The man in the middle during WVU's Golden Age of basketball, the late Lloyd Sharrar was a key reason why the Mountaineers made consecutive NCAA appearances during his three years starting at center from 1956-58.
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The Meadville, Pennsylvania, native left WVU as the school’s career rebound average leader at 13.4 per game, and he set a school record with 1,178 career rebounds (which was broken two years later by Jerry West's 1,240). He scored 1,101 career points and ranks among WVU's season rebound, rebound average and free throw leaders.
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The 6-foot-10 Sharrar captained the 1958 squad that finished 26-2 and ranked No. 1 in the country. He was the MVP of the 1957 Southern Conference tournament and was a two-time All-Southern Conference first team selection (1957-58).
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WVU's record during Sharrar's three seasons was an impressive 72-16. In addition to the 1958 team, Sharrar's squads posted marks of 21-9 in 1956 and 25-5 in 1957 while winning three consecutive Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships. He never lost a Southern Conference tournament game.
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Sharrar's 1956 team started WVU's record 44 consecutive regular-season Southern Conference victories. Playing for Coach Fred Schaus, Sharrar and classmates had an amazing 34-2 regular season record in Southern Conference action.
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He was a 1958 second team All-American by the Associated Press and was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors in the second round of the 1958 NBA Draft. Sharrar is a member of the WVU basketball all-time team.
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He died Jan. 31, 1984 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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He was named an inaugural member of WVU’s Mountaineer Legends Society in 2017.
