Darnell Hillman is one of the best to play for San Jose State. Hillman was a 6’9″ California native whose basketball career started in 1967 when he enrolled at San Jose State to a 2 season gig as a star with the USA Armed Forces All Stars and 10 seasons as a pro in the ABA and the NBA.
Hillman averaged 15.3 points and 14.2 rebounds as a first-team All-West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) selection for a San Jose State team that still holds the school’s single-season scoring average at 82.4 points a game.
He began his career in the ABA for the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers won 2 ABA Championships. Hillman was also a member of the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Kansas City Kings and the Golden State Warriors.
In 1976 Hillman was the winner of the NBA Slam Dunk contest. Darnell is known for his “best afro” hairstyle and was voted the best hairstyle at the 30th ABA reunion in 1997. His career is quite an accomplishment – Hillman played in 682 regular season and 90 playoff professional games.
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Besides starring in basketball, he was one of the top high jumpers in school history. Hillman jumped a San Jose State best 6-foot-11.5 as a freshman in 1968.
Presently, Hillman lives in the Indianapolis area and is the Pacers’ Associate Director/Camps & Clinics/Alumni Relations.