Howard Wood

Induction Year: 2025

Location: East Hampton

Category: Basketball, Coaches and Pro Sports

Howard Wood starred at East Hampton High School, where he led the team to a New York State championship in 1977. Over his junior and senior seasons, the team compiled an impressive 42–2 record.

He went on to play college basketball for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, where he became a standout player.

Teaming up with future NBA players Reggie Johnson and Dale Ellis, Wood played a key role in leading Tennessee to its first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1981. 

That year, the Volunteers fell to top-seeded Virginia, but Wood made a lasting impact by holding 7’4″ Ralph Sampson to just eight points.

As a senior, Wood earned First Team All-SEC honors and was named a Second Team All-American by Converse in 1981. He was also named MVP of both the 1980 Sugar Bowl Classic and the 1979 Volunteer Classic. He finished his college career with 1,201 points and 595 rebounds.

The Utah Jazz selected Wood with the fourth pick of the second round in the 1981 NBA Draft. He played one season in the NBA, appearing in 42 games and averaging 3.4 points per game. Afterward, he enjoyed a successful decade-long professional career in Spain’s top leagues.

Known during his college days as “The Dancing Bear,” Wood was named an SEC Legend in 2018 and was honored as one of the University of Tennessee’s top 100 players of all time in 2009. 

He now serves as the head coach of the East Hampton Lady Bonackers basketball team.