Gene Harmon
Encyclopedia
Milo Gene Harmon was a former American college basketball
player.
At 6' 6", Harmon played small forward for Coach Eddie Sutton
at Creighton University
in Omaha, Nebraska
from 1971-74. He was the leading scorer all 3 years he played on the varsity team, and was a member of Eddie Sutton
's first NCAA tournament team in 1974. He left the school as the 4th leading scorer in Creighton University
history with a total of 1,369 points and is currently the 14th leading scorer of all-time. By NCAA rule, freshman were not allowed to compete at the varsity level, so his stats totals only include his sophomore through senior seasons.
Harmon ended his college career by scoring 22 points against the University of Louisville
to secure a 3rd place finish in the Midwest Regional of the NCAA tournament
in 1974 at the Mabee Center
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. In a combined total of three NCAA tournament games in 1974, Creighton went 2-1 with victories over the University of Texas (77-61) and University of Louisville
(80-71), but lost to the University of Kansas
(55-54) in the round of 16. Harmon averaged 20 points during the tournament and did not miss a single free throw (10-10). He was named to the 1974 Midwest All-Regional Team.
Harmon was eventually selected to play in the 1974 National Association of Basketball Coaches
(NABC) College All-Star Game and represented the West team.
Following his senior season, Harmon was drafted by the Boston Celtics
with the 17th pick in the 6th round of the 1974 NBA Draft
. He is one of 25 Creighton basketball players to be selected in the NBA draft
.
Season Totals
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.
At 6' 6", Harmon played small forward for Coach Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton is an American former college head coach with 36 years of Division I basketball coaching experience at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State , and the University of San Francisco...
at Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
from 1971-74. He was the leading scorer all 3 years he played on the varsity team, and was a member of Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton is an American former college head coach with 36 years of Division I basketball coaching experience at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State , and the University of San Francisco...
's first NCAA tournament team in 1974. He left the school as the 4th leading scorer in Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
history with a total of 1,369 points and is currently the 14th leading scorer of all-time. By NCAA rule, freshman were not allowed to compete at the varsity level, so his stats totals only include his sophomore through senior seasons.
Harmon ended his college career by scoring 22 points against the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
to secure a 3rd place finish in the Midwest Regional of the NCAA tournament
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...
in 1974 at the Mabee Center
Mabee Center
Mabee Center is an 11,300-seat multi-purpose arena, located on the campus of Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.An adjacent building, smaller but similar in shape, is known as "Baby Mabee" and houses a television production studio....
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. In a combined total of three NCAA tournament games in 1974, Creighton went 2-1 with victories over the University of Texas (77-61) and University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
(80-71), but lost to the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
(55-54) in the round of 16. Harmon averaged 20 points during the tournament and did not miss a single free throw (10-10). He was named to the 1974 Midwest All-Regional Team.
Harmon was eventually selected to play in the 1974 National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
(NABC) College All-Star Game and represented the West team.
Following his senior season, Harmon was drafted by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
with the 17th pick in the 6th round of the 1974 NBA Draft
1974 NBA Draft
The 1974 NBA Draft was the 28th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 28, 1974 before the 1974–75 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. He is one of 25 Creighton basketball players to be selected in the NBA draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
.
College Statistics
Season Averages| SEASON | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | TO | FG% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-72 | 32 | 15.8 | 7.1 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 51.3% | 79.0% |
| 1972-73 | 31 | 15.8 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 50.9% | 69.6% |
| 1973-74 | 34 | 18.3 | 5.6 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 55.6% | 84.7% |
| CAREER | 32.6 | 16.7 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 52.9% | 78.5% |
Season Totals
| SEASON | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | TO | FGA | FGM | FTA | FTM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-72 | 26 | 844 | 411 | 185 | 35 | 58 | 164 | 320 | 83 | 105 |
| 1972-73 | 26 | 801 | 413 | 146 | 42 | 59 | 187 | 367 | 39 | 56 |
| 1973-74 | 30 | 1025 | 545 | 167 | 70 | 57 | 242 | 435 | 61 | 72 |
| CAREER | 82 | 2670 | 1369 | 498 | 147 | 174 | 593 | 1122 | 183 | 233 |
External links
- Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame @ nebhalloffame.org
- Creighton University Athletics Hall of Fame @ gocreighton.com
- Gene Harmon was the most highly recruited of the bunch @branchwest.com
- 1970 Nebraska Boys 120-Yard High Hurdles Gold Medalist @ nsaahome.org