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Richard Carl Mount (born January 5, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player who played for Purdue University from 1966 to 1970 as well as the American Basketball Association (ABA).[1] Mount played basketball at Lebanon Senior High School in Lebanon, Indiana, during which time he became the first high school boy representing a team sport to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Rick Mount's father, Pete, was an avid basketball player who intended Rick to learn the game as well. He cut out the bottom of a peanut can so Rick could shoot tennis balls through it. Rick's first time playing with an official basketball goal was during the fourth grade at which time he was known to beat 8th and 9th graders. However, when it was time to try out for the school basketball team, he wasn't able to make a standard left-hand lay up, which was a requirement for making the roster. That night he practiced for hours until he had it down, and on the next day of tryouts, he made the team.[2]

High school career

[edit]

Rick "the Rocket" Mount attended Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Indiana. There, he led his team in scoring, including 33.1 points per game (ppg) throughout his junior and senior seasons. It was at this time that he started to attract national attention. In 1965, Lebanon played Crawfordsville High School at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. With 10,000 people in attendance, the team made enough money to buy a bus. He scored 57 points in that game.

On February 14, 1966, Mount appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which featured him standing in front of a barn located in Boone County, Indiana. A frequent misconception is that Rick was the first high school athlete (or male high school athlete) to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1966, though there had been several prior to this time; he was, in fact, the first high school boy representing a team sport to appear on the cover.[3][4][5][6][7][8] At the end of his senior year, he won the Indiana "Mr. Basketball" award and was named "USA Basketball Yearbook Player of the Year," given to the nation's best high school player. He finished his Lebanon career with 2,595 points, at the time it was the second-highest total in Indiana high school history; as of December 2021, he is seventh.

College career

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Mount during a Purdue timeout in 1968.
Mount goes in for a layup against the UCLA Bruins.

1966–67 season

[edit]

Mount was considering committing to University of Miami (Florida). Instead, he stayed home and attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, just 35 miles (56 km) northwest of his hometown where he played basketball under head coach George King.

As a freshman, Mount was unable to play on the varsity team due to NCAA regulations then in effect. Rick scored 33 points in a scrimmage against the varsity team in front of 9,500 in attendance at Lambert Fieldhouse. He averaged 35 points a game while shooting 54.5 percent on the freshman squad, tallying 490 points.

1967–68 season

[edit]

In his first varsity game, Mount scored a game-high 28 points in a last-second, two-point loss to a top-ranked UCLA team and Lew Alcindor. It was also the first game played in Mackey Arena. Averaging 28.4 points a game and leading Purdue to a 15–9 record, he was named a Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten his sophomore season. Following the U.S. Olympic Trials in April, he was selected as an Alternate to the U.S. National Team.[9]

1968–69 season

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In his junior season at Purdue, along with seniors Billy Keller and Herm Gilliam, he led the Boilermakers to a Big Ten Conference title and the school's first NCAA tournament appearance, where he led the Boilers to the NCAA Championship game where they lost to a Lew Alcindor-led UCLA.

In a win against Marquette to bring the Boilers to the Final Four, Mount is remembered for his "leaping lofter" game-winning shot with two seconds left in overtime. He led all scorers in the tournament with a 40.6 point average in Purdue's three games. Purdue led the nation with 94.8 points a game during the 1968–69 season fronted by Mount's 33.3 points a game. A regular season highlight was playing against the Indiana Hoosiers. In that year, Purdue defeated Indiana 120–76 in the final game of the regular season, where Mount established a school record for most points in a game.

Mount had an unusual knack for telling if a goal wasn't balanced. He twice had officials adjust the same goal prior to the NCAA Finals game at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. He went through the same situation earlier in the season before a game at Iowa. He led Purdue to a 23–5 record on the season. He shot 51.5 percent on the season, whereas well-known scorers such as Pete Maravich and Calvin Murphy shot no better than 46 percent. He was selected as a First Team All-American and the Big Ten Player Of The Year.

1969–70 season

[edit]

In his senior year, Mount had two 53-point games, plus a 61-point game against conference champion Iowa.Thirty-two of his 61 points were scored in the first half. Later research found that if the three-point line had existed in college basketball in 1970, he would have scored 74 points in that game, and been credited with 13 three-point field goals. The official school record is ten, held by Carsen Edwards.

