Ralph Biggs inducted into Towson Hall of Fame

Published 9:40 pm Sunday, November 5, 2017

TOWSON, Md. — Ralph Biggs has done just about all one can do on the basketball court. The Washington product earned a collegiate opportunity at Towson, where he played from 1994-1998. He went undrafted in the 1998 NBA Draft, but went on to enjoy a long professional career overseas.

After wrapping up his playing career in 2014, Biggs became the girls’ basketball coach at Washington in 2015. He earned 2-A Eastern Plains Conference coach-of-the-year honors after his first season. He has since taken command of the boys’ varsity team, too.

Biggs’ accomplishments in the game earned him a spot in the Towson University Athletics Hall of Fame.

“It was great to go back to Towson and see all the people,” Biggs said. “It was a good ceremony. It made me feel good to be recognized. … I was surprised. I played well there, but I never thought they would want to put me in the hall of fame. It was a great honor.”

Ralph Biggs maneuvers in the post during a game with Towson. (Towson Athletics/Contributed)

Biggs surpassed the 1,000-point plateau during his four-year career with the Tigers. He averaged 18.6 points per game during his final two seasons. His 1,387 points ranks 11th among the program’s all-time scorers.

His years as a Tiger produced memories Biggs treasures to this day, making the induction a special honor. Among then was upsetting Louisville, 81-69, at home in 1995.

“That was great for a small school like us to beat a powerhouse like Louisville,” Biggs said. “It was the everyday grind of getting better. I have a lot of memories with the guys from different parts of the country that I played with.

Biggs described that win as “unbelievable.” Fans stormed the court after the final seconds ticked off the clock. He and his fellow Tigers were screaming in the locker room.

“It was one of those days you never forget. It showed you why you play basketball,” he said.

As spectacular as his Towson career, his accomplishments as a professional overseas also helped earn the induction. Biggs played in the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia and France. He was the Dutch League MVP in 1999 and of the Belgium League in 2002.

“They were very proud of what I did outside of Towson when I went to Europe to play,” he said.

Ralph Biggs and his son, Jamal, pose for a photo during their trip to Towson for his induction. (Towson Athletics/Contributed)

As much as anything, Biggs takes pride in his induction setting an example for the Pam Pack players he coaches. He is living proof that, no matter how small the town, hard work can lead to opportunities like the ones he enjoyed.

“That’s what I want to show them,” he said. “You can make it. If you put the hard work in, you can achieve anything you want. You’ve got to believe in yourself and do it the right way.

“I think it’s a great thing for the kids to see somebody that’s from here, went all around the world for basketball, and made it into the hall of fame at their university.”

Biggs and his Washington teams are currently preparing for the upcoming season, which is mere weeks away from beginning.