Curtis Aiken

Curtis Aiken Sr. is an American former college basketball player who is a radio analyst for Pitt Panthers men's basketball team. He was a two-time captain at Pitt who scored 1,200 points for the team and held the school single-season field goal percentage record from 1986 to 1989.

Curtis Aiken
Personal information
Bornc. 1964/65
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Career information
High schoolBennett (Buffalo, New York)
CollegePittsburgh (1983–1987)
NBA draft1987: undrafted
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
Number14
Career highlights and awards

Prior to college, Aiken played for Bennett High School and formerly held the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) single-season scoring record, the Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) and Western New York career scoring record (disputed),[lower-alpha 1] as well as the BPS and Erie County, New York public school single-game scoring record.

High school

As a youth, Curtis Aiken was a regular attendee at the Masten Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Buffalo.[4] He was raised by his grandmother Marion on the East Side and wanted to be a boxer until attending a basketball camp at the Boys & Girls club at age 10.[5]

In the 1982 Empire State Games scholastic (17 & under) division, Aiken led the West New York team to the gold medal with a 115–109 overtime victory over New York City. In the final game, when Pearl Washington established a scholastic division single-game scoring record 45 points for New York City, Aiken led the West with 43 points.[6] This was the first time the West had ever won basketball gold in the scholastic division of this competition.[7]

On February 8, 1983, Aiken broke Ray Hall's BPS all-time career scoring record (1,794) with a 37-point performance for Bennett High School against Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts that brought his total to 1,809.[1] Aiken's 1982–1983 single-season total of 924 was a NYSPHSAA record that brought his career total to 2,162 (disputed).[lower-alpha 1][2] Five years later, Christian Laettner became the second Western New York high school player to achieve 2,000 career points (2,066). On February 17, 1989 David Edwards eclipsed Aiken's single-season record with a total of 947 (disputed)[lower-alpha 2] in a playoff loss (his 23rd game)[8] before Marcus Whitfield reached 958 in his 21st game, a playoff win for Burgard Vocational High School on February 18 hosted at Amherst Central High School. The 45-point performance also eclipsed Aiken's BPS career total moving the record to 2,189.[9] Bennett won the 1983 Class B NYSPHSAA State Championships at the Glens Falls Civic Center over John S. Burke Catholic High School 88-61.[10] It was the second time a school from Western New York had won a public school state championship.[11] That year Aiken was named Western New York boys' basketball player of the year by The Buffalo News.[12] He also repeated as a first team All-Western New York selection.[11] That year he was All-class co-New York State Player of the Year (with Russell Pierre) by the New York State Sportswriters Association.[13][14]

Despite the numbers in the press, the NYSPHSAA record book does not include Aiken among those with at least 2,041 career points (lowest total among career points leaders) and it does not list Edwards among those with at least 910 points in a season. It does include Aiken's 65-point senior season performance, which seems to have been fifth highest in state history at the time. The 65-point performance was listed below the 1968–69 70-point performance by Don Hurlburt of Hinsdale Central School, meaning it was a BPS and an Erie County public school record, which stood until Robert Robinson totaled 67 five seasons later for Emerson Vocational High School, but not a Western New York public school record at the time.[3]

Aiken was a fourth-team Parade All-American in 1983.[15] Aiken scored 13 points in the 10th annual April 1, 1983 McDonald's Capital Classic at the Capital Centre,[16][17] not to be confused with the 6th annual April 9, 1983 McDonald's All-American Boys Game at the Omni Coliseum.[lower-alpha 3] In the Capital Classic, Aiken played for the McDonald-sponsored U.S. All-Stars team that included James Blackmon Sr., Keith Gatlin, Joe Wolf, Barry Sumpter, Mike Smith, Corey Gaines, Daryl Thomas, Greg Koubek, and Winston Bennett.[17] In the 1983 National Sports Festival (later called the U.S. Olympic Festival) he was on the East team, which included Washington, Walter Berry, Kenny Smith, and Dallas Comegys that beat the south team led by Kenny Green on June 28.[22] In the 3rd Annual Pearl Street College Senior Basketball All-Star Game in Waterbury, Connecticut Muggsy Bogues (31 points) and Vince Johnson (34 points) were co-MVPs for the winning West team. Aiken posted 50 points for the East.[23] He was also selected for the Dapper Dan Club's annual all-star basketball game along with guards Bogues, Washington, Antoine Joubert and Steve Alford for the U.S. Team.[24]

