(Thanks to a helping hand from Bo Kimble, Coach Paul Westhead, and author Kyle Keiderling, a feature story on the lasting memory of Hank Gathers is running in today’s edition of USA Today and online. But putting 23 years into an 800 word story doesn’t nearly suffice when talking about Gathers and the anniversary of his passing on March 4, 1990. I’ll leave that up to the man who knew Hank best - Bo Kimble.)

Knowing Hank Gathers

By Bo Kimble, as told to Wendell Maxey

Every year at this time the sports world gives Hank Gathers that respect.  

For me, it’s amazing. If people only want to think of Hank and Bo, then that’s okay. I’m not linked to anything negative, that’s for sure. He’s a legend. Those days happen to be the best moments of my life, and many of his to be honest. When I see it – from Hank, to the left-hand free throw, to Loyola – it’s a proud moment to see how people have identified with that team.

I look at what Hank achieved and what our team achieved. I look at it like an artist would look at it. At the end of the day, we want to be respected for our artwork. What Hank was able to achieve in 23 years – from leading the nation in scoring and rebounding – and that his legacy is remembered is amazing.

Those left-handed free throws were my selfish way of honoring Hank. There was no better tribute after watching nine years of this guy working his tail off. It meant the same if it was an airball or all net. I was crying inside anyway. I was proud if it went in, but I didn’t care if it went in.

People wonder if Hank could have played in the NBA. Just look at what he did against Shaquille O’Neal [and against LSU in 1990]. Can anyone else say they’ve scored 48 points on one of the greatest centers of all time? Hank knew what was riding and he did what he did.

Who is the all-time scoring leader at Loyola Marymount? Hank Gathers.

Hank at 6’7 going up against Shaq and Stanley (Roberts); they wanted to know who was better and on paper there was no question. But look what he did to those two guys (48 points, 13 rebounds). That’s what Hank Gathers was all about.

I put Hank and Patrick Ewing in the same category when it comes to working hard. I’ve never seen anyone work harder than those guys. In my mind, they are legends. That year I was with the New York Knicks, you had to pull Patrick out of the gym. (Pat) Riley and the team had to pull him out of practice: ‘You’re our leader. You’re banged up. Sit out a drill. We have a game tomorrow.’ You had to try and drag him and he wouldn’t go.

Then Hank; how many free throws are you going to shoot in trying to be a better free throw shooter? And you are so horrible that you shoot with your opposite hand. Then out of luck and working as hard as you can, you stay with your opposite hand just to see if it would go in.

Hank and I were the captains of the team. He was the vocal leader. I led more by example.

Before every practice, we’d lead the team with a casual jog around the court before we huddled up and met with Coach Westhead and the coaching staff. With Hank being gone, the first two laps really hit me [before the first tournament game]. It hit me at the press conference. That was a blur. But my weakest moment was when we were jogging and the team was following me that he’s not next to me. What I needed to do personally was take myself outside and have that moment of emotion. If I would have reacted the way I felt, I don’t know what would have happened emotionally with the rest of the team. I was overwhelmed. I just wanted to sit down and cry for an hour. And that would have been fine. But I just didn’t. I found the strength and led the team around. They gained strength from me. We gained strength from wherever we needed to gain it from.

No disrespect to UNLV, but we were the highest scoring team in the nation – 122 points per game. Good luck everybody – Hank Gathers is still here. Let’s just dream. We can all dream. This is the Bo Kimble version. You didn’t have to wonder if we were going to score 100 points a game. You already knew.

The best coach in America, no question, is Paul Westhead. The only thing he’d say to me is, if you’re not going to shoot, then have a seat. What player doesn’t want to hear that? Who doesn’t want to turn on ESPN or CBS and see everybody shoot the ball every four or five seconds? And make it. I don’t understand why teams don’t play that way. Now everyone just passes the ball around and shoots with six seconds left on the clock. Or do you want to see an LMU game and style of offense where the real talent is on the floor? They play that way because it’s a controlled philosophy of the coaches.

I look forward one day to being a head coach somewhere and one day running the offense that gave me the pride and joy, and allowing players to be the players they are capable of being. I look forward to that day. I will be a head coach one day – now that is only a dream by the way, but don’t wake me up.

My greatest work now is with the foundation – Forty four for Life - and to educate others about the importance of sudden cardiac arrest. The foundation is about raising money anyway we can to donate defibrillators, training people in CPR and first aid awareness. It is similar to the efforts of the American Heart Association.

This Saturday, I’ll be inducted into the West Coast Conference Hall of Fame (Gathers was inducted last year). An acknowledgement that has my name and Hank’s name attached is an honor. And because Hank’s not hear is quadruple the honor.

It’s nice to be respected for what we’ve done. We just always wanted to do our best.

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