I was at the game in Lansing with the Brother Rice team this is where Magic got his name we from Lansing were so pleased Thank You for posting a fond memory!!
I'm from Bangor (we were the Vikings too) and first saw him at Reid Fieldhouse in Kalamazoo in the state tournament during "our" senior year. (Graduated the same year). I remember asking my brother just as the game began, "which one is he"? He said, "oh you'll know in a minute". He was absolutely right.
"Magic" really got his nickname 2 seasons earlier, as a high school soph When he came up to varsity he was a sensation and reporters wanted to make up a flashy nickname for him. They tried 'Big E' but that was no good because Elvin Hayes already had it, they tried 'Mr. J' but that sounded too much like 'Dr. J' so one of the Lansing sportswriters said 'how about Magic?" and it stuck.
I went to Dwight Rich Jr High in Lansing, 3 years behind Earvin. My best friend Terry was in his class. Terry showed me his 9th grade year book, pointed at his picture and said "That's Magic"... so I'll always believe they were calling him Magic even in Jr High (they never lost a game while he was there).
Parry Wolfe: our school had a pretty good junior high team in the Lansing area, they beat everybody in their church league, etc etc. the coach set up a game against Dwight Rich who supposedly had an incredible 7th grader named Irving Johnson or something. Our best player was a kid who was 6-1 and 195 in 8th grade, he demolished everybody, set a school record, blah blah. But he also played in pickup games over at MSU Intramural Bldg against some guys from Lansing. So some of our guys were saying "oh we are gonna show these guys from Lansing, etc etc., we will fix them." Our big center-- who crushed everybody in our league-- just shook his head and said, "no man, we ain't showing nobody nothing." The other kids said, "oh come on, we have a great team, you scored 30 in one game, you'll crush them." Our big guy said, "No. You'll see." They said, "how good can this guy be?" He said, "Better than anybody you ever saw." Some guys said, "big deal, we have gone to MSU games and seen great players there," so he said, "those guys play pickup games at MSU too, and Earvin Johnson kicks their asses like they were grade schoolers." Our team lost like 75-42 or something like that. Earvin outscored our big center like 36-12. Some kids said, "man he really kicked your ass," and he said, "actually I played pretty good, I was happy he didn't score 50."
This was the first season dunking had been re-legalized after being banned for 9 years, so whenever anyone dunked in a game the fans went insane. Magic was one of the very few HS players who could dunk. Most of Everett's games were blowouts, unlike this one, so usually in the second half Magic would cherry pick back at half court to get a dunk if he hadn't gotten one already. Everett also had a play where one of the other guards would drive, shoot a layup hard off the board, and Magic would trail behind and slam the rebound. They used to do this once or twice a game.
Didn't see this game in person but I did see the 77 game Eastern Vs Everett at Jenison Field House. Another great player, who was overshadowed by the success of Earvin and the Everett Vikings, Jay Vincent, him and his Eastern Quakers beat Everett that night. Oh man! What an unbelievable era of high school basketball in the Lansing Area.
I played with and against Earvin in pickup games and every game you were bugging your eyes saying "OMG." I played against all sorts of guys way better than me so I was well used to saying, "wow that dude is pretty good," but with Earvin it was something completely more than "pretty good" -- this guy was unbelievable, doing shttt nobody ever saw before.
My dad took me to see Ervin as a JR in high school. Everett / Eastern AAA Michigan finals. As we walked out my dad said Magic will be in the NBA hall of fame. NBA? Thank you dad
lol, " You know, just try to help and contribute to the team, that's what I do best, you know. I just try to score when we need a basket, pass you know when an open man is open, so I just like to contribute to the team, trying to win, that's all." Magic Johnson is such a nice guy. :D
Two points...Magic tried to call time out when Everett didn't have any left to take the lead and Second, in todays game Brother Rice wins...3 pointer. Best high school game I ever saw!
+Brian OConnor Earvin did try to call time out without any but that was 2 years earlier in the quarter finals against Dearborn Fordson in a game played at Jackson Parkside gym. the technical foul cost the game and highland park won the state championship in 1975. Your second point is ridiculous because it fails to consider that there would have been countless 3-pointers made during the game. also, even in the same scenario with a game ender, coach would have made kevin smith go to the line and make two free throws. sadly though, a second overtime would have been without Earvin who had fouled out. (Everett 1977 grad and at most every game)
I watched him play in high. He used to come to the Battle Creek and play my Brothers high school team Battle Creek Central. I his last year of high school or at least one of the years, his team mate Reggie Chastain was killed in an auto accident. If I remember correctly, that year they made it to the championship but lost Magic and Reggie were a dynamic duo on the court.
