John Rudometkin, a record-setting two-time All-American center in the early 1960s who is regarded among USC’s greatest men’s basketball players, died on Tuesday (Aug. 4) in Newcastle, Calif., of chronic lung disease that was the lingering effect of the cancer he overcame in his 20s. He was 75.
A memorial service will be held on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. at Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church, 12225 Rock Creek Rd., Auburn, Calif., 95602. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations in Rudometkin’s name to World Vision (worldvision.org).
Known as the “Reckless Russian,” Rudometkin played bigger than his 6-6 height.