University of South Dakota Athletics

Jim Daniels, along with his brother Cliff and 11 teammates on the 1957-58 University of South Dakota national small college championship basketball team, were inducted into the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in a special ceremony in 1980. Jim Daniels ranks as one of the best players in school history. A two-time all-North Central Conference performer, he led the NCC in scoring in 1957-58 at 19.2 points per game. He was named the NCC's Most Valuable Player two straight seasons as USD won consecutive conference titles in 1956-57 and 1957-58. Jim and Cliff both all city products at Franklin K Lane High School in Brooklyn, NY, formed as good as brother backcourt combintation that has ever existed in college basketball. The Daniels helped guide South Dakota to a 22-5 record during the 1957-58 campaign, including a 75-53 rout past St. Michaels of Vermont for the NCAA small college championship at Evansville, IN. He had 40 points in the championship game. Four members of the Coyotes, including the Daniels, were named all-NCC in the 1957-58 season. Jim, vice president and director of consumer affairs for Tuck Tape in New York, was twice an all-NCAA College Division selection, capping his brilliant career by earning first team Little All-American honors by The Associated Press.