UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A trio of former Penn State standouts are set for induction into the Pittsburgh City League All Sports High School Hall of Fame on Nov. 6.
The Nittany Lions’ Lisa Faloon (women’s basketball), Gene Harris (men’s basketball) and Al Jacks (football) will be inducted in the third hall of fame class at the John Heinz History Center. The event begins at 5 p.m. and is presented by Achieving Greatness Inc.
Faloon played for the Blue and White from 1983 to 1987 and ended her career with 1,162 points and 187 assists in 125 games. She played in 63 games her first two seasons and started 54 of her final 62 career games on the hardwood for the Lady Lions. Faloon set season career highs in points (496), assists (83), rebounds (63) and steals (29) during her senior campaign, becoming the 10th Lady Lion in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark. Playing only one season with the three-point line, Faloon owns the program’s single-season accuracy mark from distance, making 54.8 percent (34-of-62) of her shots from distance as a senior.
One of the most prolific scorers and rebounders in Penn State history, Harris holds the Lions’ all-time single-game scoring record with 46 points against Holy Cross on Dec. 28, 1961. Harris posted career averages of 14.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in three seasons and 69 games in the era of freshman ineligibility. He posted 18.7 points and 13.0 rebounds per game during his senior season of 1961-62. The three-year starter and 1962 team captain stands fourth all-time with 762 career rebounds and 29th with 1,018 career points. He led Penn State in rebounding all three years of his career — never posting fewer than 10.0 rebounds per game. He also led the team in scoring his final two seasons.
Jacks was a quarterback for the Nittany Lions and lettered from 1956 to 1958. He led Penn State with 673 passing yards and five touchdowns in 1957. After graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health and education, Jacks went on to become the head football coach at Clarion University. He became Clarion’s winningest coach, posting a 128-46-5 record for a .729 winning percentage in 19 seasons. Jacks led the Golden Eagles’ three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships and six PSAC Western Division titles. He was inducted into the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
Tickets for the Pittsburgh City League All Sports High School Hall of Fame induction are $50 for adults and $25 for youth ages 12 and under. For more information, call Achieving Greatness Inc. at 412-628-4856.