Recruiting

On March 4, 1983, Aiken chose Kansas over his other finalists Michigan State, Syracuse and West Virginia, citing the teaching skills of assistant coach Jo Jo White as his primary reason.[25] On March 21, Kansas fired head coach Ted Owens after 19 seasons. There was speculation that White might replace Owens.[26] On April 7, Kansas hired Larry Brown,[27] which caused Aiken to reopen his recruiting.[28] According to The New York Times, Brown made an unsuccessful at-home visit with his top assistants before the April 13 signing day when he signed his National Letter of Intent with Pitt.[29] On April 13, Kansas announced they would retain White and Bob Hill.[30] According to The Oklahoman, Aiken had demanded that White be retained as an assistant, but there was no announcement of his retention within 5 days of Brown's hiring. When Kansas announced they would rehire White, it was too late.[31] White was later fired for philosophical differences and did not end up serving as an assistant coach for the 1983–84 Kansas Jayhawks.[32] Although Roy Chipman was the Pitt head coach, his assistants Seth Greenberg (1980–83) and John Calipari (1985-1988) were said to deserve the credit for recruiting successes of that era, including Aiken.[33]

College

Aiken scored 1,200 career points and served as two-time captain of Pitt (1985–86, 1986–87).[34]

When Aiken arrived at Pitt much was expected. He was a 1983–84 Big East preseason All-rookie first team selection along with unanimous selections Washington and Reggie Williams as well as Michael Graham and Willie Glass. The second team included Mark Jackson and Harold Jensen among others.[35] Aiken was compared to Don Hennon as an exciting short Pitt Panther.[36] The 1983–84 Panthers only won one of its first 8 conference games.[37]

Aiken led the 1984–85 team in assists (4.2) and steals (1.6).[34] For the 1985–86 season he led the team in field goal percentage with 56.9 percent. This percentage was a single-season school record (minimum 5 FGA/Game) that stood for three years until Brian Shorter had 60 percent for the 1988–89 team.[34] Aiken earned the first of two career in-season tournament MVPs for that team in December 1985. He was MVP of the Sugar Bowl Classic Tournament in New Orleans when the team defeated Texas A&M and Louisiana–Lafayette. He was joined on the tournament team by Charles Smith.[34] On January 3, Aiken was switched to his natural position of shooting guard.[38]

In the 1986 Empire State games open division, Aikens' West team settled for the silver against New York City after losing 97–94 despite 31 points from Aiken who scored 12 of the West's final 14 points. New York City was led by 15 points and 9 assists by Jackson and 20 points by Derrick Chievous.[39]

For the 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, the three-point field goal was introduced.[40] All Big East coaches thought of the experiment as lunacy, although players like Jackson and Billy Donovan were for the idea.[41] As a senior for the 1986–87 team, Aiken led Pitt in three-point shot percentage (39.3 percent). He earned MVP of the December 1986 Rainbow Classic Tournament in Honolulu. He led the team to victories over Kansas, Arkansas, and Wisconsin and was joined on the tournament team by Jerome Lane, and Smith.[34] Aiken had his career high 37 points against Arkansas on December 29.[42] He earned Big East Player of the Week on January 4, 1987 for this effort. For the season, Pitt earned its first Big East regular season championship.[34]

Career

Aiken worked for Coca-Cola after college until at least 2002.[7] He also had several business ventures.[43][44] Aiken joined Dick Groat as a second color commentator on Pitt Panther broadcast in 2010. When Groat became unable to attend road games in 2017 Aiken became the sole color commentator for road games.[45] The 2022-23 Pitt Basketball Media Guide credits the 2022–23 Pittsburgh Panthers season as his 13th alongside Bill Hillgrove as the color analyst for Pitt basketball on their broadcast radio network affiliates and on SiriusXM satellite radio.[34] Groat's contract was not renewed in 2019.[46] When Aiken first signed on in 2010, he was just a contributing color commentator for home games.[47] Before his time as a color analyst on the Pitt Panther broadcast network with Hillgrove, Aiken had served as a color commentator for announcer Jeff Hathhorn on Pitt's non-conference games airing on ACC Network Extra, an online platform through ESPN.[48]

