HELLO THERE, MR. MALONE, WHAT'S NEW?

July 01, 1974

Graduation time is always memorable, but how many young men could enjoy it as much as 6'11" Moses Malone, the most sought-after high school basketball prospect since Lew Alcindor? Malone received his diploma from Petersburg (Va.) High after finishing his final semester with straight A's, thus lifting his overall average to C and qualifying him for a scholarship to the college of his choice, the University of Maryland. He got a car, a 1974 Chrysler Imperial, obtained through a lease-purchase arrangement; no money down, $1,050 a year. And a new $7-an-hour construction job in Washington, D.C. There was even talk that a $1 million insurance policy might be nice as a hedge against any injury that could affect his value as a professional player after his college career. Nor is the Malone good fortune limited to Moses. His mother Mary has quit her job as a nurse's aide to become a meat-packer at $100 a week, twice her former salary. The talented Moses is entitled to his smile. Unsmiling is Clemson's Tates Locke, one of 300 spurned coaches, who says: "Maryland did a super job of recruiting, really amazing. They covered every exit and entrance."