Jerry Rook facts for kids
 |
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 27, 1943 Jonesboro, Arkansas |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | August 25, 2019 (aged 75) Jonesboro, Arkansas |
| High school | Nettleton (Jonesboro, Arkansas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 219 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arkansas State (1961–1965) |
| NBA Draft | 1965 / Round: 14 / Pick: 97th overall |
| Selected by the Baltimore Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1969–1970 |
| Career history | |
| 1969–1970 | New Orleans Buccaneers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Jerry G. Rook (born October 27, 1943 – died August 25, 2019) was an American basketball player. He was famous for his amazing skills at Arkansas State University. He also played one season for the New Orleans Buccaneers in a league called the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Contents
Jerry Rook's High School Basketball Journey
Jerry Rook grew up in rural Arkansas. He went to Nettleton High School in Jonesboro. His school was quite small. All students, from elementary to high school, shared the same building.
Becoming a High School Star
Jerry was a fantastic basketball player for Nettleton. He was chosen for the All-Conference and All-District teams three times, from 1959 to 1961. He was also named All-State twice, in 1960 and 1961.
During his senior year (1960–61), Scholastic Magazine even named him an All-American. That same year, Jerry was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the State Tournament. His team won the state championship with an impressive record of 40 wins and only 3 losses. In the state final game, he scored an incredible 52 points! He scored 144 points in the whole tournament. The year before, his team had finished as state runners-up.
Jerry ended his high school career with a total of 3,103 points. Big colleges like Mississippi State and Kentucky wanted him to play for them. But Jerry decided to stay close to home.
Honoring a Legend
On February 24, 2009, Nettleton High School honored Jerry Rook. They retired his basketball jersey number, which was #33. A special banner showing his achievements was also put up in the gym. It is still there today.
Jerry Rook's College Basketball Success
Jerry Rook chose to play for the Arkansas State Indians. This was a Division I school. He could have gone to a bigger school like Kentucky, which was coached by Hall of Famer Adolph Rupp. But he decided to stay in his home state.
Leading the Team in Scoring
As a freshman in 1961–62, Jerry was the team's top scorer, averaging 19.8 points per game. He continued to be the leading scorer for all four years he played there. In his second year, he averaged 22 points.
After his sophomore year, the coach, John Rauth, left. Jerry played his last two seasons under Coach Marvin Speight. He averaged 25 points per game as a junior (1963–64) and 23 points as a senior (1964–65).
Setting Records and Earning Awards
During Jerry's time, Arkansas State joined the Southland Conference. This gave him the chance to win the Southland Conference Player of the Year award twice. He was actually the first player to ever win this award, and he won it again the next year!
Arkansas State also made it to the NCAA Division II regional playoffs twice while Jerry was there. His highest-scoring game in college was 43 points against Louisiana College during his sophomore year. He scored 35 or more points in 11 other games. One of these was a 39-point game against Lamar University in his senior year.
It's important to remember that Jerry scored all these points before the three-point line existed in college basketball. He thought that about one-third of his 816 field goals would have been three-pointers today.
Jerry Rook finished his college career holding many records at Arkansas State University. He still holds the records for:
- Most career points: 2,153 points
- Highest points per game average: 22.9 points
- Most field goals made: 816
Jerry Rook's Professional Basketball Career
In the 1965 NBA draft, Jerry was picked by the Baltimore Bullets. He was the 97th pick overall in the 14th round. However, he never played for an NBA team.
Playing in the ABA
Jerry's professional basketball career lasted only one season, from 1969 to 1970. He played for the New Orleans Buccaneers in the American Basketball Association (ABA). At that time, the highest salary a player could expect was about $65,000 a year.
Jerry decided not to pursue more professional basketball. He wanted to stay closer to home and avoid constant travel.
Later Life and Coaching Career
After his professional basketball career, Jerry Rook returned to Arkansas. He became a very successful high school basketball coach.
Coaching Achievements
He coached at several schools, including Stuttgart and Pine Bluff. He led Pine Bluff to two state championships, including an overall state title. He also coached in the State All-Star Game many times. Later, he coached at Brookland High School.
Hall of Fame and Legacy
On February 13, 2009, Jerry Rook was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Jerry Rook faced many health problems for several years. He passed away on August 25, 2019. He was surrounded by his family in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
