As iconic as his career ended up being, Larry Bird didn't always have 'NBA stamped' on him . Bird was a relatively late bloomer in high school, as it was only after a growing spurt between his Junior and Senior years that he started dominating.
Larry instantly became one of the best prospects in the state of Indiana, averaging over 30 points and 20 rebounds a game. Although he wasn't nationally recognized as one of the major phenoms of the generation, he was definitely a budding star – and that's when the college coaches started flocking in.
One of the first to knock on the doors of Spring Valley High School was Denny Crum, head coach of the University of Louisville. Crum was known for his unique recruiting methods and for once beating every player on his Louisville basketball team in H-O-R-S-E .
"Denny Crum came in, and he wanted me to come down to Louisville to visit the campus, and I didn't want to go to Louisville. Gary Holland, my high school coach my senior year, played at UofL, and he liked it, you know he never got involved in it, but I talked to coach Jones, I said 'I don't want to go to Louisville – that's not a place where I think I fit in.'"
"But Denny Crum came up one day, and he's probably been there two or three times, he said 'Look, if I beat you in a game of H-O-R-S-E would you come and visit my school?' I go, 'Yeah, no problem.'"
Crum had tried his specialty corner shot, a long two from behind the backboard, with a near-impossible angle, which would usually seal the deal for him. But not with Larry. Crum missed, and Bird proceeded, making five straight with a half-court shot just to make a point, sending coach Crum back to his car.
"Man, I was hot that day [Laughter] So I never made the trip down to Louisville," Larry recalled .
After analyzing his options following his exceptional senior year at Spring Valley High School, Bird decided to pack his bags and head to Indiana University, coached by the famous Bobby Knight.
After only a month, following his enrollment at Indiana, he was totally overwhelmed by the experience and decided it was time to return to French Lick. Not only did he lack confidence, but he also lacked the financial means to support this new lifestyle on a huge campus with so much to offer. There were other unwelcoming factors, such as a bullying veteran who made Bird's daily life a misery.
Bird came from poverty and missed his family and friends; therefore, his only logical alternative was to return home. A year later, he came back even stronger, only this time representing the Indiana State Sycamores, as the campus size, the entire environment, and ultimately the basketball team were a much better fit for Larry Legend at the time. They made history in the next couple of years, winning 33 out of 34 games in the 1978-79 campaign, losing only to Magic Johnson and the Michigan State Spartans.
Things might have been different had Bird committed to the University of Louisville under Coach Crum, as they had a very potent squad during those years, winning the NCAA tournament in 1980. Ultimately, it wasn't meant to be, not only because of the fateful game of H-O-R-S-E, but because Larry, deep down, cherished and enjoyed the small-town vibe that Indiana State epitomized perfectly.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
