Tom Robitaille

Tom Robitaille is an American former basketball player. He played collegiately for the Rice Owls from 1955 to 1959, where he led the team in scoring during his junior and senior seasons.[1] He was considered the Owls' biggest asset during his senior season due to his great agility for his size.[2] He was selected to the All-Southwest Conference (SWC) team three times: as the first-team in 1958 and the second-team in 1957 and 1959.[3] In 1959, he was selected for the Billy Wohn Award, which is presented annually to the Owls basketball player who best exemplifies the qualities of "basketball ability, scholarship and leadership".[1] Robitaille scored 1,137 points during his collegiate career, which ranks 27th best in program history.[1]

Tom Robitaille
Personal information
BornGraham, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
CollegeRice (1955–1959)
NBA draft1959 / Round: 2 / Pick: 7th overall
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
PositionPower forward / Center
Career history
1959–1962Phillips 66ers
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-SWC (1958)
  • 2× Second-team All-SWC (1957, 1959)

Robitaille was selected in the 1959 NBA draft as the 7th overall pick by the Detroit Pistons as part of a trade deal with the Cincinnati Royals for Phil Jordon.[4] Robitaille was "sought by at least six clubs" at the time of the draft but he ultimately never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[4] In 1959, he played for the United States in a series of six exhibition games against a team from the Soviet Union.[5] He played for the Phillips 66ers of the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL) from 1959 to 1962.[6]

References
  1. "2019–20 Rice Owls Men's Basketball Fact Book" (PDF). Rice University. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  2. Tax, Jeremiah (December 8, 1958). "Southwest". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  3. "Southwest Conference". College Hoopedia. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  4. "Pistons Get Man They Want: Howell". Detroit Free Press. April 1, 1959. p. 31. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  5. "Robitaille Joins U.S. Cage Forces In Red Match". The Rice Thresher. December 18, 1959. p. 8. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  6. "Tom Robitaille". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
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