Julius McCoy, who perhaps more than any other player was identified with Farrell High School’s phenomenal basketball success, has died.

McCoy led coach Ed McCluskey’s Steelers to prominence in 1952 when they won the first of the program’s seven big-school state championships.

In three years at Farrell, McCoy scored 1,471 points and led the Steelers to a record of 80-6. He averaged 24.2 points per game during his senior year when Farrell went 29-1 and beat Coatesville for the title.

“Julius is without doubt the player most responsible for the establishment of our basketball dynasty,” former NBA All-Star and 1962 Farrell all-stater Jack Marin told the Sharon Herald. “He will always be the Steelers’ Most Valuable Player.”

McCoy, 76, died in Harrisburg, where he lived for decades.

McCoy had an illustrious college career at Michigan State University, where he was the Spartans’ Athlete of the Year in 1956 for his performance in football, basketball and track.

He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1956 NBA draft, but was unavailable to play after being drafted into the Army.

He was a 12-year veteran in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, toured with the Harlem Globetrotters and in 1996 was named to the Continental Basketball Association’s all-time team.

McCoy was to be buried this morning at Rolling Green Cemetery in Camp Hill. A memorial service in Farrell will be held at a later date.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Betty J. McCoy; a daughter Judith McCoy-Jordan; a son Julius McCoy Jr.; and four grandchildren, all of Harrisburg.