In 2002, he was inducted into the Bennett High School Hall of Fame alongside Bob Lanier in the inaugural class.[49] Aiken was induction into The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[50]

Aiken was selected to the 2006 Pitt Panthers 15-man all-centennial team.[51] Aiken was the third selection (behind Bob Lanier and Laettner) to the 2009 50th anniversary All-Western New York boys first team by The Buffalo News for his high school career.[52]

Personal life

He has a daughter named Alexis.[49] Alexis was a class of 2011 commit to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to play for the IUP Crimson Hawks.[53] Curtis Aiken, Jr. who played four years at Pitt (2018–22) earned a varsity letter for the 2019–20 Pitt Panthers.[34][54] His son's mother also went to University of Pittsburgh.[55] As of 1997, he had a brother-in-law named Charles Stanfield who played basketball for Holy Cross Preparatory Academy and Duquesne Dukes men's basketball.[56][57] At the time, his wife was Charles' sister, Adrian.[58]

See also

Footnotes
  1. Various sources note that Aiken established the Buffalo and Western New York career scoring records.[1][2] However, Aiken's career total is not listed by the NYSPHSAA.[3]
  2. Various sources note that Edwards surpassed Aikens' single-season scoring record.[8] However, Edwards' single-season total is not listed by the NYSPHSAA.[3]
  3. Some sources state that Aiken was a 1983 McDonald's All-American,[18][19] but he was not listed on either a roster announcement nor McDonald's alumni list (which includes players who were recognized by McDonald's as All Americans but did not participate in the game).[20][21]

