Head Coach: Grover Kirkland
2025 Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Category: Basketball
The 1984 & 1985 Flint Northwestern Men’s Basketball Team includes Scott Watson, Andre Morris, Jimmy Lee, Andre Rison, Michael Avery, Kevin McElway, Tim Nunn, Michael Johnson, Daryl Miller, Glen Rice, Brady Odum, Sidney Deloach, Jeff Grayer, Anthony Pendleton, Ronald Thompson, Steve Snell, Jerry Hill, Charles Dixon, Craig Lee, Jerry Morgan, Anthony Beaugard, Floydell Blake and Kevin Rice. Flint Northwestern was led by legendary head coach Grover Kirkland and assistant coaches Jeff Usery, Eric Harvey, Anthony Holliday and Randy Hodges.
In 1984, the Wildcats had a 27-1 record and a 28-0 undefeated record in 1985, that two-year mark of 55 wins and one loss was the best in state history. The 1984 and 1985 Flint Northwestern teams won state championships and set records that would stand for generations to come. In 1984, the front line of Jeff Grayer, Glen Rice and Tim Nunn was too much to defend, Grayer averaged 22.1 points per game and Rice averaged 20.8 points per game. Point guard Andre Rison led Flint Northwestern with 7.5 assists per game and Anthony Pendleton had 18 double-figure games. The Wildcats finished that season with a 64-43 state championship victory over Detroit Southwestern.
In 1985, Flint Northwestern Men’s Basketball Team was ranked 3rd in the nation by USA Today. Their closest game in the regular season was an 11-point victory over Flint Central. In the regional round of the playoffs the “Mr. Basketball” award winner Glen Rice scored 40 points against Pontiac Northern in a 68-47 win. They followed that with a win over Flint Southwestern in the regional final, a quarterfinal win Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, and a victory against Ferndale in the semi-finals. In the state championship game Flint Northwestern once again defeated Detroit Southwestern to win the programs second straight state championship.
The 1984 and 1985 Flint Northwestern Men’s Basketball teams helped cement Flint as the basketball mecca of Michigan and began a national reputation that city athletes carried with them everywhere.
The 1984 and 1985 Flint Northwestern Men’s Basketball Team players, coaches and trainers, you are the true definition of being “Flint Strong!” You have made Flint proud, welcome to the Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame!
