Galen Center - Jim Sterkel Court

Jim Sterkel Court

The Galen Center's basketball court was named after former USC basketball player Jim Sterkel, who played for the Trojans for two unremarkable seasons in the 1950s, averaging only 10 points a game. Two unique factors in the naming rights were the obscurity of the name choice and that the Sterkel family was not aware that the court was named after the late Jim Sterkel until after the facility had already opened. B. Wayne Hughes, a longtime friend of Sterkel's, made the $5 million donation under the agreement that his name never be revealed. In an interview with Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke, 'Anonymous' revealed that he grew up with Sterkel: both attended Mark Keppel High School, both began at USC in 1955 and were roommates, and though Sterkel never graduated from USC, the two remained friends. Later in life, Sterkel was hired by 'Anonymous', who had become a successful businessman. When Sterkel contracted cancer, 'Anonymous' helped with his treatment. When 'Anonymouss own son contracted leukemia, Sterkel wrote a poem for 'Anonymous', sealed it, and ordered it only to be read if Anonymous's son died. Sterkel died from cancer in 1997, 'Anonymouss son succumbed less than two years later. Touched by the poem and Sterkel's care, 'Anonymous' made the donation to the Galen Center, noting: "Some people don't deserve to be forgotten."