Hoops Legacy: Celebrating Three Generations of Families Hitting Hardwood

"It is much easier to become a father than to be one." - Letters to My Son: Reflections on Becoming a Man

A thorough check of an athlete's pedigree often is illuminating. Undeniably, it is also much easier to talk about becoming a prominent player than putting in the man hours necessary to earn your spurs and have an impact at a single university like the Guokas clan at Saint Joseph's. Matt Sr. and Matt Jr. went on to become the first father-son tandem to win NBA championships as players before Matt III competed four seasons with the Hawks from 1988-89 through 1991-92.

St. Joe's also supplied Vince Kempton, the only Hawks player to make more than 50% of his field goals in both of their Final Four games in 1961. He is the father of former NBA center Tim Kempton Sr., a starter for Notre Dame squads averaging 21 victories annually in the mid-1980s, and grandfather of Tim Kempton Jr., who could become a three-time Patriot League MVP for Lehigh.

Gifted by having a father and grandfather with hoop credentials is not a prerequisite for becoming a competent basketball player. Although some observers might think the last couple of generations in the following hoop families were groomed from birth, on-court excellence is earned not inherited.

Hoosier Hysteria's passion can't be denied when considering Indiana families including All-Americans Steve Alford, Eric Montross and Jack Parkinson plus significant DI contributors with last names like Dakich, Neal, Plumlee, Shepherd and Trice. In deference to Father's Day weekend, following is an alphabetical list of the most accomplished father-son-grandson basketball combinations with at least one of them playing for or coaching a school from a power conference or in national postseason competition:

Grandfather/Father Father/Son Grandson(s)/Son(s)
Sam Alford (Franklin IN '64) Steve Alford (Indiana '87) Kory Alford (UCLA '16) and Bryce Alford (UCLA '17)
Cleophus Banks (Southern LA '64) Roman Banks (Northwestern State '92 Tre'lun Banks (Southern LA '17)
Gary Bradds (Ohio State '64) David Bradds (Dayton '91) Evan Bradds (Belmont '17)
Tom Dakich (Bowling Green State '56) Dan Dakich (Indiana '85) Andrew Dakich (Michigan '17)
Lewis D'Antoni (Concord WV '37) Dan D'Antoni (Marshall '69) Nick D'Antoni (William & Mary '05)
Don Gatens (Notre Dame '46) Mike Gatens (Iowa '76) Matt Gatens (Iowa '12)
Matt Guokas Sr. (St. Joseph's '38) Matt Guokas Jr. (St. Joseph's '66) Matt Guokas III (St. Joseph's '92)
Bill Hosket Sr. (Ohio State '33) Bill Hosket Jr. (Ohio State '68) Brad Hosket (Ohio State '00)
Lake Kelly (Georgia Tech '56) Brian Kelly (Morehead State '86) Drew Kelly (Morehead State '14)
Vince Kempton (St. Joseph's '61) Tim Kempton Sr. (Notre Dame '86) Tim Kempton Jr. (Lehigh '17)
Press Maravich (Davis & Elkins WV '41) Pete Maravich (Louisiana State '70) Jaeson Maravich (Alabama, McNeese State and William Carey MS '04) and Josh Maravich (Louisiana State '05)
Johnny McConathy (Northwestern State '51) Mike McConathy (Louisiana Tech '77) Michael McConathy (Northwestern State '10) and Logan McConathy (Northwestern State '11)
Stan Neal (Ball State '65) Craig Neal (Georgia Tech '88) Cullen Neal (New Mexico '17)
Jack Parkinson (Kentucky '48) Bruce Parkinson (Purdue '77) Austin Parkinson (Purdue '04)
Don Parsons (Rutgers '50) Gary Parsons (Rollins FL '77) Chandler Parsons (Florida '11)
Pearl Pollard (Brigham Young '59) Alan Pollard (Southern California '89) Josh Pollard (Utah Valley '19)
Dennis Price (Oklahoma '60) Mark Price (Georgia Tech '86) Judson Price (Charlotte '18)
Albert Schultz (Michigan Tech '44) Perky Plumlee (Tennessee Tech '83) Miles Plumlee (Duke '12), Mason Plumlee (Duke '13) and Marshall Plumlee (Duke '16)
Bill Reigel (Duquesne/Duke '53/McNeese State '56) Ernie Reigel (Davidson '80) Will Reigel (Davidson '12)
Danny Schultz (Tennessee '64) Danny Schultz (Tennessee Tech '84) Dan Schultz (Tennessee '08)
Bill Shepherd Sr. (Butler '49) Billy Shepherd Jr. (Butler '72) Scott Shepherd (Florida State '96) and Jeff Shepherd (Huntington IN '99)
John Townsend (Michigan '38) Scott Montross (Michigan '68) Eric Montross (North Carolina '94)
Bob Pritchett (Old Dominion '68) Travis Trice Sr. (Butler '95) Travis Trice Jr. (Michigan State '15)