Reginald Hezeriah Harding (May 4, 1942 – September 2, 1972) was an American professional basketball player. He starred while playing at Eastern High School in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and entered the 1962 NBA draft without playing college basketball due to eligibility issues. Harding was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the first player drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) without having played in college. Harding played his first professional season in the Midwest Professional Basketball League (MPBL) before he joined the Pistons in 1964. He spent parts of four seasons in the NBA with the Pistons and the Chicago Bulls during which he was the subject of team misconduct, criminal activity and a season-long league suspension. After his NBA career ended, Harding played briefly in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the Trenton Colonials and the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Indiana Pacers. Harding's career came to a premature end when he was imprisoned from 1969 to 1971 for a concealed weapons charge. He attempted to pursue a professional comeback after his release but he was murdered in Detroit in 1972. Early life Harding was born to 17-year-old Lillie Mae Thomas on May 4, 1942. Thomas' parents forced her to put her baby up for adoption and he was adopted by local couple Hezekiah and Fannie Harding, who were friends of the Thomas family and looked after unwanted children. Thomas would maintain a connection with her son; she followed Harding during his high school career and developed a relationship with him during his adult life. Thomas told relatives that Harding's father was a married man living in Detroit but never disclosed his identity. Harding harbored aspirations of becoming a basketball player by the time he was 10 but was too shy to play with the children at his school. He was mentored by neighbor Bill Ervin, who introduced him to the players of a local court where Harding would hone his skills. High school career Harding attended Eastern High School in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He led Eastern to three straight city championships from 1959 to 1961. Standing , Harding was considered to be the first player of his size in Michigan high school basketball and was highly regarded for his rebounding abilities. By his junior season, Harding was considered the "greatest high school player ever produced in Detroit's Public School League" but he was