Herb White facts for kids

Ralph Herbert White (born June 15, 1948) is a former basketball player. He played for the Atlanta Hawks during the 1970–71 season. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 195 pounds. He played as a guard or forward.

Herb White was born in Valdosta, Georgia. He went to Decatur High School in Decatur, Georgia. In his final year of high school, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper named him the best high school player in Georgia.

He then attended the University of Georgia. In his senior year (1969–70), he was a starting forward. He averaged about 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. His team, the Bulldogs, finished that season with 13 wins and 12 losses.

Playing for the Atlanta Hawks

Herb White was chosen by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1970 NBA draft. He was the 133rd player picked overall, in the eighth round. He played in 38 games for the Hawks. He started five of those games.

He mostly played as a backup for another rookie, Pete Maravich. Pete Maravich later became a famous player in the Hall of Fame. Herb White and Pete Maravich were even roommates when the team traveled.

In his only season in the NBA, Herb White averaged 2.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. His best game was on December 29, 1970. He scored 10 points against the Detroit Pistons.

"The Elevator from Decatur"

Herb White was known for his amazing jumping ability. People nicknamed him "The Elevator from Decatur." This was because he could jump so high, like an elevator going up!

Even Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain said that Herb White was the greatest dunker he had ever seen during warmups before games. Once, during a pre-game dunking show, the crowd at Madison Square Garden gave him a standing ovation. This means they stood up and clapped loudly to show their appreciation.

Life After the NBA

In March 1971, Herb White was drafted into the U.S. Army. After his time in the Army, he continued to play and coach professional basketball. He played in countries in Europe and also in Mexico.

In 2013, many people nominated Herb White for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's list. This list was about the 10 greatest dunkers in Georgia high school history. He received the most nominations.

Working in Public Broadcasting

From 1991 to 2009, Herb White worked for Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). He was a Senior Account Representative. In 1993, he and a producer named Tom Vardase started a high school sports program for GPB. They found money to start the first season of Prep Sports +. This show became the longest-running high school sports show in the country.

Later, in 1997, they got the rights to broadcast the Georgia state high school football semifinals and finals. GPB's high school sports programs grew to include championships for boys' and girls' basketball, wrestling, and cheerleading.

Documentary on Black High School Sports

In 2004, Herb White started researching for a documentary film. This film was about the Georgia Interscholastic Association (GIA). The GIA was a basketball league for black high schools in Georgia. This league existed during a time when schools were separated by race. The all-white Georgia High School Association did not allow black teams and athletes to compete in their events.

Herb White remembered playing basketball with black players in summer games when he was a teenager. He felt that these black players were often better than the players he met in the all-white league. He also liked their more free and exciting style of play.

He wanted to make the documentary to honor the athletes, coaches, and teams of the GIA. Their achievements were often ignored by newspapers and other media. One former GIA coach told White, "it was like we were invisible." So, White named his documentary "As If We Were Ghosts."

He worked with two talented independent producers, Nwandi Lawson and Bruce Burkhardt. They worked very hard on the film. Ron Bivins, a former GIA athlete and businessman, also gave money to help the film get made.

The documentary "As If We Were Ghosts" was shown for the first time on June 13, 2022. People really liked it. It was seen as an important step to recognize the achievements of thousands of black citizens in Georgia. Before he retired in 2009, Herb White helped raise over $4 million for high school sports on GPB.

Today, Herb White lives near Lake Chapala in Mexico with his wife, Wanda.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

See also

In Spanish: Herb White para niños