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Philly hoops legend Hal Lear passes away

Former Temple University and Philadelphia Warriors guard Hal Lear passed away at his home in White Plains, N.Y. on Saturday. He was 81.

Lear, reportedly, had been sick for a stretch of time.

He is regarded as one of the best men's basketball players in the history of Temple's program.  The university retired his No. 6 jersey in a halftime ceremony during the Owls' game against Richmond on Jan. 30, 2013 at the Liacouras Center. Then Lear was  inducted into the Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame on May 7, 2013.

The former Overbrook High great is one of three Owls to average 20 or more points in two different seasons. As a senior in 1955-56, the guard scored a school single-season record 745 points while averaging 24 points per game.

In 79 career games, he produced 1,472 points for an average of 19 points. The two-time NABC all-District selection was drafted in the first round by the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1956 NBA Draft.

He played in just three games in the 1956-57 season, scoring a total of 4 points in 14 minutes.

Follow and contact PMN 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.