Togo Palazzi
Togo Palazzi | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 8, 1932 Union City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | August 12, 2022 (aged 90) |
| Occupation(s) | Professional basketball player, basketball coach |
| Years active | 1954–1962 (player), 1960–1961 (coach), 1980–1985 (women's basketball coach) |
| Known for | NBA player for Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals; coach of Holy Cross women's basketball team |
Togo Anthony Palazzi (August 8, 1932 – August 12, 2022) was an American professional basketball athlete who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) representing the Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals.
Playing and coaching career
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Palazzi played both as a forward and a guard. Hailing from Union City, New Jersey, he was recognized as one of the nation's premier high school players while attending Union Hill High School. He continued his basketball journey at the College of the Holy Cross, where he captained the squad that secured the NIT Championship, earning Most Valuable Player accolades during the tournament.
In the 1954 NBA draft, Palazzi was chosen fifth overall by the Boston Celtics. Throughout six seasons in the NBA with both the Celtics and the Syracuse Nationals, he posted an average of 7.4 points per game.
Between 1960 and 1962, Palazzi competed with the Scranton Miners in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL), where he was named to the All-EPBL Second Team in 1961. Additionally, he took on head coaching responsibilities for the Miners during the 1960–61 season, guiding them to an 11–7 record.
Later in his career, from 1980 until 1985, Palazzi coached the Holy Cross women's basketball team. During his tenure, he achieved a record of 103 wins against 28 losses and led the team to their inaugural appearance in the 1985 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament during his final year.
Later life and death
Palazzi remained engaged with basketball by delivering motivational talks at youth camps, including participation at the Scatlet Hawks Basketball Camp located in Milford, Massachusetts. He also held the position of camp director for the Togo Palazzi/Sterling Recreation Basketball Camp in Sterling, Massachusetts.
He passed away on August 12, 2022, at the age of 90.
NBA
Source
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Nbay | Boston | 53 | 9.5 | .399 | .750 | 2.8 | .6 | 4.7 |
| Template:Nbay | Boston | 63 | 11.2 | .389 | .685 | 2.9 | .7 | 6.0 |
| Template:Nbay | Boston | 21 | 11.1 | .347 | .719 | 3.6 | .4 | 5.0 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse | 42 | 18.6 | .373 | .790 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 10.7 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse | 67 | 14.9 | .394 | .719 | 3.6 | .6 | 8.6 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse | 71 | 14.8 | .392 | .728 | 3.7 | .9 | 8.4 |
| Template:Nbay | Syracuse | 7 | 10.0 | .317 | .500 | 2.0 | .4 | 4.3 |
| Career | 324 | 13.4 | .386 | .730 | 3.4 | .7 | 7.4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Playoff Performance
| Year | Team | Games Played | Minutes Per Game | Field Goal % | Free Throw % | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Points Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 NBA Playoffs | Boston | 5 | 6.0 | .500 | .500 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| 1956 | Boston | 2 | 3.5 | .200 | – | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 1957 | Syracuse | 5 | 17.4 | .388 | .778 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 9.0 |
| 1958 | Syracuse | 3 | 8.3 | .214 | .500 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| 1959 | Syracuse | 8 | 8.4 | .295 | .714 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 4.5 |