Jack Stephens (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Jack Francis "Junior" Stephens (May 18, 1933 - August 31, 2011) was an American
basketball
player. He played one season in the National Basketball Association
(NBA).
Stephens, a guard from Mount Carmel High School
in Chicago
, played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame
from 1951 to 1955. He was a standout for the Irish, raising his scoring average each year. In his senior season of 1954–55, Stephens averaged 20.9 points per game and was named an All-American
by the United Press International
(third team) and Collier's
(second team).
He tied the Irish single-game scoring record with 35 points against Marquette in his final career game for Notre Dame. Stephens served as captain of the '54-55 Irish. Stephens played on Irish teams that finished 19-5 and 22-3 and qualified for the NCAA Championships his sophomore and junior years, respectively. In 1953 he was named to the NCAA All-Mideast Regional team.
Stephens also played one year of football for the Irish at halfback. After graduation, Stephens was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks
in the second round (7th pick overall) of the 1955 NBA Draft
. He played one season for the Hawks, averaging 10.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 72 appearances.
Stephens later served as President of the University of Notre Dame
Monogram Club from 1993 to 1994. On November 4th, 2004 Stephens was named to the Irish All-Century Team.
Jack Stephens died on August 31, 2011, in Peoria, Illinois
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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. He played one season in 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).
Stephens, a guard from Mount Carmel High School
Mount Carmel High School
- Australia :* Mount Carmel High School , in Varroville, New South Wales* Mount Carmel High School , in Yass, New South Wales* Mount Carmel College, Sandy Bay, in Sandy Bay, Tasmania* Mount Carmel College, in Rosewater, South Australia- India :...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The program competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. The school holds two national championships in...
from 1951 to 1955. He was a standout for the Irish, raising his scoring average each year. In his senior season of 1954–55, Stephens averaged 20.9 points per game and was named an All-American
1955 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1955 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of six major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, Look Magazine, The United Press International, the...
by the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
(third team) and Collier's
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
(second team).
He tied the Irish single-game scoring record with 35 points against Marquette in his final career game for Notre Dame. Stephens served as captain of the '54-55 Irish. Stephens played on Irish teams that finished 19-5 and 22-3 and qualified for the NCAA Championships his sophomore and junior years, respectively. In 1953 he was named to the NCAA All-Mideast Regional team.
Stephens also played one year of football for the Irish at halfback. After graduation, Stephens was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in the second round (7th pick overall) of the 1955 NBA Draft
1955 NBA Draft
The 1955 NBA Draft was the ninth annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 13, 1955 before the 1955–56 season. In this draft, eight remaining NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. In each round, the teams select in reverse...
. He played one season for the Hawks, averaging 10.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 72 appearances.
Stephens later served as President of the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
Monogram Club from 1993 to 1994. On November 4th, 2004 Stephens was named to the Irish All-Century Team.
Jack Stephens died on August 31, 2011, in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
.