Jumping Johnny Wilson
Encyclopedia
John E. Wilson, popularly known as Jumpin' Johnny Wilson (born 1927), was an American basketball and baseball player. He gained his nickname as being the only player on his high school team able to dunk
the basketball.
at Anderson High School, Anderson he captained the Indians basketball team and was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball. In the high school championship game in 1946, he scored 30 of his team's 67 points in its victory over Fort Wayne Central High School, a record.
Wilson wished to attend Indiana University
after he graduated in 1946, but was not recruited due to the Big Ten's unspoken policy of not recruiting African-American players. Instead, Wilson attended Anderson College
, where he quickly became a star player. During his three-year career at Anderson, Wilson earned eleven letters, was selected All-conference three times, team M.V.P. three times, named named an All-American twice, and once finishing third in the nation in scoring. As of 2008, Wilson still held the school record for career scoring average, season scoring average, and field goal attempts in a game.
After leaving Anderson College, Wilson played baseball for one year with the Chicago American Giants
in the Negro leagues
before playing basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters
from 1949 to 1954. Wilson later returned to Anderson University
in 1970 to finish earning his bachelor's degree in education.
Wilson was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Anderson University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was named one of Indiana's 50 best basketball players of all time.
Slam dunk
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
the basketball.
Playing career
As a high school student in Anderson, IndianaAnderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
at Anderson High School, Anderson he captained the Indians basketball team and was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball. In the high school championship game in 1946, he scored 30 of his team's 67 points in its victory over Fort Wayne Central High School, a record.
Wilson wished to attend Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
after he graduated in 1946, but was not recruited due to the Big Ten's unspoken policy of not recruiting African-American players. Instead, Wilson attended Anderson College
Anderson University (Indiana)
Anderson University is an accredited private Christian liberal arts university in Anderson, Indiana. The college is affiliated with the Church of God . Anderson University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and the society. In 2010, U.S...
, where he quickly became a star player. During his three-year career at Anderson, Wilson earned eleven letters, was selected All-conference three times, team M.V.P. three times, named named an All-American twice, and once finishing third in the nation in scoring. As of 2008, Wilson still held the school record for career scoring average, season scoring average, and field goal attempts in a game.
After leaving Anderson College, Wilson played baseball for one year with the Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team, owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball...
in the Negro leagues
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
before playing basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
from 1949 to 1954. Wilson later returned to Anderson University
Anderson University (Indiana)
Anderson University is an accredited private Christian liberal arts university in Anderson, Indiana. The college is affiliated with the Church of God . Anderson University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and the society. In 2010, U.S...
in 1970 to finish earning his bachelor's degree in education.
Coaching career
Wilson spent eight years at head basketball coach at Wood High School in Indianapolis and then sixteen years as head coach and athletic director at Malcom X College, compiling a 378-135 (.737) record. After than, Wilson worked as an assistant coach for Anderson College and Anderson High School. Wilson is currently the assistant basketball coach at Lock Haven University.Legacy
Wilson is the subject of the book "Jump Johnny Jump!" written by Dick Burdette.Wilson was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Anderson University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was named one of Indiana's 50 best basketball players of all time.