Leading Purdue to an 18–6 season, he averaged 35.4 points a game and took his second straight First Team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors. Mount left Purdue as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,323 points throughout only three varsity seasons. At the time, it was also the Big Ten scoring record, surpassing the total of Indiana's Don Schlundt. It is currently held by Indiana's Calbert Cheaney's 2,613, though Cheaney's career collegiate scoring average of 19.8 falls well short of Mount's 32.3.[10][11]

Mount scored in double figures for 72 consecutive games while scoring 30-plus points in 46 of those games: both remain school records. He broke numerous Purdue scoring records that were held by Dave Schellhase and Terry Dischinger. During his overall career, he led the Boilers to a 56–20 record.

Mount never received a national player of the year award. He finished behind UCLA's Lew Alcindor and LSU's Pete Maravich.

Professional career

[edit]

Indiana Pacers

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1970-1971

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Mount was considered an excellent pro prospect, but because the general managers of the NBA knew that Mount was already signed by the ABA, he was not drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers until the middle of the eighth round of the 1970 NBA draft.[12] However, Mount was drafted in the ABA by the Indiana Pacers as the fourth overall pick in 1970. His legendary status in Indiana made it a foregone conclusion that he would sign with the Pacers. At the time, the ABA was the only professional league that featured a three-point line, which worked to Mount's advantage. During his first season in the ABA, Mount was offered $40,000 from Pro-Keds to wear its new suede basketball shoe. He declined the offer because he personally preferred Chuck Taylors of the Converse brand.

1971-1972

[edit]

Playing for the Indiana Pacers and head coach Bob "Slick" Leonard, along with such heralded teammates as George McGinnis, Mel Daniels and Bob Netolicky, he led the Pacers to the 1972 ABA Championship against Rick Barry and the New York Nets. He averaged 2.9 assists and 14.2 points a game, racking up 57 three-pointers in his second season as a Pacer. Along with college teammate Billy Keller and Roger Brown, they made Indiana a constant threat beyond the arc.

Kentucky Colonels

[edit]

1972-1973

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Rick Mount was traded to the Kentucky Colonels for the 1972–73 season. With the Colonels, he averaged 15 points a game on the season. Teamed with Dan Issel, he averaged 17 points in playoff games while leading the Colonels to the ABA Finals against his former Pacers.

Utah Stars

[edit]

1973-1974

[edit]

In the middle of the 1973–74 season, Rick was traded to the Utah Stars, where he joined Ron Boone. For the third straight season, Mount led a different team to the ABA Finals, eventually losing to the New York Nets.

According to Charley Rosen, one time Mount displayed the most astounding exhibition of pure, one-on-one shooting he ever saw. Rosen was invited by the Utah coach, Joe Mullaney, to participate in an intra-squad scrimmage. After Mullaney officially terminated the session, several players lingered around to play HORSE. Because of Mount, the Stars' rules were unique. Shots had to be perfectly clean, counted only if the ball didn't touch the rim. Despite this wrinkle, Mount won every game. In the end, only Mount and Rosen were left on the court, and Mount was able to adjust the trajectory of every jumper so that the ball hit the inner part of the backside-rim in such a way that the ball would nudge the iron, split the net, and then bounce back to him. He supposedly could do this about 90 percent of the time.

Memphis Sounds

[edit]

1974-1975

[edit]

Mount spent the last season of his ABA and professional basketball career playing for the Memphis Sounds. He averaged a career season-high scoring average of 17.1 points a game. His career was cut short due to a dislocated shoulder that he sustained during the 1974–75 season.

Career notes

[edit]

Mount was among the top of the league in three-point shooting during the time he spent in the ABA, while averaging 11.8 points a game and a career total of 3,330 points. Known mainly for his scoring abilities in high school and college, Mount contributed in a greater variety of ways during his pro career. As one of the finest passers in the league, he averaged 2.4 assists, tallying a total of 676. He was also a fine free throw shooter with 82 percent accuracy. Rick shot 31.7 percent beyond the arc and held a 43.3 field goal percentage in his five seasons in the ABA.

After retirement

[edit]

Today, Mount lives in his hometown of Lebanon, Indiana, with his wife, Donna. His son, Rich, played on the Purdue basketball team for two seasons (1989–1991) before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth (VCU). Rich, who also played at Lebanon, left high school with the ninth most points in Indiana high school history. He currently works as a police officer in Lebanon.

Currently, Mount runs "shoot camps" for high school players throughout the Midwest, where each player will take 2,500 supervised shots. The instructional school is based solely on shooting and there is no scrimmaging involved.

