Tom Gola

School: 

La Salle

Height: 
6-6
Position: 
Forward
Hometown: 
Philadelphia, PA
High School: 
La Salle High School
  • Named national player of the year by UPI in 1955
  • NCAA unanimous first-team All-American in 1954 and 1955, and consensus first-team All-American in 1953
  • All-American Recognition: 1952 (Converse 1st Team), 1953 (Associated Press 1st Team, Converse 1st Team, National Association of Basketball Coaches 1st Team, UP1), 1954 (Associated Press 1st Team, Converse 1st Team, National Association of Basketball Coaches 1st Team, UP1) and 1955 (Associated Press 1st Team, Converse 1st Team, National Association of Basketball Coaches 1st Team, UP1)
  • Ranked among the nation's leading rebounders in 1952 (9th), 1953 (19th), 1954 (3rd) and 1955 (6th)
  • Ranked among the nation's leading scorers in 1952 (41st), 1953 (55th), 1954 (22nd) and 1955 (19th)
  • Ranked 22nd in the nation in free-throw percentage in 1953
  • Led La Salle in scoring and rebounding all four seasons, including the 1954 NCAA Tournament champion (26-4 record) and 1955 national runner-up (26-5)
  • Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1954 (38 points in final two games)
  • Named to All-NCAA Tournament team in 1954 and 1955
  • Averaged 22.9 points in 10 NCAA Tournament games in 1954 and 1955 (9-1 record)
  • Co-Most Valuable Player of 1952 NIT with teammate Norm Grekin
  • Averaged 14 points in five NIT games in 1952 (champion) and 1953 (opening-game loser)
  • Selected as a territorial choice by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1955 NBA draft
  • Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.

Season

G

FGM

FGA

FG%

3PT

3PTA

3PT%

FTM

FTA

FT%

RB

RBA

PTS

AVG

1951-52

29

192

528

.364

121

170

.712

497

17.1

505

17.4

1952-53

28

186

451

.412

145

186

.780

434

15.5

517

18.5

1953-54

30

252

619

.407

186

254

.732

652

21.7

690

23.0

1954-55

31

274

624

.439

202

267

.757

618

19.9

750

24.2

Totals

118

904

2222

.407

654

877

.746

2201

18.7

2462

20.9