- Name
- Greg Starrick
- Position
- Guard
- Class
- SO
- Hometown (Last School)
- Marion, IL (High)
- Ht
- 6'2"
- Wt
- 173
- Seasons
- 1968-69
- Birthday
- April 9, 1949
Greg Starrick was born on April 9, 1949, in Mount Morris, Illinois, to Harold F. Stark and Charlotte W. Stark. He was a standout collegiate basketball player who began his career at the University of Kentucky during the 1968–69 season.
A talented guard, Starrick came to Kentucky from Carterville, Illinois, where he had an impressive high school career that caught the attention of college scouts nationwide. He was one of the most highly sought-after prep stars in the nation. Starrick set the Marion High School and South 7 Conference single-game scoring record with 70 points and established a school season record of 771, a career record of 1,975, and a conference season record of 511 points, averaging 36.5 a game. The all-star finished his senior season with 33 points per game. He also earned three letters in baseball.
Starrick visited the Kentucky campus in early May 1967, then committed several weeks later. He chose to attend Kentucky over dozens of other schools and the Cincinnati Reds, who offered an attractive bonus.
In his freshman year at Kentucky, Starrick played under legendary coach Adolph Rupp. However, during that era, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from playing on the varsity squad, so he competed on the freshman team during the 1967–68 season. Even so, he quickly developed a reputation for his sharp shooting and strong basketball IQ. He was awarded the Jaycees Freshman Leadership Award at season’s end. He also played baseball for Kentucky.
As a sophomore, Starrick appeared in seven games for Kentucky, averaging 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. Midway through his sophomore year, Starrick quit the team, citing a lack of playing time.
He transferred to Southern Illinois University (SIU), 17 miles from his home, where he enjoyed a highly successful college career and emerged as a star. At SIU, he became an All-American, known especially for his scoring ability and leadership on the court. Over three seasons with the Salukis, he played in 65 games, averaging 22.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Notably, he led the nation in free-throw percentage in both 1971 and 1972. In the 1971–72 season, his senior year, Starrick averaged 23.8 points per game and maintained a free-throw percentage of 92.5%.
Greg Starrick’s time at Kentucky may have been brief, but it was the starting point of a collegiate journey that ultimately established him as one of the more notable guards of his era.
