Bo Kimble facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 9, 1966 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| High school | Dobbins Technical (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Pro career | 1990–1998 |
| Coaching career | 2022–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1990–1992 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1992–1993 | New York Knicks |
| 1993–1994 | CRO Lyon |
| 1994–1995 | Rapid City Thrillers |
| 1995 | Hartford Hellcats |
| 1996–1997 | La Crosse Bobcats |
| 1997 | LUCKIPar |
| 1997–1998 | Yakima Sun Kings |
| As coach: | |
| 2022–present | Overbrook HS |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 574 (5.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 162 (1.5 rpg) |
Gregory Kevin "Bo" Kimble (born April 9, 1966) is an American basketball coach and former professional player. He is known for his exciting college basketball career with the Loyola Marymount Lions. In his senior year (1989–90), Kimble was named an All-American and the best player in the West Coast Conference (WCC).
He helped lead the Lions to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament. This happened after his teammate and friend, Hank Gathers, sadly passed away. Kimble was later picked by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft. He played three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Clippers and the New York Knicks.
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High School Basketball
Bo Kimble played high school basketball with his friend Hank Gathers. They played for Dobbins Technical High School in Philadelphia. In 1985, they led their team to win the Public League City championship.
College Basketball Journey
Playing for USC
Both Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers were recruited to play for the University of Southern California (USC). They joined other talented players, forming a strong group of new students. After their first year, the coach and his assistant were let go.
USC hired a new coach, and Kimble and Gathers decided to leave. They transferred together to Loyola Marymount University (LMU).
Exciting Times at Loyola Marymount
After transferring, Kimble and Gathers had to sit out one season, as required by NCAA rules. Then, they became key players for the Lions. Their coach, Paul Westhead, used a very fast-paced style of play.
The Lions would often shoot the ball within 10 seconds of getting it. Many of their shots were three-pointers. Their defense was a full-court press, which meant they tried to pressure opponents all over the court. This made games very exciting and high-scoring.
In 1990, Kimble was the best scorer in the nation, averaging 35.3 points per game. He was also named a second-team All-American. His teams led Division I in scoring for three years in a row:
- 1988: 110.3 points per game
- 1989: 112.5 points per game
- 1990: 122.4 points per game (still a record as of 2019)
Loyola Marymount also holds records for the highest combined scores in Division I history. Four of these games happened when Kimble was playing. One game in 1989 had a record 331 points combined, with LMU winning 181–150.
A Tribute to a Teammate
During the 1990 WCC tournament, Hank Gathers collapsed during a game and sadly passed away due to a heart condition. Because of this, the tournament was stopped. Loyola Marymount was given a spot in the NCAA tournament.
During their tournament run, Bo Kimble honored his friend. Kimble was right-handed, but he shot his first free throw of each game left-handed. This was a tribute to Gathers, who had tried shooting free throws left-handed because he sometimes struggled with them. Kimble made all three of these left-handed free throws during the tournament.
In 2000, LMU retired Bo Kimble's No. 30 jersey and Hank Gathers' No. 44 jersey in a special ceremony. In 2005, the entire 1989–90 team was inducted into Loyola Marymount's Hall of Fame.
Professional Basketball Career
Later in 1990, Bo Kimble was chosen by the Los Angeles Clippers as the 8th pick in the 1990 NBA draft. He played in the same building where he had played with Gathers at USC.
As a rookie, he averaged 6.9 points per game. His NBA career was affected by injuries. In 1992, Kimble was traded to the New York Knicks. He played only nine games for the Knicks before his NBA career ended.
After the NBA, Kimble played for several years in the Continental Basketball Association. He played for teams like the Rapid City Thrillers, La Crosse Bobcats, Hartford Hellcats, and Yakima Sun Kings.
Coaching Career
In 2022, Bo Kimble became the head coach for the boys' basketball team at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. His brother, Jabbar, works as his assistant coach.
Personal Life and Legacy
Bo Kimble also acted in a movie called Heaven is a Playground in 1991. He played a high school student named Matthew Lockhart.
He also helped start the Forty-Four for Life Foundation. This non-profit organization works to reduce deaths caused by heart problems.
On July 17, 1990, Los Angeles County declared it "Bo Kimble Day." This was to celebrate his achievements in basketball and for being a good role model for young people in Los Angeles.
In 2011, Kimble met with a high school basketball team in Michigan. Their star player, Wes Leonard, had passed away after collapsing during a game due to an enlarged heart. This happened almost exactly 21 years after Hank Gathers' death. Kimble shared his experience and supported the team.
