Ohio State won't soon forget John Havlicek.
Every player on the Buckeyes will wear jersey patches to remember Havlicek during the season opener against Cincinnati on Wednesday evening, the basketball program announced on Monday. There will also be a moment of silence prior to the game to honor Havlicek, who died in April at the age of 79.
The patch Ohio State hoops players will wear that honors John Havlicek tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/ebtz7g1vIF
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) November 5, 2019
In 1984, Havlicek earned a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of his play for both the Buckeyes and the Boston Celtics.
Havlicek, a native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, averaged 14.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free-throw line in his three seasons at Ohio State, spanning 1959-62. On a team that included Jerry Lucas, Larry Siegfried, Mel Nowell and Bobby Knight, Havlicek helped lead the Buckeyes to a national title in 1960. He was one of five players on that team who averaged double-digit points per game.
He was picked seventh overall in the 1962 NBA Draft by the Celtics, beginning a career that included 13 All-Star selections, eight NBA championships and four first-team All-NBA nods.
Both Ohio State and the Celtics have retired Havlicek's jersey. His No. 5 jersey was retired at Ohio State in 2005.
Wednesday's Ohio State-Cincinnati game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. at the Schottenstein Center and will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
