Wampus Cat Sports Hall of Fame’s Delph, Pilgrim profiled

This week’s featured Wampus Cat Sports Hall of Fame inductees are a pair of cousins who happen to be two of the best high school basketball players in Arkansas history. Marvin Delph helped the Wampus Cats win state AAA basketball championships in 1973 and 1974. He was voted state tournament MVP both years. Delph attended the University of Arkansas, where he joined Sidney Moncrief and Ron Brewer as they became known as the famed “Triplets,” leading the Hogs to back-to-back Southwest Conference championships and the 1978 NCAA Final Four. While at Arkansas, Delph was known for his leaping ability, coolness under pressure and outstanding shooting skill from long range. He led the Razorbacks in scoring in 1976 and 1977. Sports Illustrated featured Delph in 1977, along with Larry Bird and Phil Ford, in an article titled “Hottest of the Hot Shots.” Delph finished his career at Arkansas as the school’s all-time leading scorer. His 1,742 points still rank seventh in that category, even though he played before the three-point line was adopted. Named second-team All-SWC in 1976, Delph earned first-team All-SWC honors in 1977 and 1978. He was also a Converse and Sporting News All-American in 1978. Delph was drafted into the NBA in 1978 by the Buffalo Braves and in 1979 by the Boston Celtics. However, he did not play in the NBA, opting to play internationally with Athletes in Action, a Christian-based team out of California. He has been inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, the SWC Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1999, Delph was selected by Sports Illustrated as one of Arkansas’ 50 Greatest Sports Figures of the 20th Century. Lawson Pilgrim was simply a winner on the basketball court. From the seventh through 12th grades, his teams went a combined 141-11. As a sophomore, he was a starter on Conway’s 1974 AAA state championship squad. As a senior, he was a part of one of the greatest teams in state history. The 1976 Wampus Cats captured the AAA state championship, with Pilgrim earning tournament MVP honors. The Cats then won the school’s only Overall title, finishing the season a perfect 36-0. Pilgrim was named all-state in 1975 and 1976 and played in the state high school all-star game as a senior. He signed a scholarship with the University of Arkansas, where he lettered as a freshman. Pilgrim then transferred back home to Hendrix College. After a redshirt year, he was ready to play for the Warriors. But the following season, he had tendonitis in both knees and was told that he would not be able to play. Though well under 100%, Pilgrim did play and was the hardest worker on the court, helping the Warriors to a runner-up finish in the AIC. Hendrix coach Cliff Garrison said Pilgrim was one of the greatest competitors he ever saw in his 41 years of coaching. The next two seasons with healthy legs, Pilgrim led Hendrix to back-to-back AIC crowns. Twice named All-AlC, he became only Hendrix player ever named first-team NAIA All-American in 1981. Pilgrim also went on play internationally for Athletes in Action. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Hendrix Sports Hall of Honor.

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Conway High School Athletics

WAMPUS CAT SPORTS HALL OF FAME’S DELPH, PILGRIM PROFILED

DAVID GRIMES

Log Cabin Democrat | 4/13/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Conway Athletics