Jerry Harper
Encyclopedia
Jerry "Moose" Harper 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 and played the center
and forward positions.
In 1952–53, his freshman
season, he was voted a second team All-American
by the Associated Press
(AP). He averaged 17.8 points and 17.0 rebounds per game in 21 games played. 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. The AP selected him to their All-America third team. 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
. This rebounding mark still stands as the best in the history of the Southeastern Conference
.
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, while his 1,688 career rebounds place him eighth all-time in the history of NCAA Division I men's basketball. 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. That game, which the Crimson Tide won 101–77, was the first time Kentucky had ever allowed 100 or more points.
In 1954–55 and 1955–56, Harper was selected as a first team All-American. These squads became known as the famed "Rocket 8" teams, with Harper guiding the latter to the 1956 Southeastern Conference championship. His 517 rebounds that year are a still-standing Alabama record.
After college, Harper was selected in the 1956 NBA Draft
by the New York Knickerbockers
, but he never ended up playing in the league. 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. An injury prematurely ended his career.
Harper then worked for Phillips Petroleum
until he relocated to Montgomery
, Alabama
, where he went into business for the remainder of his career. He died of a longstanding illness on September 16, 2001 at age 67.
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 best known for his collegiate career at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
at Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
between 1952–53 and 1955–56. Harper, a native of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, was and played the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
and forward positions.
In 1952–53, his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
season, he was voted a second team All-American
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(AP). He averaged 17.8 points and 17.0 rebounds per game in 21 games played. His sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
year, Harper once again averaged 17.8 points per game, although his rebounds dipped to 14.9 per game in 24 games played. The AP selected him to their All-America third team. In Harper's final two seasons, he averaged 21.0 points and 19.0 rebounds for his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year, and 22.3 points and 21.5 rebounds as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
. This rebounding mark still stands as the best in the history of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
.
Harper became the first Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball
The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball program has a history of being among the best of the Southeastern Conference . It trails only Kentucky in basketball wins, SEC tournament titles, and SEC regular season titles in the 12-member conference. The team is coached by head coach Anthony Grant,...
player to lead his team in scoring all four years en route to finishing with 1,861 for his career, while his 1,688 career rebounds place him eighth all-time in the history of NCAA Division I men's basketball. 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
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
during his senior season, he scored 38 points and grabbed 26 rebounds. That game, which the Crimson Tide won 101–77, was the first time Kentucky had ever allowed 100 or more points.
In 1954–55 and 1955–56, Harper was selected as a first team All-American. These squads became known as the famed "Rocket 8" teams, with Harper guiding the latter to the 1956 Southeastern Conference championship. His 517 rebounds that year are a still-standing Alabama record.
After college, Harper was selected in the 1956 NBA Draft
1956 NBA Draft
The 1956 NBA Draft was the 10th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 30, 1956 before the 1956–57 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players...
by the New York Knickerbockers
New York Knickerbockers
The New York Knickerbockers were one of the first organized baseball teams which played under a set of rules similar to the game today. The team was founded by Alexander Cartwright, considered one of the original developers of modern baseball....
, but he never ended up playing in the league. Instead, he played for the Houston Ada Oilers and the Phillips 66ers in the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU), which was still a semi-professional league at the time. An injury prematurely ended his career.
Harper then worked for Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917 by L.E. Phillips and Frank Phillips, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Their younger brother Waite Phillips was the benefactor of Philmont Scout Ranch....
until he relocated to Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, where he went into business for the remainder of his career. He died of a longstanding illness on September 16, 2001 at age 67.