Players

Richard Rapp

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations:

Centralia High School

Bradley University

US Army

Biography:

One of the most memorable basketball games ever played in Illinois high school boys’ basketball was the IHSA super-sectional game betwwen #1 rated Collinsville HS and #2 rated Centralia HS in 1961.  The score was tied 18 times and the lead changed 34 times before Collinsville ecked a 64-62 victory to preserve their undefeated season.  The leader of the Centralia team was Richard Rapp.  The Orphans lost their first game of the season and then won 29 straight until that super-sectional loss.  Richard averaged 18 ppg.   He was named to the All South Seven conference team, and to all tournament teams at Centralia and Salem.  He was that year’s Southern Illinoisan and Evansville Sunday Courier player of the year.  The 6’5″ Rapp was named to all state teams selected by the Chicago Daily News , The Champaign News-Gazette, The Associated Press, and The Evansville Sunday Courier.  

Richard went on to play for Bradley University and was their freshman team leading scorer with an 18.8 ppg average and leading rebounder with 11 rpg.  His college career was interrupted by the US Army.  In 1965 he was named to the All Army team as he averaged 24 ppg for the Ranstein Air Force Base team which won the European Championship.  Back at Bradley, Richard sat out his sohomore season but played his junior and senior seasons.  He was a part of the Braves’ 1969 NIT team.