Richie Cornwall
Personal information
Born(1946-09-15)September 15, 1946
Penndel, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 2021(2021-02-02) (aged 74)
Levittown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight160 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High schoolNeshaminy (Langhorne, Pennsylvania)
CollegeSyracuse (1965–1968)
NBA draft1968: undrafted
Playing career1968–1980
PositionPoint guard
Career history
1968–1971Binghamton Flyers / Trenton Pat Pavers
1971–1974;
1975–1977		Scranton Apollos
1977–1979Wilkes-Barre Barons
1979–1980Lancaster Red Roses
Career highlights and awards

Richard T. Cornwall (September 15, 1946 – February 2, 2021) was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange and professionally in the Eastern Professional Basketball League / Eastern Basketball Association / Continental Basketball Association. Cornwall was nicknamed "The Little General" as a 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) guard.

Early life

Cornwall was born and raised in Penndel, Pennsylvania, as the son of Thomas and Jean (née MacLeish) Cornwall.[1] He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne where he played basketball.[1]

College career

Cornwall received a scholarship to attend Syracuse University and play for the Orange men's basketball team.[1] He played a reserve role as a sophomore during the 1965–66 season behind guards Jim Boeheim and Dave Bing.[2] Earning the nickname "The Little General", Cornwall entered the starting line-up as a junior and started every game for his final two seasons.[2] He averaged 14.7 points per game as a junior and 11.2 points as a senior.[2]

Cornwall remains as one of the best free throw shooters in Orange history.[2] His 88 percent mark set as a junior ranks third-best in program history after Jim Lee and Gerry McNamara.[2] Cornwall's 86.1 career free throw percentage was a record for almost 40 years until McNamara surpassed it in 2006.[2]

Professional career

Cornwall played 11 seasons in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) / Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) / Continental Basketball Association (CBA).[3] He was selected to the all-EPBL second team and named as rookie of the year in 1969 while playing for the Binghamton Flyers.[3] Cornwall was selected to the all-EBA second team with the Wilkes-Barre Barons in 1978.[3] He led the EPBL/EBA in assists for three seasons: 174 in 1968–69,[4] 138 in 1969–70,[5] and 146 in 1973–74.[6]

Cornwall also spent one season playing professionally in Holland,[2] and led the league in assists.[7] He appeared in the 1975 Dutch Basketball League All-Star Game.[8]

Post-playing career

Cornwall became a teacher and basketball coach at Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, Pennsylvania, after his playing career ended.[2] He was inducted into the Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[9]

Personal life

Cornwall was married and had two daughters.[1] One of his daughters married the brother of basketball player Chris Mullin.[10]

Cornwall died in his Levittown home on February 2, 2021,[1] after a battle with pancreatic cancer.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Richard T. Cornwall Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Waters, Mike (March 6, 2023). "Richie Cornwall, former Syracuse basketball player, dies at age 74". Syracuse. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rich Cornwall minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  4. ↑ "1968-69 Eastern Professional Basketball League Leaders". Stats Crew. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ "1969-70 Eastern Professional Basketball League Leaders". Stats Crew. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  6. ↑ "1973-74 Eastern Basketball Association Leaders". Stats Crew. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Richie Cornwall". Orange Hoops. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  8. ↑ "All Star Gala seizoen 1974-1975". Basketball Happenings (in Dutch). Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2011 Honorees". Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ Frederick, Dave (March 25, 2022). "Pop Pop knocks uncle out of the ring everyday". Cape Gazette. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
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