George Wilson (basketball, born 1942) facts for kids
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Wilson rebounds in the 1962 NCAA championship game
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | May 9, 1942 Meridian, Mississippi |
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| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||
| Died | July 29, 2023 (aged 81) | |||||||||||||
| High school | John Marshall (Chicago, Illinois) | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Cincinnati (1961–1964) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1964 / Pick: territorial pick | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Cincinnati Royals | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1964–1971 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1964–1966 | Cincinnati Royals | |||||||||||||
| 1966–1967 | Chicago Bulls | |||||||||||||
| 1967–1968 | Seattle SuperSonics | |||||||||||||
| 1968–1969 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||
| 1969–1970 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||
| 1970–1971 | Buffalo Braves | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 2,216 (5.4 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 2,144 (5.2 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Assists | 307 (0.7 apg) | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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George Wilson (May 9, 1942 – July 29, 2023) was an American professional basketball player. He was a talented center known for his strong play in college and the NBA. He also won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Contents
Early Life and High School Success
George Wilson grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He was a tall and strong player, standing 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg). He became a star at Marshall High School.
Wilson led his high school team, the Commandos, to the Chicago Public League championships four times in a row. They won the Illinois state championships in 1958 and 1960.
In his senior year, he was named a high school All-American. He scored an average of 25 to 27 points per game for three seasons. In 1960, he was the first person to win the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year award. Wilson was also named All-State for three years.
College Basketball Journey
Many colleges wanted George Wilson to play for them. He chose the University of Cincinnati because he admired their star player, Oscar Robertson.
First Year at Cincinnati
In his second year of college (1961–62), Wilson joined the main team. He became a starter in the 14th game of the season. He averaged 9.2 points per game. His team, the Bearcats, won the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and had an amazing record of 29 wins and 2 losses. They won the NCAA championship game against Ohio State with a score of 71–59. This was Cincinnati's second national title in a row!
Leading the Bearcats
As a junior in 1962–63, Wilson became a key player for the Bearcats. He led the team in:
- Rebounds (11.2 per game)
- Field goal percentage (.505)
- Blocked shots (1.4 per game)
He also scored 15.0 points per game. He was named All-MVC and a second-team All-American. The Bearcats had another great season, winning 26 games and losing only 2. They won the MVC again and reached the NCAA championship game for the third year in a row. However, they lost a close game to Loyola University Chicago in overtime, 60–58.
Senior Season Highlights
In his senior year (1963–64), Wilson was a team co-captain. He continued to lead the Bearcats in:
- Rebounding (12.5 per game)
- Field goal percentage (.535)
- Blocked shots (1.7 per game)
He even set a new Bearcats record with eight blocked shots in one game against Dayton. He scored 16.1 points per game and was again named All-MVC. The Bearcats finished the season with 17 wins and 9 losses.
Olympic Gold Medalist
After his college career, George Wilson joined the U.S. Olympic basketball team. This team was amazing! They won every single game and earned the gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Professional Basketball Career
In 1964, the Cincinnati Royals picked George Wilson in the 1964 NBA draft. He played for seven seasons in the NBA.
He played for several teams, including:
- The Cincinnati Royals
- The Chicago Bulls
- The Seattle SuperSonics
- The Phoenix Suns
- The Philadelphia 76ers
- The Buffalo Braves
During his NBA career, he averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Life After Basketball
George Wilson graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1964 with a degree in education. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
In 2006, Wilson was honored as one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament. This group celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Illinois high school boys basketball tournament. In 2010, he was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.
After his basketball career, Wilson worked as a director for the YMCA. He lived in Fairfield, Ohio. He enjoyed competing in the Senior Olympics, playing golf, basketball, and horseshoes.
George Wilson passed away on July 29, 2023, at the age of 81.
See also
In Spanish: George Wilson para niños
