Jamesville-DeWitt High School Alumni
DeWitt, New York (NY)
Danny Schayes
Former professional basketball player in the NBA
What is Danny Schayes known for?
Born on May 10, 1959, in Syracuse, New York, Danny Leslie Schayes was a standout athlete from Jamesville-DeWitt High School in DeWitt, New York. The son of Hall of Fame basketball player Dolph Schayes, Danny upheld the family tradition and excelled at the sport. After high school, he went on to play for Syracuse University from 1977 to 1981, where he made significant contributions to the team.
Upon completing college, Schayes entered the NBA, being chosen as a 1st round, 13th overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. His NBA career was impressive and long-lasting, stretching from 1981 to 1999. Throughout this period, he played for several different teams including the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic.
With a height of 6 ft 11 in, Schayes was a formidable center on the court. Over his 18 years in the NBA, he accumulated impressive statistics, scoring a total of 8,780 points (averaging 7.7 points per game), 5,671 rebounds (averaging 5.0 per game), 840 blocks (averaging 0.7 per game), and 1299 assists (averaging 1.1 per game). You can check his detailed statistics at the NBA website and Basketball-Reference.com.
Apart from his NBA achievements, Schayes also represented the United States in the Maccabiah Games, winning gold medals in 1977 and 1981. Later in 2013, he served as the Head Coach of Team USA in basketball at the Maccabiah Games, leading the team to another gold medal victory.
After his retirement from playing professional basketball, Schayes stayed connected to the sport, co-hosting the sports talk show 'Centers of Attention' on ESPN Radio Syracuse, alongside retired professional basketball player Etan Thomas.
All told, Danny Schayes has left a lasting legacy in the world of basketball, from high school through his professional career, and even into retirement. His achievements prove that he is indeed a notable alumni of Jamesville-DeWitt High School.