Former Booker T. Washington, Xavier basketball star Bruce Seals dead at age 67

One of the best prep basketball players in New Orleans history is gone.

Former Booker T. Washington and Xavier star Bruce Seals passed away today in the Boston (MA) area. Seals was 67.

Growing up, I had the chance to watch Seals when I was just starting high school.

He seemed larger than life (6-8, 210), looking even taller with a long wing span.

Seals was a brilliant player for Booker T. Washington, a school where legendary coach Ted Washington fashioned a brilliant career leading to induction into the Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Seals led the Lions to the state semifinals in 1971 and was named the state’s Most Valuable Player that season (1970-71).

Seals, who could have played at many major schools, chose to stay home and play at Xavier University with Lion teammates Greg Berniard, Ames Growe and James Williams, reuniting a terrific unit of former Booker T. Washington players.

Seals went on to star for the Gold Rush, leading Xavier to the national tournament.

It was on to professional basketball for Seals, who signed with the ABA Utah Stars and played for two seasons from 1973-75 in the fledgling league before joining the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA, playing there for three seasons.

Seals was as first-round pick of the Stars in the ABA draft and was a second-round pick of the Sonics in the NBA draft. Seals played in 235 games in the NBA.

Seals played for five years in the Italian League after finishing his career in the United States.

Seals averaged 8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in his five years of professional basketball.

Seals still holds many records at Xavier.

Seals was inducted into the Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.