Mike LaRoche
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 lifeLaRoche attended Fillmore High School, and in 2010 was inducted into the school's inaugural Hall of Fame.[1] College careerPlaying for Cal Poly, LaRoche was the CCAA's leading scorer in 1966–67, and earned all-conference status three consecutive times.
Professional basketballLos Angeles selected LaRoche with a pick in the additional rounds of the 1968 ABA Draft.[2] 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."[3] He was assigned uniform number 14, and netted 14, 26 and then 10 points in a trio of the club's preseason scrimmages.[4] While then rostered for the Stars' first two regular-season games,[5] 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.[6] References
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