Notes
  1. "Sports Briefs". United Press International. February 10, 1983. Retrieved March 31, 2023. Bennett High School guard Curtis Aiken hit an 18-foot jumper in a game against Performing Arts School Tuesday which put him in the Buffalo schoolboy basketball record book. The shot by the 5-11 senior raised his career point total to 1,796, breaking the former record of 1,794 held by former McKinley High School guard Ray Hall, currently at Canisius College.
  2. Harrington, Mike (February 2, 1989). "WHITFIELD POINTS TO GLENS FALLS". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 31, 2023. The 6-foot-2 senior guard...will join Bennett's Curtis Aiken, the former Pitt star, and Nichols' Christian Laettner, a freshman at Duke, as Western New York's only 2,000-point scorers. Aiken had 2,162, Laettner 2,066.
  3. "BOYS BASKETBALL: Record Books". NYSPHSAA. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. "Masten Boys & Girls Club alumni return to dedicate basketball court". Tribune Content Agency Regional News. The Buffalo News. August 14, 2016. ProQuest 1811151866. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  5. "Aiken puts in work to become success story". Tribune Content Agency Regional News. The Buffalo News. October 8, 2011. ProQuest 896713957. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  6. "3 City Fives Take Empire Games Titles". The New York Times. August 16, 1982. p. C9. ProQuest 424399471. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  7. "Curtis Aiken". Bennettsportshalloffame.org. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  8. "Edwards Sets Record, But Cardozo Wins: [CITY Edition]". Newsday. February 18, 1989. ProQuest 278079424. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  9. Harrington, Mike (February 19, 1989). "WHITFIELD SCORES 45 POINTS FOR WNY-RECORD 2,189". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  10. "NYSPHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament History" (PDF). NYSPHSAA.org. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  11. Dicesare, Bob (February 14, 2009). "Talent overflowed in Eighties". The Buffalo News McClatchy - Tribune Business News. ProQuest 461592611. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  12. "WNY'S TOP PLAYERS, SCORERS". The Buffalo News. April 8, 1989. p. B4. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  13. Harrington, Mike (April 30, 1992). "EBERZ NAMED LARGE-SCHOOL PLAYER OF YEAR: [CITY Edition]". The Buffalo News. ProQuest 380750501. Retrieved April 27, 2023. The 6-foot-7 [Eric Eberz] is the first Buffalo-area player to earn a large-school player of the year award since Bennett's Curtis Aiken shared the all-class nod in 1983 with North Babylon's Russell Pierre. The large-school award was split into separate Class A and B selections in 1988.
  14. Wilson, Allen (April 19, 1994). "O'HARA POINT GUARD COCHRANE GAINS STATE HONOR: [CITY Edition]". The Buffalo News. ProQuest 380946973. Retrieved April 27, 2023. highlighting the all-state selections made by the New York State Sportswriters Association...Three other local players have won large-school awards. St. Joe's Eric Eberz, who helped Villanova win the National Invitation Tournament last month, was the top player in Class B in 1992. Bennett's Curtis Aiken shared the all-class nod in 1983 with North Babylon's Russell Pierre.
  15. "The four-team high school All-American team selected by Parade...". United Press International. March 5, 1983. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  16. O'Conner, John (March 30, 1983). "Rutledge Gets a Dream Team". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 32. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  17. "1983: CAPITAL ALL-STARS 118, U.S. ALL-STARS 116 2OT". Thecapitalclassic.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  18. "Aiken Among 24 Seniors in U.S. Named For Game". The Buffalo News. February 24, 1983. p. C-5. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Curtis Aiken". Bennett Alumni Association. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  20. "7-2 Center Head's McDonald's Team". The Sumter Daily Item. March 17, 1983. p. 1D. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "McDonald's All-American all-time rosters" (PDF). McDonald's. pp. 2, 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 31, 2021.
  22. "The East basketball team, led by Dwayne Washington's 21...". United Press International. June 29, 1983. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  23. "CONNECTICUT: [FINAL Edition]". USA Today. April 20, 1987. p. 12C. ProQuest 305861546. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  24. McKee, Don (April 15, 1983). "IMPRESSIVE FRONT LINES ASIDE, GUARDS ARE ROUNDBALL KEYS". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C9. ProQuest 1814353973. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  25. "Sports Briefs". United Press International. March 5, 1983. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  26. "People in sports Firing of Owens costs Kansas one recruit, others may follow". The Providence Journal. March 22, 1983. p. B-10. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  27. "NETS' BROWN GOES TO KANSAS". The Miami Herald. April 8, 1983. p. 3F. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  28. "COLLEGE CHOICES OF PREP BASKETBALL STARS". Philadelphia Daily News. April 12, 1983. p. 66. ProQuest 1814249786. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  29. "SPORTS PEOPLE; A Switch to Pitt". The New York Times. April 14, 1983. p. B16. ProQuest 424614611. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  30. "GATORS DENY PELL RUMORS ONCE AGAIN". The Miami Herald. April 13, 1983. p. 6C. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  31. Cowlishaw, Tim (April 14, 1983). "OU, OSU Get Basketball Recruiting Prizes". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  32. "People in sports Brown fires Jo Jo White from Kan. staff". The Providence Journal. July 15, 1983. p. B-06. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  33. Smizik, Bob (March 22, 2013). "PITT'S PROBLEM IS TALENT, NOT STRATEGY". Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. p. A.6. ProQuest 1318897158. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  34. "2022-23 Pitt Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). Pitt Panthers. 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  35. Rich, Harold (November 11, 1983). "Georgetown picked as Big East best". The Providence Journal. p. B-06. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  36. Visser, Lesley (January 5, 1984). "EAGLES PASS FIRST BIG EAST TEST". Boston Globe. ProQuest 294243406. Retrieved April 1, 2023. But Pittsburgh then went into overdrive, chipping away at the lead with newfound jumpers from freshman Curtis Aiken (likely to be the most exciting small player at Pittsburgh since Don Hennon was an All-America in the late '50s)
