University of Virginia and Rockets Great Ralph Sampson Spotted At LA Restaurant

Recently, 2012 basketball hall of fame inductee Ralph Sampson was spotted at the Coral Tree Café, in the West Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood.

The now 57-year-old native of Harrisonburg, Virginia was without question one of the greatest college basketball players in history. During his four years at the University of Virginia, the 7-1 Sampson won college player of the year honors a whopping three times. Sampson’s NCAA accomplishments resulted in him being the first overall selection of the 1983 draft, courtesy of the Houston Rockets.

One year after arriving in Houston, the Rockets drafted NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon with the first pick of the 1984 NBA Draft. The big men pair, known the world over as the “Twin Towers,” quickly became a force, eventually leading the Rockets to a 1986 NBA Finals appearance versus the Celtics. Boston went on to win the series in six games.

Sampson played in the league from 1983 through 1991, taking the court with the Rockets, Warriors, Kings and Bullets (now called the Wizards).

For his career, the four-time All-Star averaged 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.

Sampson wrapped up his playing career with stops in Spain and the now defunct CBA.