{{Short description|American basketball player}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Ed Smallwood | image = Ed Smallwood.jpg | image_size = | caption = Smallwood as a junior at Evansville | birth_date = {{birth date|1937|6|4}} | birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2002|11|6|1937|6|4}} | death_place = Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lb = 200 | high_school = Central (Louisville, Kentucky) | college = Evansville (1957–1960) | draft_year = 1960 | draft_round = 13 | draft_pick = 88 | draft_team = St. Louis Hawks | career_start = | career_end = | career_position = Power forward | career_number = | years1 = | team1 = | highlights = * 2× NCAA College Division champion (1959, 1960) * 2× NCAA College Division Tournament MVP (1958, 1960) * Consensus first-team College Division All-American (1960) * 2× Second-team College Division All-American – UPI (1958, 1959) * 2× ICC Player of the Year (1959, 1960) * 3× First-team All-ICC (1958–1960) * No. 40 jersey retired by Evansville Purple Aces | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}} {{MedalCountry | {{flagu|United States}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalGold |1963 São Paulo | Team competition}} }} '''Edgar Malcolm Smallwood''' (June 4, 1937 – November 6, 2002) was an American basketball player. He was known for his college career for Evansville College (now the University of Evansville), where he led the program to two NCAA College Division national championships. Smallwood also represented the United States in the 1963 Pan American Games where the team won the gold medal.
== Life and career == Smallwood came to Evansville from Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky. A 6'4 power forward known for his jump shooting and rebounding prowess, Smallwood would prove to be a significant player for the Purple Aces.<ref>{{cite news|title=Big Ed not outdone often|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90661387/evansville-courier-and-press/|newspaper=Evansville Courier & Press|date=August 14, 1977|page=62|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = December 16, 2021}} {{Open access}}</ref> In his first varsity season in 1957–58, Smallwood led the team to the College Division Final Four for the first time in program history. While the Purple Aces fell to Saint Michael's College in the semifinal, Smallwood scored a tournament high 41 points in the consolation game against Wheaton and earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ed Smallwood voted Most Valuable Player|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90672362/the-terre-haute-tribune/|newspaper=Terre Haute Tribune|date=March 17, 1958|page=8|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = December 16, 2021}} {{Open access}}</ref> The nest two seasons, Evansville returned to the Final Four, but on both occasions were able to capture the national championship. Smallwood repeated as MVP of the 1960 tournament as the Purple Aces defeated Chapman College for the title.<ref>{{cite news|title=Evansville swamps Chapman, 90–69; wins second straight college crown|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90673211/messenger-inquirer/|newspaper=Messenger-Inquirer|date=March 12, 1960|page=11|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = December 16, 2021}} {{Open access}}</ref> In both of his final seasons Smallwood captured individual small college All-America honors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jackie Moreland lands spot on UPI All-Stars|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90672951/the-times/|newspaper=The Times|date=March 18, 1959|page=15|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = December 16, 2021}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Smallwood leads UPI small school All-America team|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90673467/muncie-evening-press/|newspaper=Muncie Evening Press|date=March 10, 1960|page=29|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = December 16, 2021}} {{Open access}}</ref>
He finished his career with 1,898 points (23.1 per game) and 981 rebounds (11.9 per game), both of which were school records at the time.
Following his college career, Smallwood was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1960 NBA draft, but did not make the team. He then joined the Army and played for the Armed Forces team, which helped him secure a spot on the United States team for the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo, Brazil. Once in Brazil, Smallwood's eligibility was questioned, but resolved once the Hawks confirmed that he had not been paid to play basketball. The team went 6–0 to win the gold medal with Smallwood's best game coming in the second round against Canada, where he scored 14 points.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fourth Pan American Games -- 1963|url=https://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-mens/fourth-pan-american-games-1963.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404144932/http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-mens/fourth-pan-american-games-1963.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2015|date=June 10, 2010 |work=USA Basketball|access-date=December 16, 2021}}</ref> After his time in the service, he settled in Evansville.
Smallwood died in Evansville on November 6, 2002, at age 65.<ref>{{cite news|title=Goodbye, 'Easy Ed'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90661018/evansville-courier-and-press/|newspaper=Evansville Courier & Press|date=November 12, 2002|page=1|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = December 16, 2021}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Edgar Smallwood|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90658982/evansville-courier-and-press/|newspaper=Evansville Courier & Press|date=November 12, 2002|page=22|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = December 16, 2021}} {{Open access}}</ref>
Smallwood's legacy as a player has led to his induction into the University of Evansville's Athletic Hall of Fame and the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Larry Humes and Ed Smallwood earn Hall of Fame Induction|url=https://gopurpleaces.com/news/2019/5/21/mens-basketball-larry-humes-and-ed-smallwood-earn-hall-of-fame-induction|date=May 29, 2019 |work=Evansville Purple Aces|access-date=December 16, 2021}}</ref> In 2009, Evansville retired his #40 jersey.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smalled01.html Profile @ sports-reference.com]
{{United States Men Basketball Squad 1963 Pan American Games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smallwood, Ed}} Category:1937 births Category:2002 deaths Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:1963 FIBA World Championship players Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players at the 1963 Pan American Games Category:Basketball players from Louisville, Kentucky Category:Central High School (Louisville, Kentucky) alumni Category:Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball players Category:Medalists at the 1963 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in basketball Category:Power forwards Category:St. Louis Hawks draft picks