Humphries' Passing, Defense, Scores Spot In Hall Of Fame

For a number of years, Colorado basketball had Jay Humphries to boast.

Long before Tad Boyle arrived and injected NBA promise back into CU's backcourt, Colorado had Jay Humphries. Even before Chauncey Billups dazzled the country during his two seasons with the Buffaloes, Colorado had Jay Humphries.

With four years at CU and a lengthy NBA career, Humphries lit the torch for a long line of Colorado guards who have taken their game to the next level.

Humphries journey to stardom began in Los Angeles. He had an unusual experience for a prep player of his caliber, playing for a stacked Inglewood High School team that went undefeated on their way to winning the 1980 CIF Championship.

"We had seven players who were all very highly touted," Humphries said of his high school squad. "There was a nucleus of about four of us that had been playing together since elementary school."

Among those players was backcourt mate and CIF Player of the Year, Ralph Jackson. While Jackson received many of the headlines, Humphries did more than enough to turn heads of college coaches across the country. UCLA coach Larry Brown tried to recruit both Humphries and Jackson in the hopes of landing high school basketball's best backcourt, but when it became clear that Humphries preferred to play elsewhere, Brown helped then-CU coach Bill Blair land his commitment.

CU proved to be the right place for Humphries. Although the team didn't enjoy the level of success he had envisioned, Humphries blossomed, twice earning All-Big Eight Conference and honorable mention All-America honors.

"My college experience was very good, even if we didn't have as much success as we had hoped," Humphries said. "I formed friendships and relationships that have lasted to this day."

Beyond the lasting relationships, CU also gave Humphries a stage on which he could display his immense talent. While Humphries led the Buffs in assists and steals in each of his four years at CU, he boasted a well-rounded game. "I took a lot of responsibility for passing," said CU's all-time assist leader. "But I could score too."

Once given the opportunity, Humphries proved that he was more than just a distributor. After averaging just 6.4 points per game his freshman season, Humphries boosted that number to 10.3 as a sophomore, 14.3 as a junior, and 15.4 as a senior.

Even though Humphries was the whole package offensively, his defensive prowess set him apart. "I took pride in playing defense," Humphries said. "I didn't want anyone to think that scoring on me was going to be easy."

He led the NCAA in steals his junior season with 115 and during that record-setting campaign, he recorded 10 steals in a single contest against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

"It's funny, there was a coach at Oklahoma, Billy Tubbs, who used to say that I was the only player in the country who was a threat to score on defense," Humphries recalled.

When Humphries took off his Colorado jersey for the final time in 1984, he was CU's all-time leader in assists (562), steals (309), and games played (112), and came in at fourth on the Buffs' all-time scoring list (1,306). More than three decades later, Humphries is still CU's all-time leader in both assists and steals.

After a record-setting career at CU, Humphries had proven himself to NBA scouts. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 13^th overall pick of the 1984 NBA Draft. Humphries selection marked the first time a CU player had been selected in the first round since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

Humphries poised leadership and smooth style of play made for a quick transition to the NBA, and he had played his way into Phoenix's starting lineup by the end of his rookie season. He set Phoenix's single season assist record in 1987 when he dished out 632 (though the record would eventually be broken by Kevin Johnson).

The following season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he would enjoy some of his best years in the NBA. By his second season in Milwaukee, Humphries was the best player on a playoff contender. He led the team in scoring and assists over his final three seasons with the Bucks.

Following the 1991 season, Humphries was traded to the Utah Jazz. He adjusted to a new role in Utah and helped the Jazz make the playoffs in both of his seasons with the club. Humphries was traded to Boston in 1995, where he played the final six games of an 11-year NBA career.

While Humphries enjoyed a lengthy NBA career, he admits that those 11 years went by in a flash. "I appreciated the opportunity to play in the NBA so I strived to be the best player I could be every day," Humphries said. "Even playing so many years, you blink your eyes and it's over."

For Humphries, though, basketball did not stop when his playing career was over. During his time in Milwaukee, Humphries formed a bond with Bucks coach Del Harris. Humphries credits Harris with planting the seeds of his coaching career; the two would have long talks about Humphries embracing and enjoying being a coach on the floor. "I was always who I was," Humphries said. "I was a director."

Humphries natural leadership helped him transition into coaching, but his first job wasn't an easy one. He began his coaching career in China, where he admits the language barrier complicated coaching at first.

"It was different because I had to use a translator," Humphries recalled. "So I was emulating and demonstrating everything I said."

His second stop was in Korea, where he helped the league's last place team to a championship. Humphries then returned to the United States where he served as assistant for a handful of NBA teams. He is now a part-owner of the United States Basketball Academy in Oregon where he helps train Asian national in basketball, as well as in English and math.

Humphries still follows Colorado Basketball 33 years after he played his final collegiate game, though he admits, "I feel bad I don't have the opportunity to make it back (for more games) because I'm usually coaching during the season."

Whether his coaching career leads him back to Colorado or far overseas, Humphries can take pride in knowing that the torch he lit still burns bright in the CU backcourt today.

Colorado University Athletics

Humphries' Passing, Defense, Scores Spot In Hall Of Fame

Related News

Related Videos