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In his hometown of Schenectady, N.Y., Riley starred in both football and basketball.

In a 1962 Christmas basketball tournament, Riley scored 19 for Linton High School in a win over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) and Power Memorial High. Nineteen years later, Riley would become Kareem's coach with the Lakers.

How about this: His dad played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies, and his brother played several years in the NFL.

And his local legacy will continue for many years: The gym at his former high school in Schenectady, N.Y., is now known as the Pat Riley Sports Center.

Riley turned down a football scholarship from Alabama's Bear Bryant to play hoops for Kentucky.

In his three-year varsity career, he averaged 18.3 points and 8.4 boards for the Wildcats and won the team's MVP award each season.

Playing for the legendary Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky, Riley's squad was known as Rupp's Runts because no player was taller than 6-5. Riley was 6-4.

As shown in the movie "Glory Road," Riley and the Wildcats lost the 1966 NCAA championship game to Texas Western, which made history as the first team with an all-black starting five to win the NCAA title.