Greater Columbus Basketball Legend Association
ED RATLEFF
2015 GCBLA INDUCTEE
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Category: PLAYER
Recognition
William Edward “Easy Ed” Ratleff attended Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ohio, leading his team to the AAA (big school) state championship in 1968 with a 25-0 record. Overall in three seasons he led the Tigers to three state championship games, two state championships and a dominant 70-1 record. In 2009 he was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. A 6’6” guard/forward, he played college basketball at California State University, Long Beach under coach Jerry Tarkanian. He still holds the school’s career record for scoring average (21.4). He was twice named first-team AP All-American, in 1971-72 and 1972-73. In 1991 his number 42 was retired by Long Beach State. Ratleff played for the United States national basketball team at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where the US lost a controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union. Ratleff and his teammates earned silver medals, which they refused to accept. Throughout the Olympic tournament, Ratleff averaged 6.4 points per game. Ratleff was chosen with the sixth pick in the 1973 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He played five season for the Rockets, with career NBA statistics logged as: Points: 2,813 (8.3 ppg), Rebounds: 1,363 (4.0 rpg), Assists: 896 (2.7 apg).
Career Highlights
- William Edward “Easy Ed” Ratleff attended Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ohio, leading his team to the AAA (big school) state championship in 1968 with a 25-0 record.
- Overall in three seasons he led the Tigers to three state championship games, two state championships and a dominant 70-1 record.
- In 2009, Ratleff was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.
- A 6’6” guard/forward, he played college basketball at California State University, Long Beach under coach Jerry Tarkanian. He still holds the school’s career record for scoring average (21.4).
- William was twice named first-team AP All-American, in 1971-72 and 1972-73.
- In 1991 his number 42 was retired by Long Beach State.
- Ratleff played for the United States national basketball team at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where the US lost a controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union. Ratleff and his teammates earned silver medals, which they refused to accept.
- Throughout the Olympic tournament, Ratleff averaged 6.4 points per game.
- Ratleff was chosen with the sixth pick in the 1973 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets.
- Ratleff played five season for the Rockets, with career NBA statistics logged as: Points: 2,813 (8.3 ppg), Rebounds: 1,363 (4.0 rpg), Assists: 896 (2.7 apg).
WILLIAM EDWARD "EASY ED" RATLEFF
PLAYER