University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Basketball Great Nick Revon Passes Away Monday
6/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 30, 2008
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Nick Revon, the all-time leading scorer in the history of Southern Miss men's basketball, died Monday morning in New Orleans, La., following a series of heart problems at the age of 79.
Revon, a four-year letterwinner from 1950-54, scored 2,136 points in 122 career games for a 17.5 points per game average over his Southern Miss tenure. He converted 76.2 percent of his free throws over his four years with the team and still holds six school records.
Those records include single-season marks for scoring (737 points), field goals made (266), free throws made (205) and free throws attempted (267). In addition to his career record for points, he set the standard for free throws in his career with 538.
Known for his brilliant shooting touch, as well as his ball-handling and passing skills, his game earned him the nickname "the Cat."
Revon came to Southern Miss, then known as Mississippi Southern, after a record-setting career at St. Aloysius High School in New Orleans that people at the time thought might never be broken and in fact many of his records weren't broken for many, many years. He then was one of the best performers to ever compete in the strong Mississippi Junior College league at Hinds Junior College, where he was twice named to the all-state team.
He made his debut with Southern Miss during the 1950-51 season and although he missed nearly half the year with a broken foot still managed to average 13.7 points as the team finished 21-14. Coach Lee Floyd and the Southern Miss fans knew they had something special in Revon.
Revon really started to blossom during the 1951-52 season, leading the team in scoring with a 16.9 average and his driving, slashing style sent him to the foul line more than anyone else on the team. He went to the line 182 times that year and made 147 (80.8 percent). He would be the leader of a Southern Miss team that went 29-8, won the Gulf States Conference regular season and postseason tournament championships, and advanced for the first time to the NAIA National tournament.
He also led the team back to the NAIA National tournament in 1952-53, finishing second on the team in scoring with a 14.6 average. Again he went to the foul line more than anyone else on the team, 179 times, and made 131 (73.2 percent). That team finished the year 27-8 and went to the final eight of the NAIAs before being beaten. He earned Collier's NABC All-America honorable mention honors for this play that season.
Revon would go on a rampage in 1953-54, not only would he take the team to the NAIA nationals for a third-straight year, but he would average an amazing 23.8 points per game, while leading the team to a 23-8 record. In 31 games, he earned 267 trips to the foul line, making 205 (76.8 percent).
During his Southern Miss days, he also was a star baseball player for Southern Miss and excelled on the track team as well in the high jump and broad jump.
The Minneapolis Lakers selected him in the 1954 NBA Draft, but he opted to play in the National Industrial Basketball League instead where he enjoyed a standout professional career.
Revon then went on to coach 24 years as a high school basketball coach at St. Aloysius and then East Jefferson High Schools. His East Jeff squads won 299 games as well as capturing nine district titles while reaching the state playoffs 15 times in a stint that ended with the 1986-87 season.
For his successes, Revon earned induction into the Southern Miss M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame (March 26, 1966), along with the Mississippi and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fames, the Hinds Junior College and New Orleans Sugar Bowl Hall of Fames. In addition, he is one of 15 members of the Southern Miss Legends Club, a group that was established by the Department of Athletics to hone these individuals who excelled in their respective sport and gave their heart and soul for Southern Miss.
There will be a visitation, Thursday, July 3, from 10 a.m., until 1 p.m., at Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, with a funeral mass to be held there immediately following the visitation.
Revon, who was married twice, is survived by seven children. His sons, Ricky, lettered in basketball for the Golden Eagles during the 1970-71 season.
