As a 6'2" forward for Orange Coast College, Vallely averaged 26 points per game and broke 18 scoring records.

In his first season, he was the Bruins' third leading scorer (12.9 ppg) and adapted smoothly to head coach John Wooden's "attack and gamble offense".

[1] He was selected to the twelve man 1968 Olympic trials team coached by Jerry Tarkanian which competed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He sat on the bench much of the time, playing behind Pete Maravich, Lou Hudson, Walt Hazzard, and Herm Gilliam.

[3] Vallely married Karen, a woman he met at Orange Coast College, where he studied prior to attending UCLA.