FORMER GUILFORD STAR WORLD B. FREE PROMOTED BY PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

  • FORMER GUILFORD STAR WORLD B. FREE PROMOTED BY PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

 

Philadelphia, PA (8/10/06) -- Former Guilford College standout World B. Free '76 added Director of Player Development duties to his role with the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Thursday.

 

Free, who enters his 11th season in the 76ers front office, continues as the team's official Ambassador of 76ers Basketball in the community relations department. His new role focuses on off-court player development, including post-NBA plans and aspirations. He will also be available to assist the 76ers' coaching and scouting staffs throughout the season.

 

Free's role with the community relations department involves frequent visits to schools, recreation center and playgrounds in the greater Philadelphia area where he teaches basketball fundamentals as well as life lessons. Free is in the midst of leading the 76ers Summer Hoops Tour and also directs the team's Basketball 101 program. His efforts earned him the 2005 Philadelphia Sports Congress Community Service Award.

 

      Under coach Jack Jensen, Free was a freshman on Guilford's 1973 national title team and led all players in the 1973 NAIA Tournament with 120 points. He was the first rookie to receive the Chuck Taylor Tournament MVP Award and netted 30 points in the title game. Guilford's career scoring average leader (23.6 points per game), he ranks third in school history with 2,006 points in 85 games over three seasons. A two-time All-American at Guilford, Free declared hardship for the 1975 NBA Draft and was picked in the second round by the 76ers with the 22nd selection. He enjoyed a 13-season NBA career, which included stops in San Diego, Golden State, Cleveland and Houston. Free retired in 1988 as the sixth-leading scorer among NBA guards with 17,995 career points, which ranks 51st overall in NBA history.