Wilson, Paul

Paul Wilson – (2006)

 

In the discussion of the finest prep basketball players in the storied history of the City of Lorain, the name Paul Wilson will always be at the forefront. An accomplished prep and collegiate athlete, Paul was the embodiment of hard work, passion and leadership forged with amazing skill and natural ability.

Paul began his prep basketball career playing at Lorain Catholic High School for legendary coach Jim Lawhead, also a Lorain Sports Hall of Fame and Ohio Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee. As a freshman Paul began his career starting for the junior varsity team where he quickly established himself as a dominant force in the post for the Spartans. By the end of the season Paul dressed and played with the varsity team in the tournament.

As a sophomore Paul earned a spot in the starting lineup for the varsity team – a place where he would remain for the rest of his high school basketball career and etch his mark in the record books at Lorain Catholic. In three varsity seasons from 1982-85, Paul Wilson posted several school records that will forever stand in Lorain Catholic history. He is the schools’ all-time leading scorer tallying 1,824 total points in his career for an average of 19.4 points per game. Paul is also the all-time leading rebounder, grabbing 833 boards for a career average of just over 10 rebounds per game. Both of these accomplishments were in just 83 varsity games.

As a player, Paul earned many individual honors and awards. He was named to the All Erie Coast Conference 1st Team three times and the All District 1st Team three times. In his junior and senior seasons he earned the Erie Coast Conference Most Valuable Player award. As a senior Paul was voted to the Associated Press All Ohio 1st Team.

With the extensive list of individual accolades Paul attained at Lorain Catholic it was clear he was a fantastic basketball player, but the caliber of a player is often judged not by what he accomplished as an individual, but by the success of his team. Paul Wilson was the leader of several tremendous Spartan teams.

From 1982-86 the Lorain Catholic Spartans won four consecutive District Championships and also made four consecutive Sweet 16 appearances in the state tournament. The 1984-85 team reached the Final Four losing to Youngstown Rayen in the semi-finals. The Spartans amassed an 87-15 record in Paul Wilson’s four seasons on the team. Coach Lawhead fondly remembers his time with Paul:

*”Paul Wilson was an absolute joy to coach. He had a great disposition as a player and a person, and he truly loved to play basketball. Paul simply made the game of basketball fun to coach for me and fun to play for his teammates.”*

Following the tremendous individual and team success Paul experienced at Lorain Catholic, he continued his athletic and academic career at Bradley University on a full-ride basketball scholarship. In his freshman year, the 1985-86 season, the Bradley Braves had 32-3 overall record going a perfect 16-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference while winning the regular season conference championship. Paul was voted to the All-Tournament team for the MVC tournament. Following a 17-12 sophomore season the Braves went 26-5 overall in 1987-88 winning the MVC title. Paul was voted the team’s most improved player in the 87-88 season.

Leadership was a hallmark of Paul’s career on the court and as a senior at Bradley it was no different as Paul was elected co-captain of the team. In that final collegiate season he averaged 16.3 points per game and scored 439 total points. For his career at Bradley Paul Wilson totaled 927 points and earned 4 varsity letters, both of which are terrific career numbers.

*WELCOME, PAUL WILSON, INTO THE LORAIN SPORTS HALL OF FAME*