Ridley, a diminutive but quick 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) point guard, went to Taylorville High School in Taylorville, Illinois While there, he was a unanimous all-state performer as a senior in 1952.[1][2] He chose to play for coach Harry Combes at Illinois as a part of a strong recruiting class that also included in-state players Bruce Brothers and twins Phil and Paul Judson. After sitting out what would have been his freshman season per NCAA eligibility rules of the time, Ridley joined the varsity team for the 1953–54 season, averaging 6.0 points per game in a supporting role.[3] He moved into the starting lineup in his sophomore season, raising his scoring average to 15.2 points per game and was named third-team All-Big Ten Conference by the United Press International (UPI), who also named him to their national "Small-America" team of the top players under 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m).[4][5]
In Ridley's senior season, the Illini started a potent scoring lineup with Brother, Paul Judson and George Bon Salle in the frontcourt with Ridley running the attack from the perimeter.[6][7] Ridley led the team's fast break, using his speed and ballhandling to push the ball ahead off of the team's strong rebounding ability.[8] Ridley finished the year averaging 15.3 points per game and at the close of the season was named All-Big Ten and as a third-team All-American by both the Associated Press (AP) and UPI.[9][10]
Following the close of his college career, Ridley's size made a National Basketball Association career difficult. He was not drafted in the 1956 NBA draft and instead went into the insurance and asset management business.[11] He died on September 28, 2019, in his post-retirement home of Frostproof, Florida.[12]
^"Taylorville's Bill Ridley proves valuable as 'spot player' with Illini". Herald & Review. February 19, 1954. p. 18. Retrieved May 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"William Ridley obituary". Legacy.com. October 4, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
External linksedit
Illinois basketball HOF profile
College stats @ sports-reference.com
January 01, 1970
bill, ridley, william, ridley, february, 1934, september, 2019, american, college, basketball, player, american, player, illinois, fighting, illini, ridley, senior, illinois, personal, informationborn, 1934, february, 1934taylorville, illinoisdiedseptember, 20. William D Ridley February 2 1934 September 28 2019 was an American college basketball player He was an All American and All Big Ten player for the Illinois Fighting Illini Bill RidleyRidley as a senior at Illinois Personal informationBorn 1934 02 02 February 2 1934Taylorville IllinoisDiedSeptember 28 2019 2019 09 28 aged 91 Frostproof FloridaNationalityAmericanListed height5 ft 9 in 1 75 m Career informationHigh schoolTaylorville Taylorville Illinois CollegeIllinois 1953 1956 NBA draft1956 undraftedPositionPoint guardCareer highlights and awardsThird team All American AP UPI 1956 First team All Big Ten 1956 Third team All Big Ten 1955 Ridley a diminutive but quick 5 ft 9 in 1 75 m point guard went to Taylorville High School in Taylorville Illinois While there he was a unanimous all state performer as a senior in 1952 1 2 He chose to play for coach Harry Combes at Illinois as a part of a strong recruiting class that also included in state players Bruce Brothers and twins Phil and Paul Judson After sitting out what would have been his freshman season per NCAA eligibility rules of the time Ridley joined the varsity team for the 1953 54 season averaging 6 0 points per game in a supporting role 3 He moved into the starting lineup in his sophomore season raising his scoring average to 15 2 points per game and was named third team All Big Ten Conference by the United Press International UPI who also named him to their national Small America team of the top players under 5 ft 10 in 1 78 m 4 5 In Ridley s senior season the Illini started a potent scoring lineup with Brother Paul Judson and George Bon Salle in the frontcourt with Ridley running the attack from the perimeter 6 7 Ridley led the team s fast break using his speed and ballhandling to push the ball ahead off of the team s strong rebounding ability 8 Ridley finished the year averaging 15 3 points per game and at the close of the season was named All Big Ten and as a third team All American by both the Associated Press AP and UPI 9 10 Following the close of his college career Ridley s size made a National Basketball Association career difficult He was not drafted in the 1956 NBA draft and instead went into the insurance and asset management business 11 He died on September 28 2019 in his post retirement home of Frostproof Florida 12 References edit Bill Ridley remembered Herald amp Review March 1 1985 p 15 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Straight shooter Herald amp Review February 12 2014 p D1 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Taylorville s Bill Ridley proves valuable as spot player with Illini Herald amp Review February 19 1954 p 18 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp All Big Ten basketball team Alexandria Times March 3 1955 p 6 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Bill Ridley and Helms on Small America The Paducah Sun February 22 1955 p 11 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Badger five Illinois open Big 10 race The Capital Times January 1 1955 p 7 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Illini cagers are fooling experts as gridders did Dixon Evening Telegram December 15 1954 p 8 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Coach Harry Combes terms Bill Ridley a great player Daily Chronicle February 22 1956 p 14 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp USF s Bill Russell tops AP All America cage team The Sacramento Bee March 1 1956 p 7 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Russell sets voting record in being named All America Springfield News Leader March 7 1956 p 15 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp Straight shooter cont Herald amp Review February 12 2014 p D2 Retrieved May 29 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp William Ridley obituary Legacy com October 4 2019 Retrieved May 29 2020 External links editIllinois basketball HOF profile College stats sports reference com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Ridley amp oldid 1177790174, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
