Bio

NBA player, Cleo Hill Sr., was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey where he became a basketball urban legend. While attending South Side (MXS Shabazz) High School he was appointed to the All-City, All-County, and All-State basketball first teams.  While in attendance at Winston-Salem Teachers College (now University) in North Carolina, he led his team to two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) titles and a district title. He scored 2,488 points in his four seasons.  

By 1961, Cleo was the number one draft choice of the St. Louis Hawks. He set a (still standing) Hawks record for the most points scored by a rookie guard in the opening NBA game. Mr. Hill also played for the Philadelphia Tapers of the American Basketball League and the Trenton Colonials, New Haven Elms, and the Scranton Miners of the Continental Basketball League. 

After his playing career ended, he brought all his professional experience and love for the game of basketball to Essex County College and became a successful college coach at Essex County College. In his 24 years of coaching, Coach Hill’s accomplishments at Essex County College included: 

Three time Region XIX Coach of the Year 

Eleven Garden State Athletic Conference titles 

Two Inter-Regional Championships 

Three NJCAA appearances 

Two New Jersey College Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year 

Four Christmas Classic Championships 

One undefeated regular season 1981-82 

Coaching record - 489 wins 128 loses 

Most points scored in an NJCAA game on January 19th, 1974 – Essex (210) vs Englewood Cliffs (67) 

NJCAA Service Award – 2015

Winning team with the lowest score record game of 8-4 

Of all Cleo Hill Sr.’s professional basketball experiences and coaching accomplishments, he treasured his ability to come back to the community where he started and give back to aspiring athletes who loved the game of basketball. He took pride in his players and his body of work at Essex County College.