  37. Rhoden, William C. (February 19, 1984). "ST. JOHN'S BEATS PITT BY 65-62". The New York Times. ProQuest 424876908. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  38. Rosner, Dave (January 4, 1986). "Redmen-Pitt: It's Pure Magic: [CITY Edition]". Newsday. ProQuest 285330124. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  39. Kazmier, Lisa (August 11, 1986). "Again, An Open and Shut CaseNew York men's basketball team wins Empire gold: [CITY Edition]". Newsday. ProQuest 285376967. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  40. "2017–18 NCAA Men's Basketball Records, Page 4" (PDF). 2017–18 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  41. Visser, Lesley (November 6, 1986). "THE THREE-POINT BASKET A BIG FLOP IN BIG EAST: [THIRD Edition]". Boston Globe. ProQuest 294405970. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  42. "OHIO STATE, WISCONSIN WIN CLOSE ONES: [NATIONAL, C Edition]". Chicago Tribune. December 31, 1986. ProQuest 290986163. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  43. Moushey, Bill (August 2, 2000). "MORE MINORITY PACTS DUBIOUS AUTHORITY'S AWARDS FOR CONVENTION CENTER ARE QUESTIONED: [REGION Edition]". Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. p. A-1. ProQuest 392098652. Retrieved April 3, 2023. SGS Group of Pittsburgh, owned by former University of Pittsburgh basketball players Curtis Aiken and Jason Matthews, will receive $3.4 million to supply steel and cable materials for Birdair. It is certified to supply steel but has no capacity to handle big steel in its Point Breeze warehouse or in its offices on Smithfield Street, Downtown.)
  44. Morrow, Christian (January 15, 2000). "MBE supplier contracts questioned: Commonly used practice called unethical". New Pittsburgh Courier. p. A-1. ProQuest 368236823. Retrieved April 3, 2023. SGS Group, owned by former University of Pittsburgh basketball stars Jason Matthews and Curtis Aiken, was awarded a $1 million contract to supply concrete to PNC Park. There is no concrete factory near their office, at 650 Smithfield St., Downtown, and they do not own a factory elsewhere. The company leases warehouse space at Lexington Park in Point Breeze, but the space is empty except for a pile of road salt, according to the county's MBE office.)
  45. "Behind the scorers table at Petersen Events Center is a ... [Derived Headline]". Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. December 20, 2019. p. C-1. ProQuest 2328538603. Retrieved April 2, 2023. In 1979, he began working with Hillgrove, where they forged a partnership that, by the time Groat's last season rolled around, made them the longest-tenured Division I men's basketball radio tandem. For the final nine of those 40 years, Aiken, a former Pitt standout, joined the two on the broadcasts and assumed the duty as the sole color commentator for road games in the final two of those seasons, when Groat no longer traveled (with the exception of two contests at Duke, when his alma mater honored him).)
  46. Meyer, Craig (March 13, 2019). "'It was a shock': Dick Groat leaving Pitt radio broadcasts after 40 years". Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  47. "BRIEF: Pitt announces radio partnerships for sports teams". McClatchy - Tribune Business News. July 16, 2010. ProQuest 612814473. Retrieved April 3, 2023. )
  48. Meyer, Craig (December 30, 2018). "EX-PITT STAR PAGE TURNS INTO BROADCASTER FEELS RIGHT AT HOME AFTER PLAYING ON TEAM THAT OPENED UP PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER". Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. p. WS-20. ProQuest 2161350009. Retrieved April 2, 2023. )
  49. Northrup, Milt (September 22, 2002). "LANIER'S LONG WALK LEADS BACK TO BENNETT". The Buffalo News. p. B1. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  50. Moritz, Amy (August 31, 2011). "Buffalo's hoops legends encourage youths: CURTIS AIKEN: "I understood what it took to be the best."". Buffalo News. ProQuest 883391619. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  51. "PITT CAN SAY IT'S ONE OF THE ELITE: [REGION Edition]". Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. February 28, 2006. p. C-1. ProQuest 392133686. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  52. "WNY's all-time high school basketball team". The Buffalo News/McClatchy - Tribune Business News. March 7, 2009. ProQuest 464904948. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  53. "North Allegheny's top scorer knows value of being a team player". Pittsburgh Tribune. December 15, 2011. ProQuest 911071731. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  54. "Curtis Aiken Jr". Sports Reference. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  55. "Two Pitt athletes play for the Steel City that raised them". Carlsbad. October 21, 2020. ProQuest 2452302067. Retrieved April 2, 2023. Both my parents went here, and I started to fall in love with Pitt during the recruiting process
  56. "LANCERS' HIGH-SCORING STANFIELD FORGING HOPES OF STEEL CITY COACH: DUQUESNE'S SCOTT EDGAR WANTED CHARLES STANFIELD IN 1995. NEXT SEASON, HE WILL HAVE HIM". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 7, 1997. ProQuest 1841820885. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  57. "Charles Stanfield". Sports Reference. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  58. "DUQUESNE LANDS FIRST '97 RECRUIT AIKEN HELPS N.J. SENIOR DRAW LOOK: [TWO STAR Edition]". Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. September 22, 1996. ProQuest 391699289. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
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