An avid quail hunter, he opened Rick Mount's Sports Shop, a hunting and fishing shop. Purdue is among Mount's customers for the "Shoot-A-Way" retrieval system, a device which returns a basketball down a track to a player after a shot. Rick left college 10 credits shy of his degree; that decision later affected his opportunity to be a head coach at an Indiana high school.

In 1992, Mount and his father were both inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, located in New Castle, Indiana. In 2014, his son, Rich, was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's Silver Anniversary Team.[13]

In 2016, Mount gave an interview to the Indianapolis Star where he discussed his career and his public perception.[14]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Rick Mount

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Richard Carl Mount (born January 5, 1947), nicknamed "The Rocket," is an American former professional basketball player renowned for his exceptional scoring prowess during his high school and college careers in Indiana. At Lebanon High School, Mount averaged 33.1 points per game in his junior and senior seasons, earning three-time all-state and all-America honors before winning the prestigious Mr. Basketball Award in 1966. Mount continued his dominance at from 1966 to 1970, where he amassed 2,323 career points and led the Boilermakers to a 56-20 record, including an NCAA appearance in 1969. A three-time All-Big Ten first-team selection, he was named a consensus All-American in both his junior and senior seasons, capping his college tenure with a Big Ten-record 35.4 points per game as a senior in 1969-70. Selected first overall by the in the 1970 ABA Draft and eighth round (132nd overall) by the in the , Mount opted for the ABA and played five professional seasons from 1970 to 1975 across four teams: the Pacers (1970-72), (1972-74), (1973-74), and (1974-75). In 283 regular-season games, he averaged 11.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 43.3% from the field and 82.0% from the free-throw line, contributing to the Pacers' 1972 ABA Championship. His professional career was shortened by injuries, including a in 1974-75, after which he retired.

Early years

Early life

Richard Carl Mount was born on January 5, 1947, in , to parents Pete Mount and Katie Mount. His father, Pete, a 6-foot-3 center who had starred for High School's 1943 state finalist team, was deeply passionate about the sport and determined to instill its fundamentals in his son from an early age. Growing up in the close-knit, -obsessed community of —a small central town where the sport held a central place in local culture—Mount's initial exposure to revolved around his father's hands-on instruction. Pete crafted a makeshift hoop by cutting the bottom out of a can and hanging it on the family's back porch, enabling young Rick to practice shooting tennis balls and honing his form with smaller, more precise targets. This familial encouragement in a steeped in Hoosier basketball heritage laid the groundwork for Mount's development, naturally leading to his participation in organized youth and high school play.

High school career

Rick Mount attended Lebanon Senior High School in , where he established himself as one of the state's premier talents. Over his four-year varsity career from 1963 to 1966, he amassed 2,595 points, a total that ranks 8th in high school boys history. His scoring progression included yearly averages of 20.4 points as a , 23.6 as a , and 33.1 points per game during both his junior and senior seasons, helping lead the Tigers to a 72-23 record. Mount's junior and senior years showcased his offensive dominance, as he consistently delivered high-volume scoring in a competitive landscape. He averaged 33.1 points per game across those two seasons, highlighted by a career-high 57-point performance in 1965 during his senior year. These efforts not only elevated Lebanon's program but also drew national attention to his sharpshooting prowess and basketball IQ. Mount's exceptional high school tenure earned him numerous accolades, including selection as in 1966, a three-time all-state honoree, and a three-time selection. He was also named the Yearbook Player of the Year in 1966, recognizing him as the nation's top high school player. Adding to his fame, Mount became the first high school boy in a team sport to appear on the cover of on February 14, 1966.

College career

1966–67 season

Rick Mount, fresh off his standout high school career where he was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 1966 after averaging 28.6 points per game at High School, transitioned to that fall. His reputation as a prolific scorer drew significant interest, leading him to join the Boilermakers as a highly anticipated . However, NCAA regulations at the time prohibited freshmen from competing on the , confining Mount to Purdue's freshman squad for the 1966–67 season. This rule, in effect until 1972, meant Mount could only play intrasquad and games, providing an opportunity to acclimate to college-level physicality and speed without the pressures of varsity competition. Mount quickly adapted to the increased intensity, scoring 33 points on 9-of-21 shooting in a scrimmage against the early in the year. Over the season, he averaged 35.0 on the freshman team, totaling a record 490 points and establishing himself as a dominant offensive force. This performance highlighted his early development as an elite outside shooter, relying on his signature jump shot to excel despite the step up from high school.

