After leaving Amanda Elzy, Greenwood’s Gerald Glass became one of the greatest basketball players in the history of two Mississippi universities — Delta State and then Ole Miss.
Glass starred first at Delta State where he was All-Gulf South Conference in both 1986 and 1987 and the league’s MVP in 1987. He led DSU to two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and scored 1,249 points in just two seasons. He followed Coach Ed Murphy to Ole Miss, where he was a two-time All-SEC player who averaged 24 points per game as a senior.
Glass went on to become a NBA first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now at age 45, he’s about to start his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater Elzy.
Glass will add another honor to his already distinguished hoops career Friday, when he will become one of the newest members to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony at the Jackson Hilton. There will be a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the banquet at 7. Saturday’s activities include a meet and greet with Hall of Famers (9:30-11 a.m.) and the annual Drawdown of Champions. There is also a silent auction of sports memorabilia and other items.
“Wow, it’s still hard to believe that I’m considered one of the best to come through this great state,” Glass said. “But I guess after Friday, it will really hit home. This is the highest honor I’ve ever received.
“This is really special. It’s something that will always be there, something my kids, family and friends will always be able to share in. It will also be nice to represent two great schools in the Hall of Fame.”
Murphy left DSU after Glass’ freshman year, but the former Elzy standout stayed in Cleveland for one more season before leaving for Ole Miss. After sitting out a season following his transfer, Glass quickly became a star and earned the nickname “World Class Glass.” He finished fourth in the nation in scoring as a junior in 1989 and wound up the school’s sixth leading all-time scorer (1,564 points) after just two seasons.
He gained national attention with his legendary matchups against LSU’s Chris Jackson. Glass led Ole Miss to a thrilling 113-112 win in overtime in perhaps the greatest one-on-one duel in Southeastern Conference history. Jackson tallied 55 points, while Glass poured in 53. Their 108 combined points is the most by two players in an SEC game.
Glass hit a 3-pointer late in OT to tie the score and drained a free throw with nine seconds left that gave Ole Miss the victory.
Glass went on to play professionally in the NBA and then overseas, but what has happened since is what he says has defined him as a person.
“This is what God had planned for me,” Glass said of his coaching career.
Glass left Ole Miss 42 hours short of his degree. Several years after his pro career was over, Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy invited Glass to come back and work as a student assistant at the age of 41 and go back to class. He earned his degree in a year’s time while helping out his alma mater.
Then he quickly got the job at his alma mater. Glass is making an even bigger impact on Elzy as a coach than he did as a player.
Contact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
