J. Larry Ladner—1955-56 Wildcat Basketball

J.Larry Ladner, tagged the "Ambassador of Basketball" for the state of Mississippi, played for the Pearl River College Wildcats from 1955-57.  The 'Cats were fourth his freshman year and  runner-up in the South in '57. 
he transferred to Louisiana College where he continued to star in basketball.  He graduated in 1960 with a degree in health and physical education. 

Ladner, the longtime coach at Picayune Memorial High School and current (in 1988) assistant professor and basketball specialist in the Department of Coaching and Sports Administration at USM, has been named PRC's Alumnus of the Year and has served as president of the Alumni Association. 

At Picayune Memorial High School, Ladner posted a 253-82 record while serving as head coach from 1960 to 1971.  During that time the Maroon Tide captured a Big Eight Conference Championship and several district and South State Championships and a second place finish in the overall state championship in 1969.  He also served as coach in the state's North-South All-Star game. 

In 1971 he moved on to the University of Southern Mississippi to teach and help promote the game he loved in the classroom.  Many of the students he has taught over that time have gone on to become coaches in their own right on the junior high, high school, junior college and college levels. 

Ladner has become a much recognized author on the game of basketball with over 20 articles that have been published in national and international publications.  He has also been recognized for his accomplishments by the University of Southern Mississippi, with its Excellence in Teaching Award in 1974, 1976, and 1981 and its Distinguished Professor Award in 1986.  He has also become a much sought after speaker at clinics and banquets, having made nearly 500 talks of that kind in his career. 

Ladner also is much in demand outside the United States as a teacher and lecturer.  In fact, he was the first American basketball coach invited to Venezuela to conduct clinics and seminars at the National Institute of Sports in conjunction with the University of Zulia.