Fred K. "Fritz" Nagy (1975) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Fred K. "Fritz" Nagy

Induction:
1975
Class:
1949

INAUGURAL CLASS
1944-47

A 1942 South High School graduate where he gained All-Ohio honors in basketball, Fred “Fritz” Nagy began his collegiate career at North Carolina University. In 1942-43 season he paced the Southern Conference in scoring with 201 points.

Called back to Akon to take a service physical (which, incidentally, he flunked), Nagy decided to stay and enroll at Akron. Nagy played three seasons to become UA’s all-time scoring leader (stands in the Top 10 now). He scored 547 points in the 1944-45 season for a 23.8 average that stood as the record until Len Paul netted 564 points in 1970-71.

During his three-year career, Nagy broke all of Eddie Wentz’s marks which had stood for many years.

Nagy was All-Ohio honoree three times and Little All-America selection in 1944 and 1947. In his 1943-44 debut for the Zips against Carnegie Tech at Perkins Gym, Nagy scored 32 points to break the individual game mark of 31 set by Wentz against Defiance in 1921. Nagy promptly broke that record with 33 against Westminster in his very next start, likewise at Perkins Gym, and shattered it a second time two months later with 34 against Ohio Wesleyan.

His greatest collegiate output was 42 points against Heidelberg in 1945 when Akron was unbeaten in Ohio Conference play.

Nagy accomplished all feats despite the fact he was near sighted, flat-footed and only six-feet tall. Although eligible under wartime rules for another season of play, Nagy signed a pro contract with the Chicago American Gears in October of 1947 and played three years of pro basketball before joining Goodyear.