1967–68 season

In his sophomore season, which served as his full varsity debut at , Rick Mount emerged as a dominant scorer, averaging 28.4 across 24 contests. This performance built on the high expectations set by his freshman-year average of 35.0 points on the non-varsity squad, though he adapted to the rigors of Big Ten competition while shooting efficiently from the field and free-throw line. Mount's scoring prowess, often highlighted by his long-range shooting accuracy, made him the team's leading offensive threat and contributed significantly to Purdue's high-powered attack, which averaged 84.9 points per game. Despite Mount's individual brilliance, the posted a 15–9 overall record, including a 9–5 mark in Big Ten play that secured third place in the conference. The season featured competitive showings against top opponents, but inconsistencies in team defense—allowing 79.9 —limited their success. Mount's contributions extended beyond scoring, as he also averaged 2.8 rebounds per game, providing crucial floor spacing and secondary playmaking. Mount's breakout year earned him widespread recognition, including selection to the Second Team All-American by the and First Team All-Big Ten honors. These accolades underscored his rapid rise as one of the conference's premier guards and marked the beginning of his status as a national scoring sensation.

1968–69 season

In his junior season, Rick Mount emerged as Purdue's offensive centerpiece, averaging 33.3 while shooting 51.5% from the field and 84.7% from the free-throw line across 28 games. His scoring prowess propelled the Boilermakers to a 23–5 overall record and a dominant 13–1 mark in Big Ten play, securing the program's first conference championship in 29 years. Purdue led the nation in scoring at 93.0 , with Mount's long-range shooting and playmaking often overwhelming opponents in high-octane contests. Mount's contributions extended into Purdue's inaugural NCAA appearance, where the third-seeded Boilermakers advanced to the for the first time in school history. In the Mideast Regional, they defeated Miami (OH) 91–71 before edging Marquette 75–73 in overtime, with Mount's clutch jumper sealing the victory and earning him All-Regional honors. At the in Louisville, Purdue routed 92–65 in the semifinals, highlighted by Mount's 36-point, 14-rebound performance, before falling to defending champion UCLA 92–72 in the title game, where Mount scored 28 points despite the Bruins' interior dominance led by Lew Alcindor. For his standout campaign, Mount was named a consensus First Team All-American, recognizing his national impact as one of college basketball's premier scorers. He also earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, the first of two consecutive such awards, cementing his status as the conference's top performer.

1969–70 season

In his senior season, Rick Mount averaged 35.4 points per game for Purdue, leading the Big Ten and establishing a conference record for scoring average that season. He achieved standout performances with two 53-point games—against and —and a career-high 61 points in a February 28, 1970, loss to , setting a Big Ten single-game scoring record that still stands. These efforts highlighted his individual dominance following Purdue's appearance the previous year. Mount's scoring propelled the Boilermakers to an 18–6 overall record and an 11–3 mark in Big Ten play, finishing second in the conference. Over his three varsity seasons from 1967–68 to 1969–70, Purdue compiled a 56–20 record under his leadership. For his contributions, Mount earned consensus First Team All-American honors and won the Silver Basketball as Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He concluded his as Purdue's all-time leading scorer with 2,323 points.

Professional career

(1970–1972)

Rick Mount was selected by the as the first overall pick in their portion of the 1970 ABA Draft (fourth overall in some records), marking a homecoming for the native after a stellar college career at Purdue. His selection reflected the high expectations placed on his sharpshooting skills, which had made him one of the nation's top scorers. Mount signed a reported three-year contract worth $750,000 with the Pacers shortly after the draft, positioning him as a key addition to the team's backcourt. In his rookie season of 1970–71, Mount appeared in 66 games for the Pacers, averaging 6.6 while adjusting to the professional level's physicality and pace. He contributed modestly off the bench, providing spacing with his perimeter shooting in an era where the ABA's three-point line favored his skill set. The Pacers finished the regular season with a 58–26 record but fell in the semifinals to the , limiting Mount's playoff exposure to 10 games where he averaged 6.0 points. Mount's development accelerated in the 1971–72 season, where he became a more integral part of the rotation, playing in all 78 games and starting 50 while averaging 14.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. His improved scoring efficiency and playmaking helped anchor the Pacers' offense as they posted a league-best 68–16 record. In the playoffs, Mount averaged 8.9 points across 20 games, including contributions in the ABA Finals against the New York Nets, where the Pacers defeated Rick Barry's squad 4–2 to claim the 1972 ABA Championship—Mount's first and only professional title during his tenure with the team.

