Craig Tucker as a Red Raven.
The 2017 class of the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame was released on Jan. 9. The inductees of this year’s class include former Trinity Valley (Texas) and Brown Mackie (Kansas) forward Eddie Robinson, former Coffeyville (Kan.) guard Craig Tucker, current Lansing (Michigan) head coach Michael Ingram, Joliet (Ill.) head coach Joe Kuhn and former Vincennes (Ind.) sports information director Robert Stevens.
A native of Flint, Michigan, Craig Tucker immediately made his presence felt as a freshman for the Red Ravens. In his first season at Coffeyville, Tucker posted 23.8 points per contest and was named an All-American to the NJCAA’s third team in 1979. One of Tucker's teammates his freshman year at Coffeyville was a power forward named James "Buster" Douglas. Douglas would later defeat Mike Tyson in 1990 to become the heavyweight boxing champion.
In his sophomore season, success continued for Tucker as he tallied a whopping 27.7 points per tilt and was named an NJCAA All-American again, but this time on the first team. In his final season with Coffeyville, Tucker accumulated 41 points in a single game – at the time a program-best. The All-American still leads the program in total scoring, reaching 1,436 points in 60 career games.
After his stint at Coffeyville, Tucker continued his collegiate career in playing basketball at Illinois from 1980 to 1982. While with the Fighting Illini, Tucker continued to score the ball averaging 10.7 and 15.5 points per game as a junior and senior, respectively.
Tucker’s skills would then propel him to a gold medal at the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City as a member of Team USA and to be drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1982 NBA Draft. The Knicks selected the Red Ravens standout with the 11th pick in the third round.
Prior to competing in college and being drafted professionally, Tucker went to Flint Northern High School and played under head coach Bill Troesken. With the Vikings, Tucker was a catalyst in helping them win a Class-A Michigan State Championship, in which he tallied 26 points in a 67-56 victory over Pontiac Central High School.
Tucker currently resides in Las Vegas.