Name Hubert Ausbie Role Basketball player | ||
 | ||
Similar People Fred Neal, Meadowlark Lemon, Louis Dunbar, Lynette Woodard, Marques Haynes | ||
Education Philander Smith College | ||
Hubert Eugene "Geese" Ausbie (born 25 April 1938) is a retired professional basketball player.
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Early life and education
Ausbie was born in Crescent, Oklahoma. He attended Douglas High School where he played on the basketball and baseball teams. He was such an exceptional basketball star; during a tournament his senior season, he averaged 40 points per game and scored 70, 54 and 62 points in three consecutive games.
Following a brother of his, Ausbie attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended from 1956 to 1960 and was a star basketball player there, earning All-Conference and All-American honors. He was one of the leading college scorers in the NCAA's College Division (later called Division II), averaging 30 points per game.
Career
Ausbie was offered contracts by Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs and National Basketball Association teams. However, he joined the Harlem Globetrotters after his wife sent numerous letters describing his play to Abe Saperstein, the team's founder which led to Ausbie attending an open tryout in 1961 in Chicago. Ausbie gained fame as a Globetrotter from 1961–1985. After the retirement of Meadowlark Lemon, Ausbie took his place as the "Clown Prince of Basketball" for his dazzling play and irrepressible pranks on the court.
Ausbie retired from the team in 1985 and pursued other interests such as involvement in "Drug-Free Youth Program & Traveling Museum Showcase (a collection of Globetrotter-related memorabilia) which he has presented to hundreds of students at all grade levels in Arkansas and other states". He has served on the advisory committee for the National Youth Sports Program.
In 1994, he received a Globetrotters Legends ring, a recognition given to only a few elite former players. The next year, he became head coach and manager of operations for the Globetrotters.
His jersey number 35 was retired by the Globetrotters on January 31, 2017 during the Globetrotters' game at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Personal life
Ausbie was "married for 25 years to his college sweetheart, Awilda". He has four children.
A Mason, Ausbie resides in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he has been a deacon at Greater Archview Baptist Church.