Heidelberg University Athletics

Born in Columbus, Jerry K. Buccilla, a graduate of Groveport-Madison High School, and a 1984 Heidelberg College graduate, and basketball standout, has been often called the best overall guard to ever play for the Student Princes. 

Ranking fifth in scoring at Heidelberg with 1,420 points, Buccilla is second in assists (429) and holds school records in most games played during a single season (31), most assists in a season (197) and most seasons with 400 or more points. 

A four-year letterman, he was a member of the 24-7 team in 1983-84 that finished as the NCAA National Tournament East Regional runner-up, a year in which he served as a co-captain. 

That same year he was first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference and was the OAC Mike Gregory A ward winner as the most valuable player of the conference. He was also first team All-Great Lakes Region and was presented the Fischer-Behrn Captain Award for leadership and sportsmanship. 

During his senior season Buccilla led the team in scoring at 18.5 per game as well as assists with an average of 6.4 per game. And he also proved he liked to crash the boards in ranking second in rebounding at 4.8 per contest. 

He was selected as the NCAA East Regional National Tournament Most Valuable Player, the Most Valuable Player of the Tiffin Kiwanis Holiday Classic Tournament and was on the All-Tournament Team at the Case Western Reserve Strohs Classic. 

During his senior season Heidelberg won the Wabash College Cannonball Classic Tournament and the Tiffin Kiwanis Holiday Classic Tournament. That team set records for most points scored in a season (2,429) and most wins in a season with 24. 

As a junior, Bucilla averaged 14.9 points a game to lead the team while finishing second in assists at 4.3 per contest in earning honorable mention All-OAC. He was second on the team in scoring as a sophomore at 13.9 and first in assists at 3.6 per contest in earning OAC All-Tournament Team honors as well as honorable mention AU-OAC and being selected the MVP of the Tiffin Lions Club Classic Tournament. 

A letter winner as a freshman, Buccilla helped the team to a 17-9 finish. That year also saw him letter in golf. 

Buccilla served as the head women's basketball coach at Heidelberg in 1985-86 and 1986-87, compiling a 29-24 record. 

Prior to coming to Heidelberg, Buccilla earned the Most Valuable Player A ward, was All-Ohio Capital Conference first team, All-Ohio Central District second team, AlI- Ohio Associated Press special mention, AIl-Ohio United Press International honorable mention and a District 10 All-Star game participant in high school at Groveport-Madison. He was also All-Capital Conference League honorable mention and tri-captain of his high school golf team. 

There are few who doubt that Buccilla was one of the best to ever take the court for Heidelberg College. 

This profile appeared in the 1996 Hall of Fame Banquet program.