Former Bowling Green State University men’s basketball player Walt Piatkowski died Monday, August 18, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was 80 years old.
Piatkowski graduated from Bowling Green in 1968 and is remembered as one of the most decorated players in program history. He was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1989 and remains one of only five Falcons to be named team MVP three times. The other players with this distinction are James Darrow, Nate Thurmond, A’uston Calhoun, and Justin Turner.
During his college career, Piatkowski scored a total of 1,577 points. This achievement places him ninth on Bowling Green’s all-time scoring list. At the time he graduated, he ranked fourth in this category. He averaged 21.6 points per game over his collegiate career, which is third all-time for the program. In the 1967-68 season alone, he averaged 24 points per game—ranking fourth for single-season scoring average both at that time and currently in program history. Additionally, Piatkowski collected an average of 8.6 rebounds per game during his time at BGSU, a mark that ranks ninth all-time for the Falcons.
Piatkowski played a key role in leading Bowling Green to the Mid-American Conference title during the 1967-68 season and helped secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament that year. Following his senior season in 1968, Converse recognized him as an All-America Honorable Mention. His accolades also include two First Team All-MAC selections (1966 and 1968), a Second Team honor (1967), and Third Team All-District recognition by the NABC in both 1967 and 1968. Most recently, he was selected to the All-Anderson Team for BGSU Athletics.
After completing his college career, Piatkowski was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in the eighth round of the 1968 NBA Draft—a team that also featured fellow Falcon Nate Thurmond at that time. He received an invitation to try out for the United States Olympic team but instead chose to play professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Piatkowski made his ABA debut with the Denver Rockets on October 29, 1968. Over two seasons with Denver, he played in 151 games and scored a total of 1,459 points while maintaining shooting percentages above forty percent each year. In his rookie season alone he scored 942 points and earned selection to the ABA’s All-Rookie Team. He concluded his professional basketball career with The Floridians during the 1971-72 season.
“Walt Piatkowski was a great ambassador for our program both on and off the court,” said those who knew him through Bowling Green athletics.
Walt Piatkowski’s contributions continue to be recognized among Bowling Green’s basketball community.
