Friends of Basketball

Shelley Stark

Year Inducted: 2001

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: (Chicago) South Shore High School
Roosevelt University

Biography: Shelley Stark’s love affair with basketball began as a player at Chicago’s Bradwell Grammar School in 1947. His introduction to the game came through his neighbors Tom and Lee O’Connell, South Shore High School greats, and Jack Stephens, a Chicago Mount Carmel High School Hall of Famer. Stark’s brother Burt and South Shore coaches Clarence Applegram and Roger Inman nurtured his progress.  Stark played for the Tars from 1951-54 in the junior and senior divisions before moving on to Roosevelt University from 1955-56.  From 1966-78, Stark coached and won the most summer pro-am championships – seven – with players such as Flynn Robinson, Lloyd Batts, Boyd Batts, Quinn Buckner, Tom Boerwinkle, Billy Harris, Mark Sibley and Bo Ellis.  With former Mount Carmel standout Greg Carney, Stark formed the Chicagoland Sports Foundation in 1978.  From 1978-93, Stark conducted the most popular and successful summer pro-am in Chicago basketball history. It was proclaimed the No. 1 pro-am of its kind in the United States by Rod Thorn, the general manager of the Chicago Bulls. More than 500 players from the Chicago Public, Catholic and Suburban leagues participated as well as college and National Basketball Association stars, including Michael Jordan for three summers.  Stark, who was inducted into the Chicago Public League Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June 2000, was a marketing executive with S.A. Peck & Co., of Chicago.