Junius Kellogg
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Junius Kellogg | |
|---|---|
Junius Kellogg on the cover of the federal publication Performance (May 1958) | |
| Born | March 16, 1927 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | September 16, 1998 (aged 71) The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations | Basketball player, coach |
Junius Kellogg (March 16, 1927 – September 16, 1998) was an American basketball player, coach, and civil servant. He was the first African-American to play college basketball for Manhattan College. While playing for the Jaspers, Kellogg became known for his role in helping to expose the 1951 college basketball point-shaving scandal of 1950–51.
Kellogg was from Portsmouth, Virginia,[1] the eldest of the twelve children of Theodore Kellogg and Lucy Kellogg.[2][3] He graduated from I.C.Norcom High School.[1]
College career
In 1951, Kellogg, a standout 6'8" center, was offered a $1,000 bribe to shave points before a game against DePaul.[4] Although he was working for minimum wage at a frozen custard shop near campus, he refused to take it, reporting the solicitation to his coach, Ken Norton. Norton sent him to the district attorney, Frank Hogan. To get evidence about the corruption, he wore a wire when he was again approached in a nearby bar. His whistle blowing touched off the largest college betting scandal in American history.[3] Ultimately, the investigation involved thirty-two players from seven colleges and encompassed 86 games between 1947 and 1950, including three stars from the 1950 City College of New York team. CCNY had won both the National Invitation Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, in 1950, the only time that has ever been accomplished.[5]