Geoff Crompton
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Crompton, often stylized as "Geoff" or "Geff" (July 4, 1955 – January 7, 2002), was an American
professional basketball
player.
A 6'11 Parade
All-American center from Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington, North Carolina
, Crompton attended the University of North Carolina
to play for future Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith
in 1973. Crompton played very sparingly for the Tar Heels, appearing in a total of 9 games from 1973-1977 due to academic and weight issues. He played 27 games as a senior in 1977–78, averaging 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Following his collegiate career, Crompton was drafted in the fourth round of the 1978 NBA Draft
by the Kansas City Kings, and his rights were traded to the Denver Nuggets
prior to the start of the season. The next several years saw Crompton bouncing between the NBA and the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA). The highlight of his career may have been being named CBA Most Valuable Player in 1984 as a member of the Puerto Rico Coquis. The Cleveland Cavaliers
called him up at the end of that season, which would be his last in the NBA.
After his professional career ended, Crompton moved to Tallahassee, Florida
and managed a restaurant. He worked for many years at UNC's summer basketball camps up until his death. Geoff Crompton died on January 7, 2002 of leukemia.
Crompton's first name is generally spelled "Geff" in UNC records, but is often spelled "Geoff" in records of his NBA career.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
A 6'11 Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
All-American center from Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
, Crompton attended the University of North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
to play for future Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
in 1973. Crompton played very sparingly for the Tar Heels, appearing in a total of 9 games from 1973-1977 due to academic and weight issues. He played 27 games as a senior in 1977–78, averaging 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Following his collegiate career, Crompton was drafted in the fourth round of the 1978 NBA Draft
1978 NBA Draft
The 1978 NBA Draft was the 32nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 9, 1978, before the 1978–79 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Kansas City Kings, and his rights were traded to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
prior to the start of the season. The next several years saw Crompton bouncing between the NBA and the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA). The highlight of his career may have been being named CBA Most Valuable Player in 1984 as a member of the Puerto Rico Coquis. The Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
called him up at the end of that season, which would be his last in the NBA.
After his professional career ended, Crompton moved to Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
and managed a restaurant. He worked for many years at UNC's summer basketball camps up until his death. Geoff Crompton died on January 7, 2002 of leukemia.
Crompton's first name is generally spelled "Geff" in UNC records, but is often spelled "Geoff" in records of his NBA career.