March 20
1565: Pedro Menendez de Aviles, eventual founder of Santa Elena, is named the first Governor of Florida by Spanish King Philip II.
1964: Robert Smalls High School graduate Kenny Washington scores 13 points and grabs 6 rebounds to help lead the UCLA Bruins (29-0) past Kansas State, 90-84, in the NCAA men’s basketball national semifinal at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium. UCLA advanced to the national championship game against Duke.
1965: Robert Smalls High School graduate Kenny Washington scores 17 points and grabs 5 rebounds as the UCLA Bruins defeated Michigan, 91-80, in the NCAA men’s national championship game at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore. The championship was the second straight for UCLA (28-2) and head coach John Wooden.
March 21
1964: Robert Smalls High School graduate Kenny Washington scores 26 points – on 11-for-16 shooting – and grabs 12 rebounds to lead the UCLA Bruins (30-0) to a 98-83 upset of Duke in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium. The National Championship was the first of a record 10 legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, and the 1964 team has been selected by Sports Illustrated as the most influential college basketball team of all-time.
— Compiled by Mike McCombs
