John Barnhill (basketball) facts for kids
Barnhill, c. 1970
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 20, 1938 Sturgis, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | November 11, 2013 (aged 75) |
| High school | Lincoln (Evansville, Indiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tennessee State (1955–1959) |
| NBA Draft | 1959 / Round: 11 / Pick: 77th overall |
| Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1960–1972 |
| Coaching career | 1972–1975 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1960–1962 | Cleveland Pipers |
| 1962–1965 | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1965–1966 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1966–1967 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1967–1968 | San Diego Rockets |
| 1968–1969 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1968–1969 | Scranton Miners |
| 1969–1971 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1971 | Denver Rockets |
| 1971–1972 | Indiana Pacers |
| As coach: | |
| 1972–1975 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA and ABA statistics | |
| Points | 5,085 (8.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,501 (2.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,693 (2.9 apg) |
John Anthony "Rabbit" Barnhill (born March 20, 1938 – died November 11, 2013) was an American professional basketball player. He was known for his skills as a guard and played in both the NBA and the ABA.
Contents
Early Life and College Success
John Barnhill was born in Sturgis, Kentucky, but grew up in Evansville, Indiana. He was a talented basketball player from a young age.
High School Achievements
At Lincoln High School in Evansville, John Barnhill and his teammate Porter Meriwether led their team, the Lions, to an amazing season in 1954–55. They finished the regular season without losing a single game! They also won the city co-championship.
College Basketball Star
After high school, Barnhill went to Tennessee State University. There, he became a college basketball legend.
- He helped his team, the Tennessee State Tigers, win three straight championships in the NAIA tournament from 1957 to 1959.
- The 1957 TSU Tigers team was very special. They were the first all-black team to win a major American basketball tournament.
- By the time he finished college, John Barnhill was the second-highest scorer in Tennessee State University's history, with 1,253 points.
- He was named an NAIA All-American three times (1957, 1958, and 1959).
- During his three years at TSU, the team had an incredible record of 94 wins and only 8 losses.
Professional Basketball Career
John Barnhill played professional basketball for many years, first in the NBA and then in the ABA.
Playing in the NBA
From 1962 to 1969, Barnhill played in the National Basketball Association. He played for several teams, including the St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, and San Diego Rockets. During his NBA career, he scored an average of 8.6 points per game.
Interestingly, John Barnhill was chosen in three different NBA expansion drafts in three years in a row:
- 1966 by the Chicago Bulls
- 1967 by the San Diego Rockets
- 1968 by the Phoenix Suns
Playing in the ABA
After his time in the NBA, Barnhill joined the American Basketball Association, which was a rival league at the time. He mostly played for the Indiana Pacers. With the Pacers, he became an ABA champion in 1970, which was a big achievement!
International Tour
After his first season with the Cleveland Pipers, John Barnhill was chosen to be part of an American All-Star team. This team toured the Soviet Union, playing basketball games and representing the U.S. government.
Life After Playing
After he stopped playing basketball, John Barnhill became a coach.
Assistant Coach for the Lakers
He worked as an assistant coach for the famous Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He assisted head coach Bill Sharman. During the 1974–75 season, he even stepped in as the Lakers' temporary head coach when Bill Sharman's wife was ill.
