CHICAGO (March 27, 2020) – The Loyola University Chicago community mourns the passing of former men's basketball student-athlete Les Hunter, who was a key figure on the Ramblers team that won the 1963 NCAA championship. Hunter, who played at Loyola from 1961 through 1964, passed away this morning at the age of 77.
 
"We are heartbroken to learn of Les' passing," Loyola Director of Athletics Steve Watson said. "The Loyola family has lost a true legend, who was a major part our NCAA championship team in 1963. Les was an accomplished basketball player, but was even more valued for the person he was off the court. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and former teammates."
 
Hunter was one of the all-time greats to don the Maroon and Gold, just one of two players – LaRue Martin being the other – to record over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, the 6-foot-7 center finished his three-year varsity career in Rogers Park with 1,472 points and 1,017 rebounds, with his rebound total ranking second in program annals.
 
Although Hunter contributed 17.0 points and 11,0 rebounds on the Ramblers' 1963 national championship squad, his best statistical season came as a senior in 1963-64 when he accounted for 21.4 ppg and 15.3 rpg. During his three seasons on Loyola's varsity squad, since in that era, freshmen were not able to compete at the varsity level, Hunter helped the team to a staggering 74-12 (.860) overall record and three postseasons appearances, including two trips to the NCAA tournament.
 
Hunter was part of the team that played in the historic Game of Change versus Mississippi State in 1963. Played on March 15, 1963 at Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, Michigan, the Game of Change forever altered college basketball and racial relations particularly in the south. Loyola's lineup, which featured four African-American starters, faced a MSU team that had to sneak out of Mississippi under the cover of darkness before an injunction could be served that would have prevented the all-white Maroons from playing an integrated Loyola team. Loyola went on to win that NCAA Regional contest, 61-51.
 
"If it wasn't for Les and the rest of my teammates, I never would have been able to have the success I had," said Jerry Harkness, who was a two-time All-American and was teammates with Hunter at Loyola. "Unfortunately, Les never really got the recognition he truly deserved. Everything in our offense went through him and we were all so disappointed when he wasn't named most valuable player in the NCAA tournament in 1963, because he should have been. Throughout his career Les kept getting better and better and that didn't stop once he reached the professional ranks. Off the court, Les was the life of the party. We will all miss him."
 
Following his time at Loyola, Hunter was a second-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 1964 NBA Draft. He would go on to play 24 games in the NBA for the Baltimore Bullets in 1964-65 and also logged six seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA), where he played for five teams.
 
Nicknamed "Big Game," Hunter was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame and had his jersey No. 41 retired in 1991. In his hometown of Nashville, Hunter was a Pearl High School teammate of Vic Rouse, who wound up following Hunter to Loyola. Rouse hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift the Ramblers to a 60-58 victory over Cincinnati in the 1963 NCAA championship game. Hunter led all Ramblers with 16 points in that national title contest against the Bearcats.
 
Funeral arrangements are pending.