Cecil Hankins
Encyclopedia
Cecil O. Hankins was an American
basketball
and football
player who played for the St. Louis Bombers
and Boston Celtics
in the Basketball Association of America
prior to the formation of the NBA.
Hankins was a four-sport star at Zaneis Consolidated School and attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University
). After playing basketball and running track as a freshman, Hankins transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University
where he starred in basketball and football before returning to Oklahoma State for his senior year. In that year, Hankins was a key player for Henry Iba's
1945 national championship team
, averaging 13.3 points for the Aggies. Hankins also starred on the gridiron, starting at halfback
for the 1945 Cotton Bowl champions.
Following the close of his collegiate career, Cecil Hankins weighed opportunities in both professional football (with the Boston Yanks
) and basketball. He ultimately chose basketball, sigining with the St. Louis Bombers of the BAA. Hankins played two seasons in the league, with the Bombers and the Boston Celtics. He averaged 4.9 points per game in 80 contests.
After his professional career ended, Hankins became a basketball and football coach at Sand Springs High School. He also officiated basketball and football games at the collegiate level. He retired as director of athletics at Sand Springs in 1988. Cecil Hankins died on June 3, 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played for the St. Louis Bombers
St. Louis Bombers (NBA)
The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1946. The team ceased operations in 1950.- Franchise history :...
and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in the Basketball Association of America
Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...
prior to the formation of the NBA.
Hankins was a four-sport star at Zaneis Consolidated School and attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act...
). After playing basketball and running track as a freshman, Hankins transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, often referred to as Southeastern and abbreviated as SE, or SOSU, is a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,229 as of 2009.-History:...
where he starred in basketball and football before returning to Oklahoma State for his senior year. In that year, Hankins was a key player for Henry Iba's
Henry Iba
Henry Payne "Hank" Iba was an American basketball and baseball coach.-Early life:Iba was born and raised in Easton, Missouri...
1945 national championship team
1944–45 Oklahoma A&M Aggies men's basketball team
The 1944–45 Oklahoma A&M Aggies men's basketball team represented Oklahoma A&M College, now known as Oklahoma State University, in NCAA competition in the 1944–45 season.-NCAA tournament:*West** Oklahoma A&M 62, Utah 37*Final Four...
, averaging 13.3 points for the Aggies. Hankins also starred on the gridiron, starting at halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
for the 1945 Cotton Bowl champions.
Following the close of his collegiate career, Cecil Hankins weighed opportunities in both professional football (with the Boston Yanks
Boston Yanks
The Boston Yanks were a National Football League team based in Boston, Massachusetts that played from 1944 to 1948. The team played its home games at Fenway Park. Games that conflicted with the Boston Red Sox schedule were held at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts...
) and basketball. He ultimately chose basketball, sigining with the St. Louis Bombers of the BAA. Hankins played two seasons in the league, with the Bombers and the Boston Celtics. He averaged 4.9 points per game in 80 contests.
After his professional career ended, Hankins became a basketball and football coach at Sand Springs High School. He also officiated basketball and football games at the collegiate level. He retired as director of athletics at Sand Springs in 1988. Cecil Hankins died on June 3, 2002.