I remember seeing this game on TV. Jaime Huffman played at Michigan State too. He was on the 1979 national championship team. He mostly rode the bench, but became temporarily famous during the NCAA Tournament when TV commentator and former coach Al McGuire nicknamed him "Shoes" when he was unprepared to go into the game when called because his shoes were untied. Incidentally, Brother Rice star Kevin Smith seen in this video also played at MSU, although after Magic left.
This dude in the big lapeled-suit talking to Magic after the game (concluding the interview by calling him "Irving" at 5:11) called Kevin Smith "Randy." Randy Smith was a long-time NBA guard who was in the middle of a 906 consecutive-game streak at that time.
Al O: Jamie Huffman was a pretty good HS player 6-3 who transferred to Everett that year from a smaller school (Homer) where he averaged 20 pts as a junior. He helped a lot as Everett won the state title.
@WiltatKansas What's up? It's unfortunate you would come at us like this considering we had no idea you had this posted. We did not get the footage from your post. We actually appreciate the hard work that you have put in to build your channel and don't want to take anything away from you. We have quite a few videos in our library and have just gotten started with posting. Apologies are extended if you feel we have violated your post as the video here did not from your channel.
Actually he got the name Magic as a sophomore at Everett in fall 1974 when he first started playing varsity b-ball. One of the sports writers for the local Lansing State Journal said he needed a nickname, so he asked him, "What about Big E?" That was no good because Elvin Hayes of the NBA Bullets was already Big E. Then he said, "How about Big J?" That sounded too much like Dr. J who was a rising superstar at the time. So finally he said "how about Magic?" so Earvin said "sounds OK to me."
I was a freshmen at Rice at the time and in Crisler for the game. At that time there was no 3 point line, so Kevin Smith's half court shot in today's game would have won it instead of tied the game. Bruce Fields, former MLBer and Detroit Tigers hitting coach, was also in this game for Everett.
And you know this because any other jumper or set shot outside that presumed 3-point arc during the game was duly recorded by you, or someone in charge and Brother Rice was up by one at the close of the 4th quarter. I enjoyed Dandy Don Meredith as a kid, as he has accurately opined, that "If If's and But's were candy and nuts, then we'll all have a Merry Christmas."
@@JohnSmith-op1tc it's hard to say because the whole game would have been played with 3's and it might not have come down to a last second heave. Plus, he would have been defended differently and most likely fouled B4 that shot.
It's crazy to see that they moved the mhsaa basketball title games to the campus where college basketball has been king or as some would say to little brother's court.
E.J we lived in the same neighborhood. he should of went to Sexton but was BUSED to LANSING evertt. went to sir pizza a lot on the corner of willow St. and logon. MLK now.
My uncle larry played in that game larry hunter to be exact so proud of him and magic
TabbyKatt Your uncle was a beast in junior high school, he scored almost as much as Earvin did.
well I wasn't there but I'm watching it several times on this laptop. Wow! What a great HS basketball game!!
Such a mature player at that age already... surpasses everyone on the court.
I was at the game in Lansing with the Brother Rice team this is where Magic got his name we from Lansing were so pleased Thank You for posting a fond memory!!
I'm from Bangor (we were the Vikings too) and first saw him at Reid Fieldhouse in Kalamazoo in the state tournament during "our" senior year. (Graduated the same year). I remember asking my brother just as the game began, "which one is he"? He said, "oh you'll know in a minute". He was absolutely right.
"Magic" really got his nickname 2 seasons earlier, as a high school soph
When he came up to varsity he was a sensation and reporters wanted to make up a flashy nickname for him. They tried 'Big E' but that was no good because Elvin Hayes already had it, they tried 'Mr. J' but that sounded too much like 'Dr. J' so one of the Lansing sportswriters said 'how about Magic?" and it stuck.
