Billy Schaeffer
Encyclopedia
William G. "Billy" Schaeffer (born December 11, 1951) is a retired American
professional basketball player. He played in the American Basketball Association
(ABA) for the New York Nets in between 1973 and January 1976, at which point he was traded to the Virginia Squires
for the remainder of the 1975–76 season. Schaeffer was part of the Nets' championship season in 1973–74. He played collegiately at St. John's
and was selected in the 1973 NBA Draft
by the Los Angeles Lakers
.
, Schaeffer attended high school at Holy Cross
in Flushing. He stayed in his home state to attend college, electing to play for the Redmen of St. John's. In three varsity seasons spanning between 1970–71 and 1972–73, Schaeffer established himself as one of the premier players in program history. During his first season he averaged 14.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, followed by 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game the following season as a junior
. He was voted a third team All-American by the Associated Press
and United Press International
, among other accolades. Then, as a senior
in 1972–73, Schaeffer averaged a still-standing school record 24.7 points per game behind a then-school record .594 shooting percentage. The Met Basketball Writers Association selected him as the Haggerty Award
winner, which is given annually to the best male collegiate basketball player in the New York City metropolitan area. For his college career, Schaeffer accumulated 1,484 points and 622 rebounds.
selected Schaeffer in the second round (23rd overall) in the 1973 NBA Draft
. Despite being drafted to the NBA
, he chose instead to play in the American Basketball Association
, which at the time was almost on par with the NBA in terms of popularity. In his rookie
season in 1973–74
, he played for the New York Nets who won the ABA championship
. Schaeffer played a second full season with the Nets the following year as they failed to defend their title. In the off season he joined the Allentown Jets
in the Eastern Professional Basketball League
. They finished second in the regular season standings but went on to win the EPBL championship, two games to one, over the Hazelton Bullets.
In 1975–76, what would be Schaeffer's last as a professional basketball player, he played in 20 regular season games for the Nets before being traded on January 7, 1976 to the Virginia Squires
. While playing in 31 games for the Squires, he averaged a career high 6.6 points per game. The Nets, unfortunately for Schaeffer, would go on to win the 1976 ABA championship
at the end of the season. In 137 ABA games played, he scored 802 points and grabbed 289 rebounds.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player. He played in the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
(ABA) for the New York Nets in between 1973 and January 1976, at which point he was traded to the Virginia Squires
Virginia Squires
The Virginia Squires were a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association from 1970 until just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.-In Oakland :...
for the remainder of the 1975–76 season. Schaeffer was part of the Nets' championship season in 1973–74. He played collegiately at St. John's
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010...
and was selected in the 1973 NBA Draft
1973 NBA Draft
The 1973 NBA Draft was the 27th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1973 before the 1973–74 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
College
A native of Bellerose, New YorkBellerose, New York
Bellerose is a village in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. The population was 1,193 at the 2010 census.Bellerose is in the town of Hempstead near the western county line.- History :...
, Schaeffer attended high school at Holy Cross
Holy Cross High School (Flushing)
Holy Cross High School is an all-boys Roman Catholic high school in Flushing, in the New York City borough of Queens. Founded in 1955, the school was chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
in Flushing. He stayed in his home state to attend college, electing to play for the Redmen of St. John's. In three varsity seasons spanning between 1970–71 and 1972–73, Schaeffer established himself as one of the premier players in program history. During his first season he averaged 14.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, followed by 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game the following season as a junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
. He was voted a third team All-American by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, among other accolades. Then, as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1972–73, Schaeffer averaged a still-standing school record 24.7 points per game behind a then-school record .594 shooting percentage. The Met Basketball Writers Association selected him as the Haggerty Award
Haggerty Award
The Haggerty Award is given to the All-Metropolitan New York Division I men's college basketball player of the year, presented by the National Invitation Tournament and the Met Basketball Writers Association...
winner, which is given annually to the best male collegiate basketball player in the New York City metropolitan area. For his college career, Schaeffer accumulated 1,484 points and 622 rebounds.
Professional
The Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
selected Schaeffer in the second round (23rd overall) in the 1973 NBA Draft
1973 NBA Draft
The 1973 NBA Draft was the 27th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1973 before the 1973–74 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. Despite being drafted to the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, he chose instead to play in the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
, which at the time was almost on par with the NBA in terms of popularity. In his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season in 1973–74
1973–74 ABA season
-Eastern Division:-Western Division:...
, he played for the New York Nets who won the ABA championship
1974 ABA Playoffs
The 1974 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1973-1974 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion New York Nets defeating the Western Division champion Utah Stars, four games to one in the ABA Finals.-Notable events:A one game...
. Schaeffer played a second full season with the Nets the following year as they failed to defend their title. In the off season he joined the Allentown Jets
Allentown Jets
The Allentown Jets were a minor league basketball team that played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League from 1958 to 1981. The team was one of the most dominant franchises in CBA/Eastern League history, winning eight playoff championships and twelve division titles.Originally formed in...
in the Eastern Professional Basketball League
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
. They finished second in the regular season standings but went on to win the EPBL championship, two games to one, over the Hazelton Bullets.
In 1975–76, what would be Schaeffer's last as a professional basketball player, he played in 20 regular season games for the Nets before being traded on January 7, 1976 to the Virginia Squires
Virginia Squires
The Virginia Squires were a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association from 1970 until just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.-In Oakland :...
. While playing in 31 games for the Squires, he averaged a career high 6.6 points per game. The Nets, unfortunately for Schaeffer, would go on to win the 1976 ABA championship
1974 ABA Playoffs
The 1974 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1973-1974 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion New York Nets defeating the Western Division champion Utah Stars, four games to one in the ABA Finals.-Notable events:A one game...
at the end of the season. In 137 ABA games played, he scored 802 points and grabbed 289 rebounds.