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ALUMNI STORIES: LEONARD GUINN

LEONARD GUINN

Leonard Guinn is a product of Detroit, Michigan (Hamtramck). He came to California in 1959, and attended Fullerton Junior College, currently known as Fullerton College. That year, a total of five players attended from Detroit, MI. You might have heard of one of those players by the name of Edgar “Bean” Clark (FC Hall of Famer). Basketball in Southern California was never the same. The five players, and in particular the duo of Guinn and Clark, revolutionized basketball. Leonard was the leading scorer for the 1959 Hornet team, and they were runner up for the JC California State Championship.

The next year, the Hornets won the State Championship, and Leonard made All-Tournament for both years.

During Leonard’s career at Fullerton, he was voted All-Tournament or MVP in every tournament entered. Leonard was the first player to score 43 points in a single game, and is second in all-time scoring with 1,346 total points (behind FC Hall of Famer Walt Simon). Leonard is fifth all-time in single season scoring with 736 points (1960-61) and 18th with 610 points his freshman season (1959-60). He still holds the rebound record of at least 10 per game and most rebounds in a season with 394 (1960-61). Guinn was selected to the JUCO All-American team just before he transferred to Orange State College (Now Cal State Fullerton), and led the team to the NAIA Tournament. Leonard still holds the Titan’s school record for points per game with 27.4 (1963-64).

After his college career, Guinn signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco Warriors (Now Golden State Warriors), but tryouts would be interrupted by the draft during the Vietnam Conflict. While serving his country, Leonard was one of only fifteen players chosen to play for the United States All Army Basketball team. Leonard was inducted into the Hamtramck High School Hall of Fame in 2003.