Teachers and students were in a state of shock.

A pall of depression was in the air.

Some students cried in the hallways.

That was North Hills High School on an early June day more than 30 years ago. The joy of the final days of school had been ruined by the horrible news.

Ed Crankovic was dead.

Crankovic was the marvelous senior basketball player at North Hills, headed to play at a Division I college (Bucknell). He was the school's all-time leading scorer, an excellent student and, as a person, seemingly liked by everyone.

He had graduated from North Hills only a few days earlier, but drowned at a hotel pool in Wildwood, N.J., early in the morning of June 8, 1978. He was vacationing there with two of his classmates. Rumor of the tragedy spread throughout the school that day and a school announcement confirmed it.

"It was one of the worst days that I was ever at that school," said Tom Maloney, a retired guidance counselor at North Hills and also the school's basketball coach during the Crankovic era.

But North Hills doesn't want to remember that painful day. A week from today, North Hills wants to celebrate Crankovic's athletic career and his life. Crankovic will be inducted into the North Hills High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Crankovic is one of five inductees in the 14th class. His brother, Tony, and sister, Nancy, will attend the ceremonies at the Nu Babcock in Ross. Ed Crankovic's presenter will be Rich Dalrymple, longtime director of public relations for the Dallas Cowboys. Dalrymple was one of Crankovic's best friends.

"This is maybe the first time since his passing that those who watched him play, or played with him, or were classmates of his, have the opportunity to come together and celebrate his life," Dalrymple said. "That's what his brother and sister would like to happen."

Crankovic was one of the best basketball players in the WPIAL during his senior year and was selected to play in the preliminary game of the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic. He averaged 23 points a game and finished as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,466 points. He had many memorable games, leading North Hills to a section championship as a senior.

"If he were 6 feet 3, you were stretching it," said Maloney. "He wasn't real quick and didn't have a great jumper. But he was just a tremendous scorer. He could score at will, and from anywhere on the court. I can still remember the game he had at Valley."

Crankovic scored 41 points at Valley as a senior.

"The other thing about him was he was such a fine, fine individual," Maloney said. "He was laid back and he just seemed to be so well-liked by everyone. I was very close to him."

Crankovic had a 3.75 grade-point average. He would have been only the third player in North Hills history to play Division I basketball. The others were 1969 graduate Tim White (Arkansas and Appalachian State) and 1987 graduate Mike Yoest (West Virginia).

Crankovic also was recruited by Princeton and legendary coach Pete Carril. Dalrymple said Crankovic chose Bucknell because it was a little closer to home.

Crankovic also was an excellent golfer and was captain of the North Hills golf team.

"I'm honored to be his presenter," Dalrymple said. "When Ed's brother asked me, he told me he wanted his kids to know what their uncle was all about."

Other inductees into the Hall of Fame are Kelley Keenan Check (1994 graduate, soccer), Charles "Chum" Kovach (1958, baseball), Joe Smitchco (1987, football) and Mark Taylor (1980, football and wrestling).

For ticket information, call 412-318-1437.