Twenty-seven years ago this week — May 28, 1991 — former Illinois men's basketball star George "Jodie" Harrison was killed in an automobile accident by an intoxicated driver at the age of 44.
A standout at Streator High School, Harrison broke the Bulldogs career scoring record, then was recruited to the University of Alabama to play for the Crimson Tide.
He transferred to Illinois and played his final two seasons for Coach Harv Schmidt. Harrison had almost identical points and rebounds averages in 1967-68 and 1968-69, contributing 10 points and four rebounds per game. No. 33, a 6-3, 190-pound guard, was the Illini's most accurate shooter from the field both seasons, winding up with a career percentage of .