I went to Dwight Rich Jr High in Lansing, 3 years behind Earvin. My best friend Terry was in his class. Terry showed me his 9th grade year book, pointed at his picture and said "That's Magic"... so I'll always believe they were calling him Magic even in Jr High (they never lost a game while he was there).
Parry Wolfe: our school had a pretty good junior high team in the Lansing area, they beat everybody in their church league, etc etc. the coach set up a game against Dwight Rich who supposedly had an incredible 7th grader named Irving Johnson or something.
Our best player was a kid who was 6-1 and 195 in 8th grade, he demolished everybody, set a school record, blah blah. But he also played in pickup games over at MSU Intramural Bldg against some guys from Lansing.
So some of our guys were saying "oh we are gonna show these guys from Lansing, etc etc., we will fix them."
Our big center-- who crushed everybody in our league-- just shook his head and said, "no man, we ain't showing nobody nothing."
The other kids said, "oh come on, we have a great team, you scored 30 in one game, you'll crush them."
Our big guy said, "No. You'll see."
They said, "how good can this guy be?" He said, "Better than anybody you ever saw."
Some guys said, "big deal, we have gone to MSU games and seen great players there," so he said, "those guys play pickup games at MSU too, and Earvin Johnson kicks their asses like they were grade schoolers."
Our team lost like 75-42 or something like that. Earvin outscored our big center like 36-12. Some kids said, "man he really kicked your ass," and he said, "actually I played pretty good, I was happy he didn't score 50."
@@JStarStar00 Fred Stabley of the Lansing State Journal gave him the name Magic
GOAT. No matter what level, no matter who he played with, Magic, like Bill Russell, WON.
This was the first season dunking had been re-legalized after being banned for 9 years, so whenever anyone dunked in a game the fans went insane. Magic was one of the very few HS players who could dunk.
Most of Everett's games were blowouts, unlike this one, so usually in the second half Magic would cherry pick back at half court to get a dunk if he hadn't gotten one already.
Everett also had a play where one of the other guards would drive, shoot a layup hard off the board, and Magic would trail behind and slam the rebound. They used to do this once or twice a game.
Didn't see this game in person but I did see the 77 game Eastern Vs Everett at Jenison Field House. Another great player, who was overshadowed by the success of Earvin and the Everett Vikings, Jay Vincent, him and his Eastern Quakers beat Everett that night. Oh man! What an unbelievable era of high school basketball in the Lansing Area.
My dad took me to that game
He told me Ervin would be in the NBA hall of fame as we were walking out
NBA? You mean college, right
I love my dad
i played in that game ...he was amazing after that i knew this player would change the game of basketball...and he did ...
I played with and against Earvin in pickup games and every game you were bugging your eyes saying "OMG."
I played against all sorts of guys way better than me so I was well used to saying, "wow that dude is pretty good," but with Earvin it was something completely more than "pretty good" -- this guy was unbelievable, doing shttt nobody ever saw before.
My dad took me to see Ervin as a JR in high school. Everett / Eastern AAA Michigan finals.
As we walked out my dad said Magic will be in the NBA hall of fame. NBA?
Thank you dad
lol, " You know, just try to help and contribute to the team, that's what I do best, you know. I just try to score when we need a basket, pass you know when an open man is open, so I just like to contribute to the team, trying to win, that's all."
Magic Johnson is such a nice guy. :D
Two points...Magic tried to call time out when Everett didn't have any left to take the lead and Second, in todays game Brother Rice wins...3 pointer. Best high school game I ever saw!
+Brian OConnor Earvin did try to call time out without any but that was 2 years earlier in the quarter finals against Dearborn Fordson in a game played at Jackson Parkside gym. the technical foul cost the game and highland park won the state championship in 1975. Your second point is ridiculous because it fails to consider that there would have been countless 3-pointers made during the game. also, even in the same scenario with a game ender, coach would have made kevin smith go to the line and make two free throws. sadly though, a second overtime would have been without Earvin who had fouled out. (Everett 1977 grad and at most every game)
Ultimate winner....I love Jordan, but he was cut in high school....Magic is simply the greatest
The frow was blowing, the points was growing and the assist was flowing ; - )
💀
@@miro11912 lmao
Loved your video!
I remember his down the court sprint, behind the back dribble lay up in OT which sealed the game.
