Jack Givens facts for kids
Givens in 2010
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 21, 1956 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| High school | Bryan Station (Lexington, Kentucky) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kentucky (1974–1978) |
| NBA Draft | 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1978–1983 |
| Career history | |
| 1978–1980 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1982–1983 | Akita Isuzu Motors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 1,040 (6.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 456 (2.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 142 (0.9 apg) |
Jack "Goose" Givens, born on September 21, 1956, is a famous American former professional basketball player. He was known for his amazing skills on the court. Jack played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was even named an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players.
In 1978, he led his team to win the 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four tournament. This was largely because he scored an incredible 41 points in the championship game. Kentucky won 94–88 against Duke. Jack was a forward who stood 6 feet 5 inches tall. After college, he played professionally for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played basketball in Japan.
Contents
Jack's College Basketball Journey
High School Achievements
Jack Givens was a star player in high school. He went to Bryan Station High School in Lexington, Kentucky. In his senior year, 1974, he earned two big honors. He was named Kentucky Mr. Basketball and a Parade All-American. These awards show he was one of the best high school players in the country.
Playing for the Kentucky Wildcats
Jack joined the University of Kentucky and played for the Wildcats. In his first year, 1975, his team almost won the national championship. They made it to the Final Four but lost to UCLA.
In 1978, Jack and the Wildcats returned to the Final Four. This time, they were determined to win. Jack led Kentucky to a big win over Arkansas in the semifinal game. Then, in the championship game against Duke, he had an amazing performance. He scored 41 points and made 18 out of 27 shots. This helped Kentucky win their fifth NCAA Championship in men's basketball.
College Career Highlights
Jack played varsity basketball for four years, from 1974 to 1978. During this time, he scored 2,038 points in 123 games. This means he averaged about 16.6 points per game. He is still the third-highest scorer in the school's history.
He was chosen for the first team all-Southeastern Conference three times. This was from 1976 to 1978. In 1978, he was also named a second-team All-American. To honor his achievements, Kentucky retired his #21 jersey. A special banner with his name hangs in Rupp Arena, where the Wildcats play their home games.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing in the NBA
After his successful college career, Jack Givens was chosen in the 1978 NBA draft. The Atlanta Hawks picked him as the 16th overall player. He played for the Hawks for two seasons. During his time with the team, he averaged 6.7 points per game.
Playing Overseas
Jack also played basketball in other countries. He played for the Akita Isuzu Motors basketball team in Japan. This was during the 1982–83 season. He still visits Japan often with his family to see the friends he made there.
Life After Playing Basketball
Working in Broadcasting
After he stopped playing basketball, Jack Givens became a television announcer. He worked as a color analyst for NBA games. He worked for networks like TBS. He also worked for the Orlando Magic team. He was their announcer from when the team started in 1989 until 2004.
Helping Young Players
Today, Jack Givens is the CEO and President of Orlando Comets. This is a basketball organization that helps young players. Over 60 players from his program have earned full scholarships to play college basketball. In 2006, the Orlando Comets won the national AAU Championship. This was for the 16 and under age group.
Jack is married to Linda, and they have two children, Jeremy and Jaimie.