Kentucky Colonels (1972–1974)

In the summer of 1972, following his role in the ' ABA championship victory, Rick Mount was acquired by the in a cash trade from the Pacers on July 31. Mount joined a Colonels team featuring stars like and , providing sharpshooting support from the guard position during his tenure from 1972 to 1974. During the 1972–73 regular season, Mount appeared in 61 games for , averaging 14.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. His performance elevated in the , where he averaged 16.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists over 19 games, helping the Colonels secure the Eastern Division title and advance to the ABA . There, pushed the Pacers to a decisive seventh game before falling 4–3 in the series. In the 1973–74 season, Mount continued with the Colonels through the early part of the campaign, playing in 18 games and averaging 7.3 before his time with the team concluded.

Utah Stars (1974)

On January 9, 1974, the traded Rick Mount to the in exchange for a draft pick and cash considerations. This move came after Mount's strong playoff performance with the Colonels in the 1972-73 season, where he averaged 20.0 across five games in the Eastern Division Semifinals. Joining a competitive Utah roster led by guards and Jimmy Jones, Mount slotted in as a shooting guard off the bench, leveraging his perimeter shooting to complement the team's up-tempo style. In the remaining 34 regular-season games with the Stars, Mount averaged 8.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 14.0 minutes per game, shooting 47.9% from the field and 87.0% from the free-throw line. His efficient scoring provided depth to Utah's backcourt, helping the team secure a 51-33 record and the Western Division title despite his mid-season arrival. Mount's integration bolstered the Stars' offensive versatility, allowing starters like Boone (who averaged 25.4 points) to maintain their rhythm while he contributed timely jumpers and spot-up opportunities. Mount's impact amplified in the playoffs, where he appeared in all 16 games, averaging 10.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 19.1 minutes, with a 45.9% field-goal percentage. The Stars advanced to the ABA Finals for the third consecutive year under Mount's tenure across teams, defeating the 4-2 in the Western Division Semifinals and the 4-3 in the Division Finals. In the Finals against the New York Nets, Mount averaged 12.4 points in five games, shooting 40.0% from the field, though Utah fell 1-4 in the series. His bench production offered crucial spacing against New York's star-studded lineup, including , underscoring his value in high-stakes matchups.

Memphis Sounds (1974–1975)

After the 1973–74 season with the , where his team reached the ABA Finals, Rick Mount was traded to the from the on August 27, 1974, for the 1974–75 campaign under new owner , who assembled a roster featuring several former teammates including Roger Brown, , and . Mount experienced a resurgence in form during his lone season with , posting career highs in scoring with an average of 17.1 points per game across 51 appearances while 42.6% from the field. His sharpshooting jump shot proved particularly effective, helping to bolster the team's backcourt alongside Lewis. The shoulder injury, a severe separation sustained during the season that required , limited his play and ultimately forced his retirement from professional basketball at age 28 without return attempts as of 1975. The injury effectively ended his ABA career after five seasons.

Career statistics and achievements

Rick Mount's professional career in the (ABA) spanned five seasons from 1970 to 1975, during which he appeared in 283 regular-season games, averaging 11.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Over this span, he accumulated 3,330 total points, showcasing his scoring prowess as Purdue University's all-time leading scorer transitioning to the professional level. His shooting efficiencies included a 43.3% , 31.7% from three-point range on 382 attempts, and an 82.0% free-throw percentage. In the playoffs, Mount participated in 65 games across multiple postseason runs, averaging 11.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while scoring 728 total points. His postseason shooting remained consistent, with a 40.6% rate, 32.9% from beyond the arc, and 83.9% at the free-throw line. Mount's achievements highlight his role in contending teams, including winning the 1972 ABA Championship with the , defeating the New York Nets 4-2 in the Finals. He appeared in three consecutive ABA Finals from 1972 to 1974, first as a champion with the Pacers in 1972, then with the in 1973 (losing to the Pacers 3-4), and finally with the in 1974 (losing to the Nets 1-4).

