Jim Boatwright

Who was Jim Boatwright?

James Earl "Jim" Boatwright was an American basketball player, coach, and schoolteacher. He won two Euroleague championships with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1977 and 1981, while reaching the final another time in 1980. In the 1977 final, he led all scorers with 26 points.

Boatwright graduated from Minico High School in Rupert, Idaho in 1970, where he lettered in basketball, track and golf. He led the Spartans to back-to-back state championship games in 1969 and 1970. As a junior, he averaged 37 points per game during the state tournament. He still holds the record for most free throws taken and made. Boatwright is the second-leading Minico scorer, all time.

Having earned a slew of All-State and All-American honors, Boatwright received a scholarship to play at Utah State University. He was the leading scorer both his junior and senior seasons at Logan and was named Utah State's top athlete in 1974, the same year he graduated with a degree in political science.

Boatwright played for Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. of the Israeli Basketball Super League from 1974 to 1982. Maccabi won the European Championship in 1977, and Boatwright was the team's leading scorer. He was selected as a member of the Israeli Olympic basketball team for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. While playing for Maccabi, Boatwright acquired Israeli citizenship. He was consequently able to participate in the 1981 Eurobasket as a member of the Israeli national team. He averaged 9.6 points a game and helped Israel finish sixth.