Ahmad Aliyy, Columbus' Linden McKinley basketball All-American, dies at 73
Ahmad Aliyy, the co-founder and president of the Greater Columbus Basketball Legend Association and a former All-American and Linden McKinley High School Hall of Fame basketball player, died Sunday morning.
He was 73.
Formerly Edward "Skip" Young, Aliyy helped lead the Panthers to their first OHSAA state championship in 1967, finishing as tournament MVP and first-team All-State at guard before playing collegiately at Florida State.
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"He was the ultimate team player," Al Young, Aliyy's cousin, told The Dispatch. "He led the team scoring. I mean, he did everything that (Linden McKinley coach Vince) Chickerella wanted him to do. And he took them to state, they won the state."
Ahmad Aliyy left Columbus to play basketball at Florida State
After a storied high school career, Aliyy left Columbus, signing with Florida State over Ohio State and other Big Ten basketball programs. He was among the Seminoles' first Black scholarship players, leading Florida State to a 58-20 record over three seasons (1968-71) before being elected to the athletic program's Hall of Fame in 2006.
Aliyy finished his collegiate career as Florida State's all-time assists leader (320), while also being the team's second-leading scorer and co-captain, averaging 11.6 points per game.
For Aliyy, the move to Florida State was significant, joining coach Hugh Durham, who brought the first Black player, Lenny Hall, to the program one season before. Aliyy was one of the first starting varsity Black athletes at Florida State.
"Skip hit a time period where racism stood," Young said. "And, you know, he came through that."
As Aliyy told the Tallahassee Democrat in a 2019 interview, he helped open the door for future Black athletes at Florida State, something that took awhile to adjust to on both sides.
"There were threatening letters, name-calling – even from our own fans," Aliyy said. "But players got along, we genuinely liked each other and there was a bond between us.”
As a sophomore, Aliyy roomed with a white teammate, fellow Ohio native Jeff Hogan.
"It was a tough period (in the country) but I think we learned from each other," Hogan said. "We stayed up many nights talking. We offered each other different perspectives. We also became closer friends as we got older. I am telling you, he was a great player, a great guy. He had all the tools."
Dave Cowens, who started with Aliyy at Florida State before winning two NBA titles with the Boston Celtics and being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, called his former teammate "a well-liked and well-respected basketball player and person."
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"He was a good guy, a hell of a player," Cowens said. "He was our point guard and ran our team, directed the press. I was so glad he got into coaching, too. I know he had success. ... but he was one of those guys who didn't brag about anything."
Ahmad Aliyy made large impact as Florida high school girls basketball coach
Aliyy was drafted by the Celtics in the seventh round of the 1971 NBA draft and by the New Jersey Nets in the seventh round of the ABA draft.
After his basketball playing days were complete, Aliyy coached Florida A&M University Developmental Research School's girls basketball team to seven Final Fours in 11 seasons, with FHSAA state titles in 2004, 2012 and 2013.
Aliyy posted a career record of 258-62 at the school.
"His accomplishments and dedication to the program helped to make FAMU DRS girls basketball program what it is today," current Rattlers coach Ericka Cromartie posted on Facebook Sunday afternoon.
Ahmad Aliyy continued his basketball work in Columbus
Aliyy co-founded the Greater Columbus Basketball Legend Association with John Howard to provide recognition and support to former players, coaches, sports media personalities and others who significantly influenced the sport in the greater Columbus Area.
"He and John Howard kind of had this dream and they kicked it off, got it started and everything," said Tom Kahler, a former Ohio Dominican and Marion Franklin coach who worked with Aliyy at the Greater Columbus Basketball Legend Association. "And it just kept getting better and better each year."
Aliyy's career also included state government work and different ventures, including personal training and fitness in specific basketball related skills. He created an academic foundation and organized and conducted basketball clinics. He also authored a children's books that pays tribute to his late father.
While many will remember Aliyy for his time on the basketball coach, Young remembers his cousin helping him go to college and understand what he needed to do to succeed after his time at Florida State.
"Skip was there, gave me advice, gave everybody advice in our family, from myself to my son" Young said. "He did so much for our family, man. Skip was the one most of everybody in the family wanted to be like."
Services are pending.
Contributing: Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ahmad Aliyy, Linden McKinley All-American basketball player, dies at 73
