Roscoe Pondexter played college basketball for the Long Beach State 49ers from 1972 to 1974.
18 Facts About Roscoe Pondexter
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Roscoe Pondexter became a prison guard after his retirement from basketball and was involved with a gang at California State Prison, Corcoran who earned notoriety for their brutal treatment of inmates.
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Roscoe Pondexter graduated in 1971 as the highest prep scorer in California basketball history with 2,288 points and was named California Mr Basketball for his senior season.
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In May 1971, Roscoe Pondexter committed to begin his college basketball career at Fresno City College.
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Roscoe Pondexter was named to the first-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association after he averaged 14.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game during his sophomore season.
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Roscoe Pondexter earned his second nomination to the first-team All-PCAA as he averaged 15.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game during his junior season.
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Roscoe Pondexter successfully applied for a hardship from the National Basketball Association and was an early entrant in the 1974 NBA draft alongside his brother.
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Roscoe Pondexter was selected by the Boston Celtics in the third round.
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Roscoe Pondexter chose to join the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association who had selected him in the third round of the ABA draft.
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Roscoe Pondexter instead played professionally in Europe and South America for ten years.
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Roscoe Pondexter received the award for Most Valuable Player of the Liga Profesional de Baloncesto while playing for Colosos de Carabobo in 1978.
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Roscoe Pondexter returned to Fresno after his basketball career ended and worked as a guard in a local county jail.
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Roscoe Pondexter quickly moved up the field and became a California correctional peace officer while he worked at Soledad Prison.
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In 1988, Roscoe Pondexter was selected to work for the newly opened California State Prison, Corcoran.
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Roscoe Pondexter became a member of a gang of guards who were known for their brutal tactics on prisoners; he earned the nickname "Bonecrusher" for his involvement.
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Roscoe Pondexter developed a reputation for his torture of prisoners and a strangulation technique that would bring victims close to unconsciousness.
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Investigations at the facility began after the murder of an inmate by a guard and Roscoe Pondexter was stood down for an incident in which he manhandled an inmate.
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Roscoe Pondexter gave court testimony in 1999 against his former coworkers in return for immunity from prosecution.