Hank Siemiontkowski

Early life

Born & raised in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, Hank graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in 1968 and was a big part of the 1967 Philadelphia Catholic League and City Championship teams which defeated Monsignor Bonner & Overbrook high schools. Hank was voted the Catholic League Northern Division MVP in both 1967 & 1968. In 1968 he was part of the varsity squad suspended by Coach Jack Friel for not returning to school on time after a breakfast. The story made national headlines as the North JV team then took the court at the Palestra and defeated the Varsity team from Bishop McDevitt in the Quarter finals of the Catholic League playoffs. The North varsity were reinstated but later lost the semi-final game at the Palestra to Cardinal O'Hara High on a buzzer beater. Hank retired with the Highest single season scoring average in North Catholic school history at 22.6 PPG (later equaled by Joe Schoen in 1977).

College

Siemiontkowski scored nineteen points in the Wildcats' loss to the UCLA Bruins in the 1971 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in Houston, Texas. In the semifinal game the 6'7" junior scored a career-high 31 points in an overtime defeat of Western Kentucky University. Coached by Jack Kraft, the Wildcats became the first Philadelphia and northeastern United States team to reach the NCAA championship game since La Salle University in 1955. Siemiontkowski was named to the 1971 NCAA East Regional all-tournament team along with his teammate Howard Porter (basketball). Siemiontkowski finished his career at Villanova with a 13.6 PPG average and is currently 12th All-time in rebounding with 739 boards.

Professional

He was selected by the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association in April 1972 and chosen 50th by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1972 NBA draft. Siemiontkowski was placed on waivers by the Cavaliers in October that year.