California State University Northridge Athletics
Inglewood High Retires Reggie Theus Jersey, Honors Former Sentinels Star
11/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Published with Permission of Inglewood Unified School District
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -
Inglewood High School retired the No. 24 jersey worn by basketball great Reggie Theus on Wednesday, a standout former MVP for the Sentinels before moving on to a successful career playing and coaching professional and college basketball.
On November 12, 2014 – which Inglewood Unified State Trustee Dr. Don Brann declared "Reggie Theus Day" – the former Sentinel received a standing ovation in an auditorium packed with community members.
"From this day forward, no one can wear 24," Principal Jose Gallegos said. Instead, the celebrated green and white jersey will be "hung in the rafters at Inglewood High School."
Theus told the crowd he was humbled by the recognition before directing his comments to the many community members seated before him.
"This day is not only about me, it's about you, because I sat in the same seats that you're sitting in now. It's not who you are and where you're from, it's where you're going," said Theus, now the head men's basketball coach at CSUN.
Theus, the keynote speaker at last year's IHS graduation, is a 1975 grad and a school success story.
He attended Monroe Junior High (Monroe Middle) before starting at IHS in the fall of 1971. He was an exemplary basketball player, and as a senior averaged 28.5 points and 15.5 rebounds a game while leading the Sentinels to the semifinals of the 4A CIF state tournament. He was named the team's most valuable player for three straight years and led the Sentinels to back-to-back Bay League championships in 1974 and 1975.
After graduation, Theus went on to play for UNLV, where years later he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. His success in college led him to stints with several NBA teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Kansas City Kings, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets and Orlando Magic.
A married father of three children, Theus has also worked as an actor and commentator. After a period in television, he moved on to coaching, serving as a volunteer coach at California State University, Los Angeles, an assistant coach for the University of Louisville, head coach of the New Mexico State Aggies, head coach of the Sacramento Kings and an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
