John Vallely

John Vallely (born 1949) is a former UCLA Bruins men's basketball guard (basketball) and N.B.A. player from Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California. He attended Corona del Mar High School where he was a guard turned forward (basketball) who was selected to the all California Interscholastic Federation team and twice captured All Irvine League honors. Vallely was an integral member of the Bruins backcourt after transferring from Orange Coast College in 1968. He assisted UCLA teams coached by John Wooden to national titles in the 1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. He was selected to the twelve man 1968 Olympic trials team coached by Jerry Tarkanian, which competed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Basketball player

As a 6'2" forward for Orange Coast College, Vallely averaged 26 points per game and broke 18 scoring records. He was selected a junior college All American. He dribbled with his left hand and shot with his right hand. He was especially talented in shooting an outside jump shot (basketball) which he released witha snap of his wrist and which barely cleared the front rim. Vallely was quick to make the transition from forward to guard at UCLA. In his first season he was the Bruins' third leading scorer (12.9 p.p.g.) and adapted smoothly to Wooden's "attack and gamble offense".

He was taken by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 1970 NBA Draft. He sat on the bench much of the time, playing behind Pete Maravich, Lou Hudson, Walt Hazzard, and Herm Gilliam."Opportunity Knocks for County's Vallely", Los Angeles Times, November 10, 1971, pg. E20A.] In May 1971, while he was a point guard with the Hawks, he conducted a five day basketball clinic at Newport Harbor High School. ["John Vallely To Conduct Cage Clinic", Los Angeles Times, May 22, 1971, pg. E4.] Vallely was acquired by the Houston Rockets in November 1971 along with 6'7" forward Jim Davis (basketball).

Personal facts

His father owned a boat rental dock adjacent to the Balboa Island ferry. As a freshman at Corona del Mar Vallely was a 5'5" varsity starter. Heenjoys surfing, snow skiing, and playing volleyball. He majored in economics at UCLA and had a 3.36 grade point average as a junior."UCLA's Vallely:Pride of Balboa", Los Angeles Times, January 23, 1969, pg. E1.]

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