Later life

Post-retirement activities

After retiring from professional in 1976 due to a chronic injury, Rick Mount focused on community-oriented endeavors centered on his expertise in shooting fundamentals. Mount established the Rick Mount Shooting School, conducting annual summer camps for youth and high school players across , , , and . These three-day sessions emphasize supervised repetition, with participants taking approximately 2,500 shots each to refine mid-range jumpers and overall technique. By 2001, the program had operated for a decade, and it continued into the 2020s, including events in High School's gymnasium—where Mount starred—and clinics in Fort Wayne. In the early 1980s, Mount owned and operated Rick Mount's Sport Shop in , specializing in and supplies such as guns, bait, tackle, and an indoor range. The venture, however, proved unsuccessful and closed after less than five years. In a 2016 interview with , Mount reflected on reconciling past tensions with and his hometown of , noting his reclusive tendencies had contributed to earlier estrangements but expressing gratitude for honors like a standing ovation at and the dedication of a highway segment as "Rick Mount Highway." He acknowledged ongoing reservations about his tenure but highlighted his commitment to teaching the game he loved. Mount shared further reflections in 2024 amid Purdue's return to the , recalling his game-winning 23-foot shot against in the regional final that propelled the Boilermakers to their first such appearance. He credited his scoring prowess—averaging 32 over —to relentless practice, advising aspiring shooters to "get in the gym and work on it," and expressed optimism for the 2024 team's championship potential due to their readiness and talent.

Family and personal life

Mount married his high school sweetheart, Donna Cadger, in 1969, and the couple has resided in , since his retirement from professional basketball. Their son, Rich Mount, followed in his father's footsteps by playing college basketball, first as a guard for from 1989 to 1991 before transferring to (VCU), where he continued his career. Rich, who also starred at Lebanon High School, now serves as a Major of Road Operations with the Lebanon Police Department, where he has worked for nearly three decades. Rick's father, Paul "Pete" Mount, was a standout 6'3" center at High School (class of 1944) and an influential figure in local , instilling a deep family passion for the sport. In 1992, both Pete and Rick were inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in the same class, highlighting their shared legacy as a father-son duo that produced Indiana's most accomplished three-generation family, spanning Pete, Rick, and Rich.

Honors and legacy

Rick Mount's basketball career earned him numerous accolades that cemented his status in the sport's history. In 1992, he was inducted into the Indiana Hall of Fame alongside his father, Pete Mount, recognizing their combined contributions to the state's basketball tradition. Earlier, in 1986, Mount was enshrined in the Indiana High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame for his standout high school performance at Lebanon High School. His college achievements led to his selection for the National Collegiate Hall of Fame in 2017, making him the fifth Purdue representative in that institution. Additionally, he joined the inaugural class of the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. Mount is widely recognized as one of Indiana's premier high school basketball legends, having been named Mr. Basketball in 1966 after scoring a then-record 2,595 points at High School, the first player to reach 2,000. At , he established himself as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,323 points over three seasons, a mark that stood until 2024 and underscored his exceptional scoring prowess as a two-time All-American. Mount's legacy endures as a quintessential pure shooter whose style and success from small-town , inspired generations of players in rural basketball communities. Known as "The Rocket" for his flawless jump shot, he is often hailed as one of the greatest shooters in history, influencing the of the sharpshooting guard in 's hoops culture. In 2025, discussions of basketball continue to spotlight Mount's impact, including interactions like teaching shooting techniques to broadcasters ahead of Purdue games. His family's multi-generational involvement in the sport further amplifies his role as a foundational figure in the state's basketball heritage.

References

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  29. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTS/1974.html
  30. http://www.remembertheaba.com/memphis-sounds.html
  31. https://vault.si.com/vault/2001/07/02/rick-mount-this-indiana-schoolboy-star-flopped-as-a-pro-and-is-only-now-at-54-coming-to-terms-with-life-after-hoops
  32. https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1974-aba-finals-stars-vs-nets.html
  33. https://markmontieth.com/one-on-one/rick-mount-part-1/
  34. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-03-sp-mount3-story.html
  35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsZoZ7ahbjs
  36. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2016/12/02/doyel-purdue-hero-rick-mount-mending-fences/94682876/
  37. https://www.wlfi.com/news/local/rick-mount-reflects-back-on-purdues-first-final-four-appearance/article_a9759006-f2df-11ee-b257-0fab9e7f38aa.html
  38. https://www.myheritage.com/names/rick_mount
  39. https://lebanon.in.gov/lebanon-famous-faces/
  40. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/rich-mount-1.html
  41. https://lebanon.in.gov/staff-members/rich-mount/
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC0JNCOqyGA
  43. https://www.hammerandrails.com/2017/3/8/14854944/rick-mount-college-basketball-hall-of-fame
  44. https://www.si.com/college/indiana/big-ten/zach-edey-passes-rick-mount-purdue-boilermakers-basketball-all-time-scoring-leader
  45. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/purdue/2025/02/28/purdue-basketball-rick-mount-fox-announcer-gus-johnson-ucla/80890924007/
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