Jerry Harkness
Encyclopedia
Jerald B. "Jerry" Harkness (born May 7, 1940 in Harlem
, New York
) is an American
former basketball
player.
Before playing in the professional leagues, the 6'3" Harkness was a star at DeWitt Clinton High School
and Loyola University Chicago
. At Loyola, he served as captain on the team that upset the University of Cincinnati
to win the 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
. He then moved on to the professional leagues, playing one season (1963–64)
with the NBA's New York Knicks
and two seasons (1967–1969) with the ABA
's Indiana Pacers
.
Though his professional career was relatively short, he left his mark in the record books on November 13, 1967, when he hit a 92 feet (28 m)-long game-winning buzzer beater
to lead the Pacers past the Dallas Chaparrals
. This is still the longest shot ever made in any American professional basketball game (see http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCJ/is_3_30/ai_95844091).
Harkness became an Indianapolis
sportscaster
when his playing career ended in 1969. He has also devoted much of his time to civil rights
issues. He worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
in the early 1970s, and he currently serves as director of the Indianapolis Chapter of 100 Black Men, a national organization dedicated to supporting and training young African American
males.
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Before playing in the professional leagues, the 6'3" Harkness was a star at DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
and Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
. At Loyola, he served as captain on the team that upset the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
to win the 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. He then moved on to the professional leagues, playing one season (1963–64)
1963-64 NBA season
The 1963–64 NBA season was the 18th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 6th straight NBA Championship, beating the San Francisco Warriors 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals....
with the NBA's New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and two seasons (1967–1969) with the ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
Though his professional career was relatively short, he left his mark in the record books on November 13, 1967, when he hit a 92 feet (28 m)-long game-winning buzzer beater
Buzzer beater
In basketball, a buzzer beater is a shot taken just before the game clock of a period expires, when the buzzer sounds. The term is normally reserved for baskets that win or tie the game, but also refers to shots that beat an end-of-quarter or halftime buzzer...
to lead the Pacers past the Dallas Chaparrals
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
. This is still the longest shot ever made in any American professional basketball game (see http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCJ/is_3_30/ai_95844091).
Harkness became an Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
when his playing career ended in 1969. He has also devoted much of his time to civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
issues. He worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
in the early 1970s, and he currently serves as director of the Indianapolis Chapter of 100 Black Men, a national organization dedicated to supporting and training young African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
males.
External links
- Career stats at basketball-reference.com
- Jerry Harkness at thehistorymakers.com