| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 24, 1946 Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States |
| Died | July 30, 2020 Granite Bay, California, United States |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Fillmore High School |
| College | Cal Poly |
| ABA draft | 1968: Additional round |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Stars (ABA) | |
| Playing career | 1968–1968 |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| Number | 14 |
| Career history | |
| 1968–1969 | Los Angeles Stars |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| 3x All-CCAA (1966–68) | |
Mike LaRoche (May 24, 1946 – July 30, 2020) was an American professional basketball player in the American Basketball Association, rostered briefly in the 1968–69 season with the then-Los Angeles Stars.
Early life
LaRoche attended Fillmore High School, and in 2010 was inducted into the school's inaugural Hall of Fame.
College career
Playing for Cal Poly, LaRoche was the CCAA's leading scorer in 1966–67, and earned all-conference status three consecutive times.
| GP | Total Rebounds | Reb. Avg. | Total Points | Scoring Avg. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965–66 | 24 | 127 | 5.3 | 445 | 18.5 |
| 1966–67 | 23 | 200 | 8.7 | 550 | 23.9 |
| 1967–68 | 23 | 178 | 7.7 | 505 | 21.9 |
| Career | 70 | 505 | 7.2 | 1,500 | 21.4 |
Professional basketball
Los Angeles selected LaRoche with a pick in the additional rounds of the 1968 ABA Draft. Standing 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, LaRoche signed with the Stars in June 1968, for $12,000 with a signing bonus of $3,000, after scoring eight points each in two summer intrasquad games at the L.A. Sports Arena. Of the signing, L.A. coach Bill Sharman commented: "LaRoche showed us a lot during our rookie summer camp. He is a fine shooter, very aggressive and an excellent defensive player."
He was assigned uniform number 14, and netted 14, 26 and then 10 points in a trio of the club's preseason scrimmages.
While then rostered for the Stars' first two regular-season games, LaRoche did not see any floor time during either of the two games, and thereafter was released.
After basketball, he went on to a lengthy law career.
References
- "Fillmore High will honor legendary players, coaches and teams at its first Sports Hall of Fame induction". VC Star. September 13, 2010.
- Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. p. 123. ISBN 9780810890695.
- "Stars sign LaRoche". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. June 27, 1968. p. 10.
- "LaRoche's Stars to collide with Rick Barry's Oaks". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. October 8, 1968. p. 6.
- Lambdin, Brian Jon (February 25, 2005). "Searching for anything, finding the Hall". Mustang Daily. pp. 7–8.
- "William Michael LaRoche 5/24/1946 – 7/30/2020". The Auburn Journal (CA). August 14, 2020.