Juan Vicéns
Bust of Vicéns at the entrance of the auditorium that bears his name
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 7, 1934 Ciales, Puerto Rico |
| Died | February 18, 2007 (aged 72) Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kansas State (1954–1956) |
| Playing career | 1950–1966 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Number | 8 |
| Career history | |
| 1950–1966 | Leones de Ponce |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Juan "Pachín" Vicéns Sastre (September 7, 1934 – February 18, 2007) was a Puerto Rican basketball player. Vicéns was famous for his performance with the Leones de Ponce and with the Puerto Rican national basketball team. During the 1959 FIBA World Championship in Chile, Vicéns was declared to be the Best Player in the World.
Juan Vicéns Sastre was born in Ciales, Puerto Rico. He was the sixth child of José 'Pepito' Vicéns Batalla and Antonia 'doña Lila' Sastre. In 1949, he moved to Ponce to study in the Colegio Ponceño encouraged by his brother Enrique "Coco" Vicéns, who was already playing with the Lions.
After moving, he started visiting the practices and filling in for the team when a player was needed. In 1950, he finally debuted in the National Superior Basketball (BSN) league with the Ponce Lions. In 1952, he led the Lions to their first championship, and was declared the Most Valuable Player of the series. In 1954, he repeated the feat with another championship and his second MVP award.
Also, from 1954 to 1956, Vicéns played point guard at Kansas State University, under the tutelage of Tex Winter (Winter was a mentor of future Chicago Bulls/L.A. Lakers coach, Phil Jackson). In 1956, he led Kansas State to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
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