Hank Siemiontkowski

Who is Hank Siemiontkowski?

Hank Siemiontkowski is a retired American basketball player. He played forward for the Villanova Wildcats and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Born & raised in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, Hank graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in 1968 and was a big part of the 1967 Phila. Catholic League and City Championship teams which defeated Monsignor Bonner & Overbrook H.S. Hank was voted the Catholic League Northern Division MVP in both 1967 & 1968. In 1968 he was part of the varsity squad suspended by Coach Jack Friel for not returning to school on time after a breakfast. This story made national headlines as The North JV team then took the court at the Palestra and defeated the Varsity team from Bishop McDevitt in the Quarter finals of the Catholic League playoffs. The North varsity were reinstated but later lost the semi-final game at the Palestra to Cardinal O'Hara High on a buzzer beater. Hank retired with the Highest single season scoring average in North Catholic school history at 22.6 PPG. Siemiontkowski scored nineteen points in the Wildcats' loss to the UCLA Bruins in the 1971 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in Houston, Texas. In the semifinal game the 6'5" junior scored a career-high 31 points in an overtime defeat of Western Kentucky University. Coached by Jack Kraft, the Wildcats became the first Philadelphia and northeastern United States team to reach the NCAA championship game since La Salle University in 1955. Siemiontkowski was named to the 1971 NCAA East Regional all-tournament team along with his teammate Howard Porter. Siemiontkowski finished his career at 'Nova with a 13.6 PPG average and is currently 12th All-time All-time in rebounding with 739 boards.