A jersey worn by John Wooden during his time as a collegiate athlete at Purdue recently sold for nearly $300,000.
Prior to becoming a legendary basketball head coach at UCLA, Wooden was a standout player at Purdue. According to The Indianapolis Star, a jersey worn by the legendary coach during his time as a Boilermaker guard has sold for a purchase price of $264,000.
Frank Neff, the owner of the No. 13 jersey, was a college friend of Wooden. Neff recalled being emotional upon receiving it as a gift after his grandfather passed away.
“I was totally surprised, and I was crying and emotional,” Neff told The Lafayette Journal & Courier. “It meant so much to me, the memories of him and I.”
The proceeds of the auction will be used by Neff to help pay for the college education of his daughter.
At Purdue, Wooden was a three-time All-American. There is a statue in his likeness outside of Mackey Arena on the university’s campus.
Wooden Statue by #Purdue's Mackey Arena to be dedicated tomorrow.
#BoilerUphttps://t.co/4wIWJ524ek pic.twitter.com/x3BMEXf2ar
— Purdue Athletics (@PurdueSports) September 23, 2016
After his playing days, Wooden gained fame and notoriety as a coach for leading UCLA to 10 national championships.
