Gary Schull
Gary Schull (December 18, 1944 – February 9, 2005) was an American basketball center known for his tough, aggressive style. He was born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and went to Pompano Beach High School in Florida. He played college basketball at Florida State University from 1963 to 1966, where he led the team in rebounds and scored 1,122 points (769 rebounds) in his career. He was later honored in the Florida State Hall of Fame in 1985.
Schull was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in 1966 but pursued professional basketball in other leagues first. He played for the Phillips 66ers from 1966 to 1968, then moved to Italy to play for Fortitudo Bologna in the Serie A from 1968 to 1973. He quickly became a fan favorite with his hard-nosed play, and in the 1969–70 season he averaged about 24 points per game. In 1970–71 he led the Serie A in scoring with 540 points.
Schull retired from basketball in 1973 due to injuries and returned to the United States to work in his family’s building business and to care for his mother. Fortitudo Bologna retired his number 13 jersey in 2010 in his honor. He was nicknamed Barone by fans and even released a life-inspired song, La Storia Di Gary, in 1972.
Schull had diabetes, which he kept secret until a hospital incident revealed it. He died of a heart attack at age 60 in Melbourne, Florida, where he had lived for years with his wife.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:13 (CET).