Don Haskins Basketball Team

Don haskins created a team with seven African American players during the 1960’s. A time when the US had major discrimination problems. Don Haskins took a stand in history by allowing African Americans to play on his basketball team. During the 1960’s it was rare that even that even one black player was on the team. By winning the championship he showed America that blacks were just as good as whites.

In the mid 1900’s blacks and whites were separated in many daily activities such as; public bathrooms, drinking fountains, and many other things. It wasn’t until 1965 that African Americans earned themselves the right to vote. By 1968 after much protesting the government gave them civil rights as well.

He knew that everybody was equal and African Americans deserved to have this education. As time progressed the University of Texas became more and more diverse. Don Haskins, by the mid 1960’s, had created a better team than this college had ever had. He did so with both blacks and whites too. They were beginning to turn into the best team in college. Don Haskins coached a team of twelve players to become the NCAA tournament champions. The team was made up of seven blacks players, Bobby Joe Hill, David Lattin, Willie Cager, Harry Flournoy, Nevil Shed, Orsten Artis, and Willee worsley. Bobby Joe Hill and David Lattin where Don Haskins favorite players. Bobby Joe Hill was an extremely quick guard, while Lattin was their big man. Willie Cager missed half of the season because of heart problems. Because of this it is not for sure just how good he could have been. This team went from being a terrible college basketball program to winning the championship. The school of El Paso, was decent at football but as far as basketball went they didn’t pay the sport any mind, until Don Haskins arrived. His first season they did better than this college every had, and after that season after season they kept on getting