Tipton, ex-BHS standout, LSU starter, honored with banner Alan Sloan - Thu, Dec, 24, 2009
Wayne Tipton, an All-state basketball power forward at Bearden High School (Class of 1963) and three-year starter at LSU who played briefly alongside hoops legend “Pistol” Pete Maravich, was honored at BHS Tuesday night, Dec. 1, prior to the boys varsity game versus Webb School.
Tipton joined wife, Ann, along with family and friends as a banner was named, and now hangs, in his honor from the BHS gym rafters.
“It’s a big honor, I owe a lot to Bearden High School and the Knoxville community,” said Tipton, owner of Tipton & Associates Realtors in Bearden who also recalled reviving BHS girls basketball as its first coach (early 1970s) since the program was brought back after folding in the 1950s.
About his relationship with Maravich — all-time NCAA leader in career points, NBA star and Hall of Fame inductee — Tipton, then an LSU senior, said he “sort of took care of Pete,” then a freshman. “He wasn’t very mature at that point. But he wasn’t cocky. We had some great times together.”
Tipton, 64, who said he still makes trips to Louisiana to see ex-teammates and friends, recalled averaging 9.9 points and six rebounds per game at LSU.
