BASKETBALL Former University of Maryland hoops ace needs heart

Chaney graduate John Avery is fighting for his life.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
John Avery, former All-City basketball player at Chaney High in the 1960s who went on to become a starter for the University of Maryland, needs a heart transplant.
Avery, 57, a member of the Chaney Hall of Fame who lives in Columbia, Md., was on the donor's list but got cancer and had surgery for it in May.
He has been removed from the donor's list because of the cancer, and will not be eligible for two years.
Avery is at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Md., Cards may be sent to his home address at 9572 Fallen Stone in Columbia, Md. 21045.
The family -- wife Kathleen (Daley), son John Paul Jr. and daughter Kristi -- is hoping and praying that John will be put back soon on the donor's list.
Another close member of the family is John's sister-in-law, Joann Avery of Youngstown, wife of John's late brother, Clark. Joann has been closely following John's medical situation.
Having tough time
"He's had a rough time and now they are fighting to get him back on the list to get a heart. In order to that, he has to be clear of the cancer," Joann said.
"He had to have surgery again from complications, and is in intensive care and still connected to a machine and can't survive without help from that machine.
"Hopefully, he is going to get out of intensive care soon. The machine is to help his heart work better. His heart is so bad, it couldn't survive without a machine."
John is retired as a teacher for 32 years at Glendale Elementary School in Glen Burnie, Md., where he taught physical education and driver's education.
His only sibling was Clark, who preceded him at Chaney. Clark was All-Northeastern Ohio and All-City and was elected to the Chaney Hall of Fame. Both brothers played for coach George Simstad.
Clark, who made the All-City and All-NEO first teams and graduated in 1959, died this past February. Shortly after that, John became ill with heart problems and then cancer.
The Avery brothers are the sons of Paul and Martha Clark Avery of Youngstown, both graduates of Waynesburg College who became area teachers.
Was a sharpshooter
John was a 5-foot-9 guard and a sharpshooter when he played for Chaney.
IJoann's son, Paul, recalled that his uncle [John] "was known as a good free throw shooter, and there was one season when he missed only several free throws."
And John's biography for Chaney High Sports Hall of Fame stated, "Once an observer saw John make over 100 consecutive shots while shooting at that driveway hoop, which undoubtedly contributed to his pure shooting effort."
He also practiced at the basketball-shooting concession stand at Idora Park, and is featured in a song in the musical "Idora" that played at Powers Auditorium over the Memorial Day weekend. Called, "Go Johnny Go," the song is about John and his dead-eye shooting at the park.
"The woman who wrote the play, [well] her parents owned the basketball concession," Joann said. "They became very familiar with John because John would come in and win all the [prizes]."
kovach@vindy.com