JIM GANT
Basketball, 1962-66
Inducted October 8, 1977

One of the top outside shooters SMS has had in basketball, Jim Gant was a prolific scorer through a Bruin cage career which lasted from 1962 to 1966.  He came to the Bears from St. Louis and was second on the team in scoring as a freshman.  He blossomed in his junior year, gaining selection to the MIAA all-tourney team and picking up the first of two selections to the all-MIAA conference first team.  He led SMS in scoring with an 18.1 average and also in free throw accuracy.  As a senior, he sparked the Bruins to a perfect 10-0 MIAA season and the league title.  His 22.7 scoring average led the team and he set SMS single season records for points and field goals while again leading the club in free throw percentage.  Twice the Bears’ captain, he was an All-American selection and when he graduated he ranked second on the SMS career scoring ladder with 1341 points.  Now, more than a decade later, he still ranks sixth in career scoring, is tied for fifth in field goals, and is ninth in free throws.