A three-time All-America selection and a first-round selection in the NBA draft, Al Tucker re-wrote the OBU basketball record book as he led the Bison to three consecutive NAIA National Tournament title games. After transferring to OBU after one year at Knoxville College in Tennessee, Tucker, as a sophomore in 1965, averaged 25.9 points and 14.6 rebounds, leading OBU to a conference championship, district title, and second-place finish in the national tournament.
In 1966, Tucker averaged 29.2 points and 10.2 rebounds as OBU won conference and district titles en route to a national championship, where he was named most valuable player. In 1967, he averaged 31.1 points and 14.0 rebounds, leading the Bison to conference and district titles and another national runner-up trophy. Despite the loss in the title game, Tucker was named the tournament’s MVP. He led the national tournament in scoring all three years, compiling 471 points in 15 tourney games for a 31.4 scoring average, records which stood for five years. Tucker still ranks as the tournament’s second-leading career scorer.
In 1967, Tucker was the sixth player taken in the NBA draft. He made the 1968 NBA All-Rookie team with the Seattle Supersonics. He played five years of pro basketball with the Sonics, Cincinnati Royals, Chicago Bulls, Baltimore Bullets, and Floridians.
Tucker set 22 OBU offensive records, 20 of which still stand. His career records are: points (2,788); scoring average (28.7); field goals made (1,030); field goals attempted (1,952); free throws made (728); free throws attempted (1,019); rebounds (1,252); and rebound average (12.9). His season records include total points (996); scoring average (31.1); free throws made (266); free throws attempted (365); and rebounds (467). His game records include points (50, shared); field goals made (21, shared); field goals attempted (42); free throws (22); free throws made (29); and rebounds (27).
He was a three-time NAIA All-America selection, a two-time Chuck Taylor Converse All-America pick, and one-time Associated Press and United Press International All-America choice. He was a three-time first-team NAIA All-Tournament selection, and he played for the U.S. team in the 1967 World Basketball Championships. In addition to basketball, Tucker participated in track and field and for a number of years held OBU’s record for the triple jump (47-9.5).
He was inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, selected to the NAIA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary teams and to the Kansas City Star’s all-time NAIA Tournament team in 2020. Tucker died in 2001 in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 58.
