Jumping Johnny Wilson facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1927 |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | January 11, 2019 (aged 91–92) |
| High school | Anderson High School |
| Career information | |
| College | Anderson University |
| Career history | |
| 1949-1954 | Harlem Globetrotters |
John E. Wilson (1927 – 2019) was a famous American athlete. People knew him as Jumpin' Johnny Wilson. He got this cool nickname because he was the only player on his high school team who could dunk the basketball! He played both basketball and baseball.
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High School Basketball Star
Johnny Wilson grew up in Anderson, Indiana. He went to Anderson High School. He was the captain of the school's basketball team, called the Indians. Johnny was so good that he was named "Mr. Basketball" for Indiana. This is a big award for the best high school player. In the 1946 state championship game, he scored 30 points. His team won the game with 67 points. This was a record for points scored in that game.
College and Professional Sports
After high school, Johnny wanted to go to Indiana University. However, he was not asked to join their team. Instead, Wilson went to Anderson University. He quickly became a star player there.
During his three years at Anderson, Johnny earned many awards. He was chosen as an All-American player twice. He was also named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times. He even finished third in the nation for scoring one year. As of 2008, Johnny still held school records. These records included the best career scoring average and best season scoring average.
After college, Wilson played baseball for a year. He played for the Chicago American Giants. This team was part of the Negro leagues. Then, from 1949 to 1954, he played basketball. He joined the famous Harlem Globetrotters team. Later, in 1970, Wilson went back to Anderson University. He finished his college degree in education.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Johnny Wilson became a basketball coach. He coached for eight years at Wood High School in Indianapolis. Then, he spent sixteen years at Malcolm X College. There, he was the head coach and athletic director. His teams won 378 games and lost only 135. This is a very good winning record!
Later, Wilson worked as an assistant coach. He helped out at Anderson College and Anderson High School. He was also an assistant basketball coach at Lock Haven University. He coached there with his son, John E. Wilson Jr. Johnny Wilson Sr. later moved to Virginia. He passed away on January 11, 2019.
Johnny's Legacy
Johnny Wilson's life story was so inspiring that a book was written about him. The book is called "Jump Johnny Jump!" and was written by Dick Burdette.
Wilson was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. He also joined the Anderson University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was even named one of Indiana's 50 best basketball players of all time.
