He spent 11 years in professional basketball, making stops with the Warriors, Bullets and Wizards, and for one year was the NBA's best 3-point shooter. But these days, Tim Legler might be recognized best as an NBA analyst on ESPN. His talent and knowledge for the game sprouted at J.R. Tucker.
Legler became Tucker’s first 1,000-point scorer during his senior year in 1983-84, averaging 23 points. He was selected to the all-state team and was named All-Metro player of the year.
He also played baseball for the Tigers and was named most valuable defensive player his senior year at third base. Coach Ronnie Atkins remembers an athlete who helped foster a culture of confidence that propelled his teams to four state championships in the 1980s – Legler lifted the Tigers to one of them in 1982.
“He was considered a leader – he was a leader on the basketball team,” Atkins said. “He had the leadership and all the qualities you look for in a ballplayer. … He was a very gifted athlete, could’ve played pro baseball and pro basketball if he set his mind to it.”
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Although Legler excelled on the diamond, the basketball court was his first love. His work ethic made him excel in both sports, and it became the catalyst for a successful career at the professional level.
“He was a good student, his first love was basketball, there’s no question. He was a basketball player playing baseball,” Atkins said. “He worked hard, he wasn’t one of those to goof off. I think that transferred to his basketball, the work ethic that he had in both [sports].”
Legler went on to play at La Salle University, where he was named to the all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference team twice. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Athletes in 1997.
After going undrafted in 1988, Legler played professionally in Europe then for the Omaha Racers, leading them to a championship in the Continental Basketball Association, a precursor to the G League. He was named MVP of the CBA for the 1990-91 season and led the league in scoring.
The sharpshooter joined the NBA in the 1992-93 season with the Jazz, spent time with the Mavericks, Warriors, Bullets / Wizards and rejoined the Warriors in 1999-2000, his final season.
In the 1995-96, he led the league in 3-point shooting (52.2 percent) and claimed victory in the 3-point shootout at all-star weekend. He also finished runner-up in sixth man of the year award voting.
Honorable mention
Stephen Faris, a pitcher who played at Clemson, was drafted in 2006 and played in the Padres' farm system.
Mark Meleski, who graduated in 1978, played baseball at UVA and in the Red Sox organization. He later became a minor-league coach and manager.
Mike Milchin, a pitcher, he played at Clemson and won a Gold Medal for Team USA in the 1988 Olympics and reached the major leagues in 1996.
Brandon Pollard, a 1992 graduate who played on U.Va.’s 1992, 1993, and 1994 national-championship soccer teams. He was a member of U.S. national team at 1996 Summer Olympics and played professionally for the Dallas Burn.
Des Proctor, a 1986 graduate who ran track at George Mason, joined the Army and later became a cross country All-American at Christopher Newport.
Mac Scarce, a 1967 graduate who played in the College World Series in 1970 with Florida State and pitched 7 1/3 innings of relief in a 15-inning championship game loss to Southern California. He played in parts of five MLB seasons from 1972-78.
Amir Sadollah, a 1999 graduate who competed in UFC’s welterweight division after winning the reality television series “The Ultimate Fighter 7.”
Jay West, a baseball and basketball player in the Class of 1976 who played baseball at UVA and was named all-ACC as a senior.
Matt Winn, a 2010 graduate who played baseball at VMI and is a member of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
Kevin Wood, a basketball player who went to Randolph-Macon and averaged 16 points per game from 1975-78.
Mark Vines, a 1975 graduate and tennis player who reached the third round of the 1981 U.S. Open and won a major tournament in Paris. He was ranked as high as 106 in the world.