JERSEYS IN THE RAFTERS: Bobby Speight (1951-53)

Most likely one the greatest NC State players you have never heard of, Bobby Speight led the Wolfpack to back-to-back Southern Conference Championships in 1951 and ’52. A 6’8 rebounding machine, Speight still sits 4th on the All-Time NC State Rebounding List with 1,057. In 1952 and ’53 he earned All-Conference honors and was also named as a 2nd team All-American in ’53. Speight was just the 3rd player in NC State history to score more than 500 points in a season as he ended his career with 1,430 points.

Bobby Speight was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in 1953, with their 2ndpick. After 2 years in the NBA, Speight’s career ended when he enrolled in the Army.

Speight passed away in 2007 after a long battle with cancer. Today, NC State remembers him by having their basketball practice facility’s lobby named after him and by hanging his Jersey in the Rafters.