Flint great Eric Turner to be inducted into Greater Flint Hall of Fame

When I read this headline that Eric Turner, the former Flint Central and University of Michigan star, would be inducted into the Greater Flint Hall of Fame this year, my first reaction was, “He’s not already in it?”

Most people who watched Turner play in high school will tell you flat out: no one in Flint was better.

Few players in Flint’s rich basketball history were more electrifying than Turner, a former national punt, pass and kick champion who starred in three sports at Central. Turner gave up football and baseball to concentrate on basketball and the decision paid off in his senior year, when he engineered one of the greatest seasons in area history. In 1980-81, Turner averaged 20.9 points and 8.9 assists — including a single-game school record of 25 — while leading Central to a 28-0 record and Class A state championship.

He had a solid career at Michigan and played professionally overseas. His son, Jon Goode, was a big time player at University of Detroit and averaged 20 points per game in Germany last year.

– Patrick Hayes