Leon Blevins

Leon Gravette Blevins


Born:
June 25, 1926
Black Oak, AR

Died:
September 2, 1987
Phoenix, AZ


Career
1941-42 Union High School - Phoenix (High School)
1942-43 Union High School - Phoenix (High School)
1943-44 Union High School - Phoenix (High School)
1946-47 Phoenix College - Arizona (College)
1947-48 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) 
1948-49 University of Arizona (College)
1949-50 University of Arizona (College)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Grand Rapids Hornets (NPBL)
1950-51 Funk Jewelers - Phoenix (Independent)
1951-52 Yuma High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Yuma High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1953-54 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach
1954-55 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach
1955-56 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach 
1956-57 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach
1957-58 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach 
1958-59 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach
1959-60 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach 
1960-61 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach
1961-62 South Mountain High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach 
1962-63 Maryvale High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Maryvale High School  - Phoenix (High School) Head coach 
1964-65 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1965-66 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1966-67 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1967-68 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach 
1968-69 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1969-70 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach 
1970-71 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1971-72 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach 
1972-73 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1973-74 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach 
1974-75 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1975-76 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1976-77 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1977-78 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach
1978-79 Phoenix College - Arizona (College) Head coach

After graduating from Union HS, Blevins served his country during World War 2 in the U.S. Navy. He enrolled at Phoenix College after his discharge, scoring 1000 points in just two years there, and then transferred to Arizona. In two years at Arizona, he lead the team in scoring both years. Blevins was drafted in the 7th Round of the 1950 NBA draft by Indianapolis, but only played two games for them and was released in mid-November of 1950, and on November 23, 1950 and accepted an offer to join the Grand Rapids Hornets of the NPBL. He played in all remaining games with the Hornets until they folded in late December. He returned to Arizona and turned to coaching. After many years coaching high school basketball, he wound up leading the Phoenix College team for 15 years. Leon died in 1987 following a lengthy illness.

He had one son and one daughter.

Source:
Lansing State Journal, December 23, 1950
Arizona Republic, January 31, 1966

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blevile01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=blevile01