; Oliver Darden, Western (ABA); Larry Carpenter, Northwestern; Cliff “Chain” Williams, Southwestern (NBA); Bob Royal, Mackenzie

1960 All-City
Reggie Harding, Eastern (NBA/ABA/Goose Tatum, Harlem Roadkings); Bill Chmielewski, Detroit Holy Redeemer; Maurice McHartley, Central (ABA); Peller Phillips, Northwestern; Bill Downs, Detroit Catholic Central
All-PSL
Ron Richardson, Southwestern; Maurice McHartley, Central; Reggie Harding, Eastern; Peller Phillips, Northwestern; Marcus Sanders, Pershing
East Side
Maurice McHartley, Central (ABA); Reggie Harding, Eastern (NBA/ABA/Goose Tatum Harlem Roadkings); Marcus Sanders, Pershing; Henry Lewis, Northeastern; Will Harper, Eastern
West Side
Elmer Mitchell, Chadsey; Willie “Beast” Thomas, Northwestern; Ron Richardson, Southwestern; Peller Phillips, Northwestern; Ed Richardson, Wilbur Wright