Education
Russell Cross attended and played basketball at Manley High School, located on the West Side of Chicago.
Russell Cross attended and played basketball at Manley High School, located on the West Side of Chicago.
In his first season as a Boilermaker, he set a freshman record with 540 points on the season and led Purdue to an National Institute of Technology third-place finish and to a 21-11 record. In his sophomore season, Cross helped lead them to the National Institute of Technology Finals with All-Big Ten teammate, Keith Edmonson. In his junior season, he led Purdue to a 21-9 record and onto a Second Round National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament appearance.
Russell was named First Team All-Big Ten his junior year.
Russell Cross passed his senior year at Purdue to enter the 1983 National Basketball Association Draft, where he was selected as the 6th pick in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Cross played in only one National Basketball Association season, averaging 3.7 points in 45 games for the Warriors in the 1983-1984 National Basketball Association season.
Cross then signed a contract with the Denver Nuggets, he did not appear in a game and was waived late in the 1984-1985 season. He spent the remainder of the 1984-1985 season and the 1985-1986 season with the Louisville Catbirds and then moved to Europe, where he spent the next seven seasons in the Italian and Spanish Leagues.
He led Manley to an Illinois state title. He was selected to the McDonald"s All-American team and was also a 1st team Parade All-American. He was also the Parade Player of the Year The 6"10" center moved on to attend Purdue University, where he played his freshman season under first year head coach, Gene Keady.
