John Rinka
Encyclopedia
John Rinka is an American
former college basketball player best known for his high–scoring offensive ability and accurate jump shot while at Kenyon College
from 1966 to 1970. A shooting guard
, Rinka is in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) top ten in all–time scoring despite playing before the advent of the three–point line
and the shot clock
. He once scored 69 points in a single game, which is tied for the 21st–highest single game output in NCAA history; his 41.0 points per game average in 1969–70 as well as his 3,251 career points are also the eighth–highest average and total, respectively, in NCAA history.
native, did not get serious consideration from any Division I colleges coming out of Shorewood High School
due to his size. Kenyon College
, a Division II school in Ohio
, was his only viable option. From 1966 to 1970, Rinka played for Kenyon in the Ohio Athletic Conference
(OAC) and set nearly every school and conference scoring record. He was a four–time First Team OAC selection, three–time conference player of the year, a three–time All–American and one–time Academic All–American, and he led the nation in free throw
percentage (234-of-263; 89%) in 1969–70. As a senior, he was the first non–Division I recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
, which is given to the top men's college basketball player under tall.
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA) in 1970 in the 7th round, but because he was leery of playing at home and because the American Basketball Association
(ABA) utilized a three–point line, Rinka tried out for the ABA's Utah Stars
instead. He was the Stars' final cut, and ironically the Bucks would go on to win the NBA Finals
in what would have been Rinka's rookie season.
Rinka would forego any further aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player and opted to become a teacher and coach basketball instead. He served as an assistant coach and athletic director at Brandeis University
and moved from school to school before landing in Wilmington
, North Carolina
to teach at John T. Hoggard High School
. Rinka still teaches and coaches at Hoggard today.
On May 20, 2006, Rinka was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame's as part of its inaugural class. Among a larger group, he was inducted with legendary players Oscar Robertson
(his boyhood idol), John Havlicek
, Clark Kellogg
, Jerry Lucas
and Bob Knight.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former college basketball player best known for his high–scoring offensive ability and accurate jump shot while at Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
from 1966 to 1970. A shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
, Rinka is in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) top ten in all–time scoring despite playing before the advent of the three–point line
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
and the shot clock
Shot clock
A shot clock is used in some sports to quicken the pace of the game. It is normally associated with basketball, but has also found use in sports such as snooker, professional lacrosse, water polo, and korfball....
. He once scored 69 points in a single game, which is tied for the 21st–highest single game output in NCAA history; his 41.0 points per game average in 1969–70 as well as his 3,251 career points are also the eighth–highest average and total, respectively, in NCAA history.
Kenyon College
Rinka, a Milwaukee, WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
native, did not get serious consideration from any Division I colleges coming out of Shorewood High School
Shorewood High School (Wisconsin)
Shorewood High School is a comprehensive public high school located in the village of Shorewood, Wisconsin, as part of the Shorewood School District....
due to his size. Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
, a Division II school in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, was his only viable option. From 1966 to 1970, Rinka played for Kenyon in the Ohio Athletic Conference
Ohio Athletic Conference
The Ohio Athletic Conference was formed in 1902 and is the third oldest athletic conference in the United States. It competes in the NCAA's Division III. Through the years, 31 schools have been members of the OAC. The enrollments of the current ten member institutions range from 1,100 to 4,500...
(OAC) and set nearly every school and conference scoring record. He was a four–time First Team OAC selection, three–time conference player of the year, a three–time All–American and one–time Academic All–American, and he led the nation in free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
percentage (234-of-263; 89%) in 1969–70. As a senior, he was the first non–Division I recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
, which is given to the top men's college basketball player under tall.
Later life
He was drafted by the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) in 1970 in the 7th round, but because he was leery of playing at home and because the American Basketball Association
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:...
(ABA) utilized a three–point line, Rinka tried out for the ABA's Utah Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
instead. He was the Stars' final cut, and ironically the Bucks would go on to win the NBA Finals
1971 NBA Finals
The 1971 NBA Finals was played at the conclusion of the NBA's 25th Anniversary season of 1970-71. The Western Conference Champion Milwaukee Bucks, who were born just three years earlier, swept the Eastern Conference Champion Baltimore Bullets in four games...
in what would have been Rinka's rookie season.
Rinka would forego any further aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player and opted to become a teacher and coach basketball instead. He served as an assistant coach and athletic director at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
and moved from school to school before landing in Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to teach at John T. Hoggard High School
John T. Hoggard High School
John T. Hoggard High School is a public high school in the New Hanover County School System in Wilmington, North Carolina.-The Naming of the Highschool:Dr. John T. Hoggard is the eponym for Hoggard High School. Dr...
. Rinka still teaches and coaches at Hoggard today.
On May 20, 2006, Rinka was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame's as part of its inaugural class. Among a larger group, he was inducted with legendary players Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
(his boyhood idol), John Havlicek
John Havlicek
John J. "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA titles, half of them coming in his first four seasons....
, Clark Kellogg
Clark Kellogg
Clark Clifton Kellogg, Jr. is the VP of player relations for the Indiana Pacers as well as the lead college basketball analyst for CBS Sports and former player in the National Basketball Association.-High School:...
, Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas
Jerry Ray Lucas was a basketball player from the 1950s to the 1970s, and is now a memory education expert. In 1996, the NBA's 50th anniversary, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in National Basketball Association history...
and Bob Knight.