I am excited to share the decade of the 60's with you. This is MY decade; I graduated as an All-State player from Galatia in 1962. I have many, many great memories of my playing days in the Greater Egyptian Conference and playing against great players at other schools like McLeansboro, Eldorado, Harrisburg, Sesser, Carrier Mills, West Frankfort, and Benton. Many of the players I have on my potential All-Decade list I played against.
As always with my picks, I intend to research these and other players from this decade. But I will also apply the "eye test" since I saw almost every one of these players play. Before I get to my candidates, ten years is a long time, and a lot of outstanding players pass through a state like Illinois in ten years, so I want to take a minute and acknowledge some of the great players that I played against that did not make my list.
In the GEC there were outstanding players like Jerry Douglas at Cave-In-Rock, Gary Carr and Gary Beavers at Rosiclare, Chuck Cotton and Tom Suttner at Ridgway, Don Bradley, Jim Crayne and Garry Patton from Shawneetown, Mike Titsworth of Pope County, and Bill Moore of Equality. Outside of the conference I played against Jerry Sloan (best high school player I ever played against) Curt Reed, David Lee, Jim and John Burns all of McLeansboro, Steve Kotner and Joe Kingery at Eldorado, Gary Taborn and Marshall Stewart at Carrier Mills, Ed Cannon of Harrisburg, Bob Brown and Dave Pike from West Frankfort, Tom Whittington, Terry Thomas and Wiley Hall at Benton, Jeff Richey of Crab Orchard (Union) and Ron Johnson from Centralia (Murray State). The area known as "Little Egypt" had a lot of outstanding players.
Jack Sutter's basketball journey began in the small farming and coal mining town of Galatia, Illinois, where he learned the game on a dirt court. What started as a childhood passion evolved into a lifetime of dedication to basketball at every level—as a player, coach, historian, and author.
As an All-State player in Illinois, Jack developed the skills and basketball IQ that would define his career. He went on to play Division 1 basketball at Middle Tennessee State, where he gained firsthand experience competing against and observing some of the game's greatest players.
Jack's coaching career spanned 22 years at the collegiate level, where he made two NIT appearances and achieved a Top 10 ranking during his four years at Oral Roberts University. He coached three All-Americans and helped develop seven NBA draft picks, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of his players both on and off the court.
Today, after 70 years in basketball, Jack continues to share his passion for the game through his books, articles, and the Illinois All-Decade voting project. He's committed to preserving basketball history, celebrating the game's greatest players, and connecting with fans who share his love for the sport.
From ranking the all-time greats to a memoir that goes from a dirt court in Southern Illinois to Madison Square Garden — Jack Sutter has put 70 years of basketball into three books.
Updated 2023 Edition — Jack Sutter ranks his top 75 basketball players of all time using 10 researched criteria.
A 362-page memoir from a dirt court in Southern Illinois to coaching at Madison Square Garden.
77 years of Southern Illinois basketball history with all-state players, coaches, records, and hundreds of photographs.
From the greatest rivalries to the next generation of superstars — explore the NBA through the eyes of a basketball lifer who has watched it all.
Two giants who defined an era. Jack Sutter breaks down the ultimate basketball debate of the 1960s.
Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley — the next generation of NBA superstars is arriving fast.
After 70 years in the game, Jack Sutter lays out the 10 attributes that separate the great from the all-time greats.
March Madness, conference rivalries, and the pipeline to the pros — college basketball is where legends are born and legacies are forged.
From Hebron's 1952 miracle to today's Final Four — a basketball lifer's memories of the greatest month in sports.
The small schools that crashed the party — and why they make March Madness the most exciting event in sports.
Before the NCAA Tournament dominated, the NIT was the most prestigious postseason prize in college basketball.
The rich tradition of Illinois prep basketball — from small-town legends to state championship glory.
A basketball lifer's ultimate wish list — the games, moments, and experiences every true fan should witness.
A nostalgic look back at the college basketball tournaments of the 1970s — when the game was pure and the stakes were everything.
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