[wobatus]

NC State of course had italian-american connections long before Valvano. Sammy Ranzino, John Maglio and Lou Pucillo, etc. A tradition continued with Del Negro, Gugliotta and Corchiani.

UNC also had Salvadori and Calabria.

Lebo can also be italian, but can be Russian-jewish and mostly french-german (alsace). Some Lebo’s came to Pa in the 18th century so I’d wager german.

Lebo and Hale were both coach’s sons. Hale coached Oral Roberts in the early ‘70s for 3 years. I doubt it was all that lucrative then.

NC State had its own midwestern coach’s son play for Valvano, Terry Gannon. And Lambiotte, which is sometimes italian, but usually Belgian or French.

UNC has had many northeastern ethnics. Rosenbluth jewish, Kearns, Cunningham and Brennan irish catholics. Larry Brown jewish. Doug Moe who knows. His dad’s name was Gunnar. Good name for a basketball player. He grew up in a rent-controlled apartment in Flatbush. Gunnar is nordic and many norwegian and swedish sailors lived near the docks in Red Hook. When playing in youth leagues he changed his name depending on the team. If protestant, Chatterton, jewish, Moskowitz, CYO, Martin.

Billy Cunningham irish-catholic. Mitch Kupchak russian. Budko is a russian name. Yonaker? Dunno. Tom Zaligaris, Lithuanian. Pat Sullivan is irish-catholic from Bogota, NJ.

All names from long ago now.

I’d give anything if my dad were still alive to watch a game again with him.

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