(12-12-2016 07:16 PM)450bench Wrote:  





That's Gunn guarding 7-0 Marcos Leite of Pepperdine. John got into a bit of a "tussle" with him during the games. Alvin Wright laughed and told Leite how lucky he was that Gunn didn't "really" get mad at him.

I love hearing stories like this!

(12-12-2016 07:40 PM)hsvtiger Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:16 PM)450bench Wrote:  





That's Gunn guarding 7-0 Marcos Leite of Pepperdine. John got into a bit of a "tussle" with him during the games. Alvin Wright laughed and told Leite how lucky he was that Gunn didn't "really" get mad at him.

Looking at their arms, pretty sure that Gunn woulda kicked his @$$!
In the first picture, that looks like Dexter Reed and Marion Hilliard with Gunn. I loved Dexter and used to do reverse-pivot double-clutch leaners from the elbow in my driveway trying to be like him. Hilliard had great hops and a great turn-around J in the lane. John Gunn was taken from this world much too quickly. Still see Dexter at basketball games regularly (up until a couple of years ago, anyway - might still be there, just haven't seen him myself).

Loved them Tigers!

I use to see Dexter at the games too! I met him through Larry Finch and he always was incredibly nice to me. Hope to see him again soon.

(12-12-2016 07:53 PM)hsvtiger Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:51 PM)450bench Wrote:  When the topic comes up about the greatest high school teams in the history of this city, the Melrose teams of Gunn, James Bradley and Alvin Wright will always be at the top, IMO.

I went to that championship game in 1974 at the MSC.
We definitely had the Melrose to MSU pipeline going in those days!

This is very cool to me simply because I was too young in 1974 to have been there. I was six, but man I wish I could have seen that team play. Through my dad I got to know Verties Sails, awesome guy. He would have been a great coach at Memphis.

(12-12-2016 11:52 PM)TubbyTime Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:53 PM)hsvtiger Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:51 PM)450bench Wrote:  When the topic comes up about the greatest high school teams in the history of this city, the Melrose teams of Gunn, James Bradley and Alvin Wright will always be at the top, IMO.

I went to that championship game in 1974 at the MSC.
We definitely had the Melrose to MSU pipeline going in those days!

This is very cool to me simply because I was too young in 1974 to have been there. I was six, but man I wish I could have seen that team play. Through my dad I got to know Verties Sails, awesome guy. He would have been a great coach at Memphis.

Saw this group in person several times. Saw their 50 some odd game winning streak get broken. Bradley would come down and shoot from 28-30 feet. Truth. He was huge for a HS player but shot from way outside when there was not a 3 point shot. Wright was very good. Gunn was good but hard to say how good. Probably not Beford/Lee good; maybe Sylvester Gray good.

(12-13-2016 12:28 AM)Penny Lane Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 11:52 PM)TubbyTime Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:53 PM)hsvtiger Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:51 PM)450bench Wrote:  When the topic comes up about the greatest high school teams in the history of this city, the Melrose teams of Gunn, James Bradley and Alvin Wright will always be at the top, IMO.

I went to that championship game in 1974 at the MSC.
We definitely had the Melrose to MSU pipeline going in those days!

This is very cool to me simply because I was too young in 1974 to have been there. I was six, but man I wish I could have seen that team play. Through my dad I got to know Verties Sails, awesome guy. He would have been a great coach at Memphis.

Saw this group in person several times. Saw their 50 some odd game winning streak get broken. Bradley would come down and shoot from 28-30 feet. Truth. He was huge for a HS player but shot from way outside when there was not a 3 point shot. Wright was very good. Gunn was good but hard to say how good. Probably not Beford/Lee good; maybe Sylvester Gray good.

The Gray comparison is a good one...Gunn was just taller and carried a lot more "bad azz" with him...he was the only person Bradley was afraid of...Gunn was raw, talented, ridiculously athletic and fiery as hell...
I tell you somebody who was similar, at least to me, although probably not as talented, Dennis Isbell...he was crazy athletically and a wild dude, but he had talent...got drafted just didn't pan out...would love him on this team

(12-13-2016 01:24 AM)450bench Wrote:  

(12-13-2016 12:28 AM)Penny Lane Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 11:52 PM)TubbyTime Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:53 PM)hsvtiger Wrote:  

(12-12-2016 07:51 PM)450bench Wrote:  When the topic comes up about the greatest high school teams in the history of this city, the Melrose teams of Gunn, James Bradley and Alvin Wright will always be at the top, IMO.

I went to that championship game in 1974 at the MSC.
We definitely had the Melrose to MSU pipeline going in those days!

This is very cool to me simply because I was too young in 1974 to have been there. I was six, but man I wish I could have seen that team play. Through my dad I got to know Verties Sails, awesome guy. He would have been a great coach at Memphis.

Saw this group in person several times. Saw their 50 some odd game winning streak get broken. Bradley would come down and shoot from 28-30 feet. Truth. He was huge for a HS player but shot from way outside when there was not a 3 point shot. Wright was very good. Gunn was good but hard to say how good. Probably not Beford/Lee good; maybe Sylvester Gray good.

The Gray comparison is a good one...Gunn was just taller and carried a lot more "bad azz" with him...he was the only person Bradley was afraid of...Gunn was raw, talented, ridiculously athletic and fiery as hell...
I tell you somebody who was similar, at least to me, although probably not as talented, Dennis Isbell...he was crazy athletically and a wild dude, but he had talent...got drafted just didn't pan out...would love him on this team

I knew Dennis well at Memphis St. He jumped higher than any white boy I've ever seen. He really didn't have the 110% motor but if he did, could have been another DJ only taller and bigger. Some of his standing dunks reminded one of DJ.

Don't think Bradley was scared of anyone. Would have been T'ed out of games today with his mouth to refs (Coach too)

(12-12-2016 06:12 PM)camdentiger Wrote:  John Gunn was a great person.

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40 years next week

Still makes me sad