The Pizza Hut All-Star Basketball Classic was an annual American all-star game featuring senior men's college basketball players in the United States. The event was sanctioned by the NCAA and NAIA. It started in 1972 and was sponsored by Pizza Hut.
The All-Star Classic drew star players such as Larry Bird, Rolando Blackman, Kevin McHale, Vinnie Johnson, Bo Ellis, Nick Galis, and Ricky Pierce, while some legendary coaches like Larry Brown, Al McGuire, Joe B. Hall, and Ralph Miller, coached the All-Stars. The event lasted for a decade.
History
The All-Star Classic was started in 1972 by Pizza Hut with all its proceeds going to charity, the Pizza Hut Charities Foundation. It was held on April 15, 1972, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. The following editions were also played at the same venue.
Former, Los Angeles Lakers player Elgin Baylor, was the commentator of the first Pizza Hut Basketball Classic which was televised by the CBS.
The game was played annually between East and West selections. Pizza Hut cancelled the Classic after the 1982 edition to explore a "more all-encompassing approach" to their charitable contributions.
Overall, the East recorded 6 wins and the West 5.
Voting
Eight players of each team (East and West) were elected by popular vote, while the remaining two were selected by a national coaching media panel. The ballots for the players' selection were available at all Pizza Hut restaurants of the country and the participating colleges. USA's top 100 senior College basketball players were eligible for election. The majority of the voted players were also elected as NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans during the season.
List of games Bold: Team that won the game.
Season VenueTeamScoreTeamMVP 1973 Las Vegas Convention CenterEast All-Stars 92–93 West All-Stars Swen Nater 1977 Las Vegas Convention CenterEast All-Stars 95–97 West All-Stars 1978 Las Vegas Convention CenterEast All-Stars won West All-Stars 1979 Las Vegas Convention Center East All-Stars 107–92West All-Stars Larry Bird 1980 Las Vegas Convention Center East All-Stars wonWest All-Stars 1981 Las Vegas Convention Center East All-Stars wonWest All-Stars 1982 Las Vegas Convention CenterEast All-Stars 88–102 West All-Stars Ricky Frazier
Topscorers Season Player Points Team 1979 Earl Evans 21 UNLV Runnin' Rebels 1982 Scott Hasting 16 Arkansas Razorbacks
Notable players Kevin McHale Kent Benson Bo Ellis Larry Bird Nick Galis Vinnie Johnson Maurice Cheeks Swen Nater Danny Ainge Rolando Blackman Danny Vranes Frank Johnson Kelly Tripucka Dave Corzine Matt Hicks Bo Lamar
Distinctions FIBA Hall of Fame
Nick Galis
Basketball Hall of Fame
Nick Galis Larry Bird Al McGuire (coach) Larry Brown (coach) Kevin McHale
Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
Rolando Blackman Larry Bird Al McGuire (coach) Joe B. Hall (coach) Larry Brown (coach) Kevin McHale Fred Taylor (coach)
See also Reese's College All-Star Game
References
Notes
Sources Stu's Notes: Bring Back the Pizza Hut Classic