The Lehigh Valley’s got a pretty wild basketball history. Some of the names on this list were born here, others showed up for college or to play with the Allentown Jets, but they all helped put local hoops on the map.
We rounded up a few who stood out the most:
Basketball runs deep in the Lehigh Valley. Some of these players were born and raised here. Others came through for college, for a few pro seasons, or to coach local teams like the Allentown Jets or the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs. Together, they helped build a basketball legacy that stretches from packed high school gyms to NBA courts and overseas leagues.
Here are a few names that tell the story.
Larry Miller
Catasauqua High School; University of North Carolina (1965–1968); ABA: Los Angeles Stars, Carolina Cougars, and others
Miller is still the all-time District 11 scoring leader with 2,722 points. At UNC he was named ACC Player of the Year twice and once scored 67 points in a single ABA game. His name still comes up whenever people talk about the best pure scorers the Valley has ever produced.
Aaron Gray
Emmaus High School; University of Pittsburgh (2003–2007); NBA: Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings (2007–2014)
A 7-footer who developed into an All-Big East center at Pitt. Gray played 318 NBA games and earned a reputation as a reliable rebounder and screen-setter before health issues ended his career.
Darrun Hilliard
Liberty High School; Villanova University (2011–2015); NBA: Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs; Europe: CSKA Moscow, Bayern Munich, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bilbao Basket
Hilliard grew up in Bethlehem, became a standout at Liberty, and turned into one of Villanova’s best all-around guards. He was drafted by the Pistons in 2015 and has built a strong career overseas, now playing in Spain’s ACB league.
Tyrese Martin
William Allen High School (2017); University of Rhode Island and University of Connecticut; NBA: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets
Martin was an EPC standout at Allen and a hard-working guard who transferred from Rhode Island to UConn. He was drafted in 2022 and signed with the Nets in 2024, earning a standard NBA contract in 2025.
Bill Mlkvy
Palmerton High School; Temple University (1949–1952); NBA: Philadelphia Warriors (1952–1953)
Known as “The Owl Without a Vowel,” Mlkvy led all of college basketball in scoring in 1951 and once scored 54 straight points in a single game. He played one season in the NBA and remains a legend at Temple.
Brant Weidner
Parkland High School; William & Mary (1979–1983); NBA: San Antonio Spurs (1983–1984)
A 4th-round draft pick who appeared in eight NBA games with the Spurs. His journey from Parkland to the NBA is one of those short but proud Lehigh Valley success stories.
Bob Riedy
Dieruff High School; Duke University (1964–1967); ABA: Houston Mavericks; Eastern Basketball League: Allentown Jets
Riedy was drafted by the NBA but found his place in the ABA and with the Allentown Jets, where he helped the team win an EPBL title in 1968. His name is part of the early pro basketball history in the region.
Eddie Mast
Temple University (1966–1969); NBA: New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks; Eastern Basketball League: Allentown and Lehigh Valley Jets
Mast was drafted by the Knicks in 1969 and became a beloved local figure after his playing days. He won the EPBL Rookie of the Year award, played for and coached the Jets, and later coached at Dieruff High School.
C.J. McCollum
Lehigh University (2009–2013); NBA: Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards
McCollum became the first Lehigh player ever drafted into the NBA. He scored 2,361 points in college, still the Patriot League record, and has had a long, successful NBA career as a reliable scorer and team leader.
Daren Queenan
Lehigh University (1984–1988); CBA: Rapid City Thrillers; Europe: Belgium, Spain, and others
Queenan is Lehigh’s all-time leading scorer with 2,703 points and more than 1,000 rebounds. He was named CBA Rookie of the Year in 1989 and went on to have a long career overseas.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman
Allentown Central Catholic High School (2014); University of Michigan (2014–2018)
A four-time all-state selection at Central Catholic, Abdur-Rahkman scored more than 2,100 career points in high school and became Michigan’s all-time leader in games played with 144. He helped lead the Wolverines to the 2018 NCAA Championship game.
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