I watched him play in high. He used to come to the Battle Creek and play my Brothers high school team Battle Creek Central. I his last year of high school or at least one of the years,
his team mate Reggie Chastain was killed in an auto accident. If I remember correctly, that year they made it to the championship but lost Magic and Reggie were a dynamic duo on the court.
I remember seeing this game on TV.
Jaime Huffman played at Michigan State too. He was on the 1979 national championship team. He mostly rode the bench, but became temporarily famous during the NCAA Tournament when TV commentator and former coach Al McGuire nicknamed him "Shoes" when he was unprepared to go into the game when called because his shoes were untied.
Incidentally, Brother Rice star Kevin Smith seen in this video also played at MSU, although after Magic left.
Great memory!!! LOL
This dude in the big lapeled-suit talking to Magic after the game (concluding the interview by calling him "Irving" at 5:11) called Kevin Smith "Randy." Randy Smith was a long-time NBA guard who was in the middle of a 906 consecutive-game streak at that time.
Al O: Jamie Huffman was a pretty good HS player 6-3 who transferred to Everett that year from a smaller school (Homer) where he averaged 20 pts as a junior. He helped a lot as Everett won the state title.
@@JStarStar00 This came on the heels of Magic losing a close friend the summer B4 in a traffic accident Reggie Chastine.
its ironic the videos 5:17 and he played for Everett in the 517 Lansing im down the block from the school right now
@WiltatKansas What's up? It's unfortunate you would come at us like this considering we had no idea you had this posted. We did not get the footage from your post. We actually appreciate the hard work that you have put in to build your channel and don't want to take anything away from you. We have quite a few videos in our library and have just gotten started with posting. Apologies are extended if you feel we have violated your post as the video here did not from your channel.
Actually he got the name Magic as a sophomore at Everett in fall 1974 when he first started playing varsity b-ball. One of the sports writers for the local Lansing State Journal said he needed a nickname, so he asked him, "What about Big E?" That was no good because Elvin Hayes of the NBA Bullets was already Big E. Then he said, "How about Big J?" That sounded too much like Dr. J who was a rising superstar at the time. So finally he said "how about Magic?" so Earvin said "sounds OK to me."
Fred Stabley was the writer.
I was a freshmen at Rice at the time and in Crisler for the game. At that time there was no 3 point line, so Kevin Smith's half court shot in today's game would have won it instead of tied the game. Bruce Fields, former MLBer and Detroit Tigers hitting coach, was also in this game for Everett.
And you know this because any other jumper or set shot outside that presumed 3-point arc during the game was duly recorded by you, or someone in charge and Brother Rice was up by one at the close of the 4th quarter. I enjoyed Dandy Don Meredith as a kid, as he has accurately opined, that "If If's and But's were candy and nuts, then we'll all have a Merry Christmas."
@@JohnSmith-op1tc it's hard to say because the whole game would have been played with 3's and it might not have come down to a last second heave. Plus, he would have been defended differently and most likely fouled B4 that shot.
It's crazy to see that they moved the mhsaa basketball title games to the campus where college basketball has been king or as some would say to little brother's court.
It probably would have been shared at that time with MSU at that time, but Jenison was old and small.
everett high school 1972 is me
I was lucky, my dad took me to the game at age 14.
please tell me do you all feel like magic johnson was the most elite with his high school michigan state or the lakers
great game
He was known as Magic then...
He was best known as Earvin then
Magical
magic behind the back damn
He sounds exactly the same.
God bless youtube!
Does anyone know who is the original source for this video? who owns the rights to this?
Chad Tingle: Probably the MHSAA legally owns the rights.
It was aired on PBS.
Man look at Magics "fro!!
Seems likes everyone was at the game in this comment section
Does anyone know which TV station broadcast this game? Thanks
PBS
Historians say this is where adam met eve.. 👍
E.J we lived in the same neighborhood. he should of went to Sexton but was BUSED to LANSING evertt. went to sir pizza a lot on the corner of willow St. and logon. MLK now.
He sound the same
youtube is great
i think i saw a dinosaur some where around there
Lebron before Lebron
Lebron and magic is the greatest of all time
oscar is
Wilt>all
Uhhh... Yeah they tied for second
Just Magic....LeBron is not in Magic's league.....
just think - he had no idea that one day he would get aids up his fudge cannon
Turd Cutter that's stupid