NEW ORLEANS — Bruce Seals, an All-America athlete and one of the leaders of the renaissance of Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball in the 1970s, died Tuesday morning (Dec. 15, 2020) in the Boston area at age 67.
        Seals was a native New Orleanian who played two seasons for XULA (1971-73) before playing five more seasons (1973-78) in the ABA and NBA. He also played professionally in Europe.
        Entering the 2020-21 season, Seals still held six XULA records, including rebounds per game in a career, 13.
        "Bruce was quiet as a child," said Greg Berniard, who grew up with Seals in the Calliope Projects and was a teammate at XULA and Booker T. Washington High School. "When he got to Booker T., an assistant coach, Robert Anderson, saw something in him and helped make him who he came to be. Bruce was dedicated and worked at his craft and became a very, very good ballplayer."
        Seals led BTW's Lions to the LHSAA Class 4A semifinals as a senior in 1971. Although he had offers from more publicized schools, Seals opted to stay home and attend XULA with BTW teammates Berniard, James Williams and Ames Growe.
        At XULA Seals averaged 18.7 points and 12.2 rebounds in 26 games for a team that was 22-5, won the NAIA District 30 championship and reached the second round in its first-ever appearance at NAIA nationals. The next year Seals averaged 25.6 points and 13.7 rebounds in 27 games for a 21-6 team that repeated as District 30 champion and reached the NAIA's national quarterfinals. In a 67-60 upset of top-seeded and unbeaten Sam Houston State in the second round on March 14, 1973, in Kansas City, Mo., Seals produced the program's first triple-double: 32 points, 10 rebounds and 12 blocked shots, the latter still a XULA record.
        His two-season totals at XULA included 22.2 points per game in 53 contests. Seals shot 52 percent from the floor (486-of-934) and 61.7 percent from the line (206-of-334). He scored 1,178 points and grabbed 688 rebounds.
        Seals departed XULA after two years. He played professionally for the ABA's Utah Stars from 1973-75 and three seasons for the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics from 1975-78. In Seattle he was reunited with guard Donald "Slick" Watts, who starred for XULA from 1970-73. Seals averaged 8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 348 combined ABA-NBA games.
        Seals later moved to the Boston area and spent many years as athletic director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Mass., and as a men's basketball assistant coach at Boston's Emerson College.
        "The Xavier community is saddened by the passing of Bruce Seals," said Jason Horn, XULA assistant vice president for student affairs / director of athletics & recreation. "Bruce left a stellar legacy during his two seasons at Xavier. He was one of the very best athletes this university has produced. We extend our deepest condolences to Bruce's family and his many friends and teammates."
        No funeral arrangements were immediately available. Survivors of Seals include two children — son Bruce Jr. and daughter Denitra — a brother, Barry, and sisters Lori and Rhonda. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife — the former Shirley Gallier — and a sister, Yolanda.

XULA records still held by Bruce Seals
Game
•  Blocked shots:  12 vs. Sam Houston State, March 14, 1973

Season
•  Rebounds:  370 in 1972-73
•  Field-goal attempts:  571 in 1972-73
•  Field goals made:  294 in 1972-73

Career (1971-73)
•  Rebounds per game:  13.0 (688 rebounds in 53 games)
•  Field-goal attempts per game:  17.62 (934 field-goal attempts in 53 games)

XULA honors earned by Bruce Seals
•  Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame:  Inducted July 24, 1999
•  Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Amateur Athlete of the Month:  Twice (February 1973 and March 1973)
•  NAIA All-America:  Honorable mention in 1971-72, first team in 1972-73
•  Little All-America (chosen by The Associated Press):  First team in 1972-73
•  NAIA All-District 30:  1971-72 and 1972-73
•  All-Louisiana (chosen by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association):  First team in 1972-73
•  Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame (sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl):  Inducted in 1995