Jerry Harper
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 4, 1934 Louisville, Kentucky |
| Died | September 16, 2001 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Career information | |
| College | Alabama (1952–1956) |
| Position | Center / Power forward |
| Number | 8, 88 |
| Career history | |
| 1956–? | Houston Ada Oilers |
| ? | Phillips 66ers |
Jerry "Moose" Harper (August 4, 1934 – September 16, 2001)[1] was an American basketball player best known for his collegiate career at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa between 1952–53 and 1955–56. Harper, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, was 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and played the center and forward positions.[2]
In 1952–53, his freshman season, he was voted a second team All-American by the Associated Press (AP).[3] He averaged 17.8 points and 17.0 rebounds per game in 21 games played.[3] His sophomore year, Harper once again averaged 17.8 points per game, although his rebounds dipped to 14.9 per game in 24 games played.[3] The AP selected him to their All-America third team.[3] In Harper's final two seasons, he averaged 21.0 points and 19.0 rebounds for his junior year, and 22.3 points and 21.5 rebounds as a senior.[3] This rebounding mark still stands as the best in the history of the Southeastern Conference.[4]
Harper became the first Crimson Tide player to lead his team in scoring all four years en route to finishing with 1,861 for his career,[1] while his 1,688 career rebounds place him eighth all-time in the history of NCAA Division I men's basketball.[5] Harper was the first player in school history to average 20 or more points per game for a career, and in one game against Kentucky during his senior season, he scored 38 points and grabbed 26 rebounds.[4] That game, which the Crimson Tide won 101–77, was the first time Kentucky had ever allowed 100 or more points.[4]
In 1954–55 and 1955–56, Harper was selected as a first team All-American.[2] These squads became known as the famed "Rocket 8" teams, with Harper guiding the latter to the 1956 Southeastern Conference championship.[4] His 517 rebounds that year are a still-standing Alabama record.[6]
After college, Harper was selected in the 1956 NBA Draft by the New York Knickerbockers, but he never ended up playing in the league.[7] Instead, he played for the Houston Ada Oilers and the Phillips 66ers in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which was still a semi-professional league at the time.[4] An injury prematurely ended his career.[4]
Harper then worked for Phillips Petroleum until he relocated to Montgomery, Alabama, where he went into business for the remainder of his career.[8] He died of a longstanding illness on September 16, 2001 at age 67.[6]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Jerry Harper (Class of 2001)". Basketball. Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- 1 2 "Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). All-time Lettermen. University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2010–11 Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). University of Alabama Athletics. 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Alabama Legends & Ambassadors" (Video). Alabama Tourism Department. 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "2010–11 NCAA Men's Basketball Records" (PDF). 2010–11 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- 1 2 "NCAA News Archive – 2001". National Collegiate Athletic Association. October 8, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "1956 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "Jerry Harper Dies at 67", The Tuscaloosa News, pp. C1, September 18, 2001, retrieved March 29, 2011