Early last year, when U.S. Olympic Basketball Coach Hank Iba was trying to round up a team for Mexico City, he learned to his dismay that Lew Alcindor, the U.C.L.A. skyscraper, and several other Negro stars were planning to skip the Games. The best Iba could do for center was Spencer Haywood, 19, a 6-ft. 8-in. player from Colorado's Trinidad State Junior College.
As it turned out, Haywood was more than good enough. With the agility and speed of a backcourt guard, he un nerved opponents by blocking numerous shots, scoring 145 points and leading the team in...
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