Elnardo Webster (basketball) facts for kids

Elnardo Julian Webster Sr. (born March 6, 1948 – died March 22, 2022) was an American professional basketball player. He played for one season in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Elnardo also played college basketball for the Saint Peter's Peacocks. He was 6 feet 5 inches tall and played as a small forward.

Elnardo Webster's Early Life

Elnardo Webster was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. This was on March 6, 1948. He went to Lincoln High School in his hometown. After high school, he studied at Wharton County Junior College from 1965 to 1967. Later, he transferred to Saint Peter's College.

College Basketball Career

Elnardo Webster played only two years for the Peacocks. But he scored a lot of points! He finished with 1,338 points and 769 rebounds. His average of 24.8 points per game is the second highest in the school's history. His rebounding average is the best ever for the team.

He was famous for leading the Peacocks' 1967–68 team. This team was called the "Run Baby Run" team. They reached the semifinals of the 1968 National Invitation Tournament. In one game, he scored 51 points against Marshall. Then, he scored 29 points in a big win against Duke. In all 28 games that season, he scored at least ten points. He averaged 24.1 points and 14.6 rebounds per game.

Elnardo Webster was honored for his college career. In 2012, he was added to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Hall of Fame. Four years later, he was also added to Saint Peter's Hall of Fame.

Professional Basketball Career

The New York Knicks picked Elnardo Webster in the 4th round of the 1969 NBA draft. However, he did not make the team. He then went to Italy to play basketball. He played in the Serie A, which is Italy's top league. He played for UG Gorizia during the 1969–70 season.

Elnardo had to take a year off from basketball. This was during the 1970–71 season because he was recovering from an illness. After that, he played in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played for the New York Nets and the Memphis Pros. This was during the 1971–72 season.

He played his first ABA game on January 2, 1972. He scored four points in ten minutes against the Kentucky Colonels. The Nets later released him. Then, the Memphis Pros signed him. He played his last ABA game on March 29, 1972. In his one ABA season, he scored 122 points. He also had 16 assists and 44 rebounds.

In the 1972-73 season, he played for the Garden State Colonials. This team was part of the Eastern Basketball Association. Elnardo also played professional basketball in Spain and Switzerland. His career lasted for seven years.

Life After Basketball

After he stopped playing basketball, Elnardo Webster became an educator. He wanted to help children from inner cities. He earned a special degree in educational leadership in 2000. This was from Seton Hall University.

He worked as an administrator in the Newark public school system. From 2007 to 2009, he was the superintendent for the Roselle school system. In 2010, he joined the city council of West Orange, New Jersey. He also worked as a consultant for the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education.

Elnardo also helped at his old college, Saint Peter's. He managed a learning center there. This center offered afterschool programs. He also served on the university's board of trustees. He was on the board from 2008 to 2017 and again from 2021 until he passed away.

Personal Life and Passing

Elnardo Webster was married to Sandra. They had two children, Elnardo Jr. and Damarko.

Elnardo Webster died on March 22, 2022. He passed away in Morristown, New Jersey. He was 74 years old. He had been dealing with a heart issue before his death.

See also

In Spanish: Elnardo Webster para niños