McCLYMONDS HIGH in west Oakland produced basketball teams in the late 1950s and early'60s that were unbeatable enough without help. But the moral support the Warriors got from one famous alum made it almost unfair.
"Every time we would go to the Tournament of Champions at Cal," recalled Paul Silas, the former NBA standout and coach who graduated from Mack in 1960, "Bill Russell would always send us a telegram, wishing us luck.
"They would read it over the loudspeaker before the game, and the whole crowd would go nuts," Silas said. "I remember talking to Jim Brovelli, who played at St. Ignatius. We demolished them (in the 1960 TOC final), and he was telling me what effect that telegram had on them."
Today we begin a weekly 25-part series that ranks Bay Area high schools based on the athletic talent they produced. Wecompared the top five athletes from each school and rated them accordingly. We also will present the best five athletes from every other school in the area, unveiling three each week.
McClymonds was a clear choice as No.1.
Silas, Russell elevate Oakland school to No.1
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