Andy Phillip

Andrew Michael "Handy Andy" Phillip (March 7, 1922 – April 29, 2001) was an American professional basketball player. Born in Granite City, Illinois, he played an 11-year professional career across the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Association, suiting up for the Chicago Stags, Philadelphia Warriors, Fort Wayne Pistons, and Boston Celtics.

Phillip first drew attention at Granite City High School, which he led to the 1940 IHSA state championship with a 24–22 victory over Herrin High School at Huff Gym on the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign campus. He returned to that same gymnasium as a collegian, starring for the Fighting Illini across war-interrupted, non-consecutive seasons in 1941–1943 and 1946–1947. He was the untitled leader of "The Whiz Kids," a team that included Ken Menke, Gene Vance, Jack Smiley, and captain Art Mathisen. Considered among the most talented teams in the nation, the squad elected not to enter either the NCAA or NIT tournament after the army drafted Mathisen, Menke, and Smiley; the team was retroactively recognized as a top team of its era.