(FLINT, Mich. – March 15, 2024) Two high school basketball dynasties from the 1970s and 1980s are among the 2024 class of inductees to the Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame (GFAASHOF). The 1971-72 Northern High School and 1981-83 Central High School boys’ basketball teams will enter the GFAASHOF along with five individual outstanding Flint athletes at the 38th GFAASHOF Induction Ceremony on March 24 at Genesys Conference & Banquet Center.
In addition to the boys’ basketball teams, this year’s individual inductees are William Van Broadway, Jr.; Lamarr “Spider” Edwards; Bill Harris; Gary Lee; and Antonio Smith.
The 1971 and ’72 Northern basketball teams were back-to-back state champions, including going 25-0 in 1972. Led by head coach Bill Frieder, notable players included Wayman Britt, Dennis Johnson, Terry Furlow, Rick Jones and Ray Bridges, just to name a few.
The 1981, ’82 and ’83 Central basketball teams were three-time state champions, including going 28-0 in 1981. Led by head coach Stan Gooch, notable players included Eric Turner, Marty Embry, Mark Harris and Darryl Johnson, just to name a few.
Van Broadway, Jr. was a football player at Northern. He made All-Saginaw Valley and All-State as a running back in 1975. He rushed for 1,440 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior and was a defensive back and kick returner at Michigan State University.
Edwards was an outstanding basketball player and bowler. Known as Spider, he played basketball at Mott Community College from 1981-83 and later Saginaw Valley State University. He won three national AAU basketball titles and was voted into the Flint Bowling Hall of Fame.
Harris was a two-sport star at Hamady who went on to be a record-setting basketball player at Northern Michigan University. He was an All-State basketball player and played college ball at NMU, where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,224 points. Harris, who also played football at Hamady, played professional basketball for 11 seasons overseas.
Lee was an outstanding football and basketball player at Southwestern. He was All-City and All-Saginaw Valley in basketball and made the All-City, All-Valley and All-State teams in football. Lee played college football at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan before returning home to coach high school football at Northern, Southwestern Academy and Hamady.
Smith was the original Flintstone on Michigan State’s basketball team after starring at Northern. He led the Vikings to the 1995 Class A state basketball title, with 24 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the title game. At MSU, he finished with 870 career points and 1,016 career rebounds, winning the Big Ten Conference rebounding title in 1997 and 1999. He also played professionally overseas.
Tickets to the 38th GFAASHOF Induction Ceremony & Dinner are $50 and proceeds benefit the GFAASHOF scholarship fund. The banquet begins at 4 p.m.
For tickets, contact Alisa Peaks at (810)-577-8993 or by email at info@gfaashof.org.
The GFAASHOF founded in October 1983 to preserve and exhibit the rich history of former Flint African American professional, college, city, high school and sandlot players and teams. Its first induction ceremony was held in February 1985. The GFAASHOF is housed at the Flint Public Library.
