Roscoe Pondexter

Roscoe Pondexter Jr. (born October 17, 1952) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Long Beach State 49ers from 1972 to 1974. Pondexter was a third round pick of the Boston Celtics in the 1974 NBA draft, but played his professional career in Europe and South America. He became a prison guard after his retirement from basketball and was involved with a gang at California State Prison, Corcoran who earned notoriety for their brutal treatment of inmates.

Early life Roscoe Pondexter Jr. was born on October 17, 1952, in Fresno, California, to Roscoe Sr. and Zeola (née Green) Pondexter. Pondexter Sr. worked as a union construction worker on major projects in California including the Friant Dam and California State Route 168.

In May 1971, Pondexter committed to begin his college basketball career at Fresno City College. He transferred to play for the Long Beach State 49ers after his sophomore season but missed the start of the 1972–73 season due to a delay of his summer school transcripts. Pondexter was ruled eligible in November 1972. He was named to the first-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) after he averaged 14.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game during his sophomore season.

Pondexter was reunited with his brother as teammates during the 1973–74 season. During his junior year, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) accused Pondexter and teammate Glenn McDonald of having someone else take their entrance exams and declared them ineligible. Pondexter earned his second nomination to the first-team All-PCAA as he averaged 15.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game during his junior season. They cited the financial need of their family as their reason for applying; Pondexter went against the recommendation of Long Beach State head coach Lute Olson that he stay in college. He chose to join the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association (ABA) who had also selected him in the third round of the ABA draft.

On August 13, 1975, Pondexter signed with the San Diego Sails of the ABA.

Pondexter instead played professionally in Europe and South America for ten years. Pondexter received the award for Most Valuable Player of the Liga Profesional de Baloncesto (LPB) while playing for Colosos de Carabobo in 1978. He played for Pagnossin / Tai Ginseng Gorizia from 1978 to 1981. Pondexter played for Carrera Venezia during the 1983–84 season.

Post-playing career Pondexter returned to Fresno after his basketball career ended and worked as a guard in a local county jail. Pondexter encouraged Quincy to play college basketball for all four years and told him: "I'm not going to let you make the dumb mistake that I made."