Sam Singh led Ozark High School to a state championship in 2003, and the 6-foot-9 center later helped the Bradley University Braves reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2006.
Now Singh’s efforts are being recognized by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in its upcoming Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy. Singh is among the Filbert Five, a group of former high school, college and professional basketball players who will be recognized. The Filbert Five is named in honor of the late Gary Filbert, a Missouri high school and college basketball coach who, in 2011, was bestowed the Hall’s highest honor, the Missouri Sports Legend award.
The luncheon is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
“I started playing basketball competitively in third grade. From that point on, it was basketball 24/7, 365 days a year,” Singh said. “I was fortunate enough to play on traveling teams with players like (Rogersville’s) Drew Richards, (Branson’s) Steven Hill, the Laurie brothers from Kickapoo as well as many other talented youth that went on to have collegiate careers.”
At Ozark High School, Singh helped the Tigers to the Class 4 state championship in 2003 as well as third-place finishes in 2001 and 2004.
Singh was All-State and All-Ozarks as a senior in the 2003-2004 season, when he averaged 20.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocked shots a game.
“Upon entering high school, under the tutelage of Steve Hunter, I was blessed with a very successful four years of Ozark High School basketball, including two third-place finishes and a Class 4 state championship in 2003,” Singh said.
Singh went on to play for Bradley, where he played in four postseason tournaments, including the Sweet 16 run in 2006. He overcome five surgeries and helped the Braves to a 21-win season in 2009, when the team played in the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
“Playing against teams like Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa, and Florida as well as competing against teams in Canada and Brazil – and competing in four consecutive postseason tournaments, including a NCAA Sweet 16 finish in 2006 – my six years at Bradley were some of the hardest as well as greatest moments of my life,” Singh said.
The Basketball Tipoff Luncheon includes the induction of Parkview High School’s Jolly Green Giants of 1964 to 1966; Missouri State’s 1952 and 1953 NAIA national championship men’s basketball teams; former Lady Bears standout Karen Rapier; and high school/college coach Gary Stanfield.
The Filbert Five men’s team features Chris Harville (Rogersville/Missouri State), Steven Hill (Branson/Arkansas), Sam Singh (Ozark/Bradley), Mark Sparks (Neosho/Mizzou/Drury) and Kevin Williams (Nevada/Mizzou).
The Filbert Five women’s team consists of Laura Granzow Buetow (Kickapoo/Denver/Canisius), Sara Bos Barnhart (Billings/Drury), Alyson Young Hooten (Rogersville/Avila), Anita Rank Oplotnik (Lincoln/Missouri Southern) and Terianne Wolford Brown (Nixa/Mizzou).
Tickets for the luncheon are $40. A table of eight is $400 and includes associate sponsorship recognition in the printed program. A head table ticket is $100. For tickets, call the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at 417-889-3100.