Harold Jensen
Encyclopedia
Harold Jensen is a retired American
basketball
player. He is best remembered as a key player in Villanova University
's surprise 1985 NCAA championship
victory.
Jensen, a 6'5 swingman
from Trumbull High School
in Trumbull, Connecticut
, played for coach Rollie Massimino
at Villanova
from 1983 to 1987. Jensen played little as a freshman, but as a sophomore was the sixth man
for the Wildcat' 1985 National Championship team
. For the season, Jensen averaged 4.1 points per game, but he came off the bench in the 1985 NCAA title game to shoot a perfect 5-5 from the floor and hit four clutch free throws in the closing minutes as Villanova beat the defending champion Georgetown Hoyas
66-64 in what is considered by many to be one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Jensen was named to the All-tournament team for his performance and would be remembered as one of the surprising heroes of NCAA tournament history.
Jensen built off his surprise sophomore tournament performance to become a starter for his junior and senior seasons. He led the Wildcats in scoring as a senior (15.9 points per game) and netted second team All-Big East honors. Jensen also received national recognition as a two-time first team Academic All-American - the first basketball player in Big East and Villanova history to be so honored. For his career, Harold Jensen scored 1,155 points and dished 231 assists.
After graduating from Villanova, Jensen was drafted in the 1987 NBA Draft
by the Cleveland Cavaliers
(sixth round, 121st pick) but did not play in the NBA. He played one season in the United States Basketball League
(USBL). He then entered a career in business as a marketing executive.
Jensen was elected to the Philadelphia Big 5
basketball hall of fame in 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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. He is best remembered as a key player in Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
's surprise 1985 NCAA championship
1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began...
victory.
Jensen, a 6'5 swingman
Swingman
A Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the small forward and shooting guard positions, and, in essence, swing between the shooting guard and small forward positions." Swingmen males are often between 6'5" and 6'8" .John Havlicek, who played for the Boston Celtics in...
from Trumbull High School
Trumbull High School
-History:Trumbull High School was founded in 1961 following a population increase in Trumbull during the 1950s. The high school was originally situated at 4630 Madison Avenue, in the building currently serving as Madison Middle School. As the 1960s progressed, the town was compelled to commission a...
in Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
, played for coach Rollie Massimino
Rollie Massimino
Roland V. "Rollie" Massimino is an American basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at the Florida campus of Northwood University in West Palm Beach, a position he has held since 2006...
at Villanova
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA...
from 1983 to 1987. Jensen played little as a freshman, but as a sophomore was the sixth man
Sixth man
The sixth man in basketball is a player who is not a starter but comes off the bench much more often than other reserves, often being the first player to be substituted in. The sixth man often plays minutes equal to or exceeding some of the starters and posts similar statistics. He is often a...
for the Wildcat' 1985 National Championship team
1984–85 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1984–85 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University. The Head Coach was Rollie Massimino. The team played its home games at Villanova Field House in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and was a member of the Big East Conference...
. For the season, Jensen averaged 4.1 points per game, but he came off the bench in the 1985 NCAA title game to shoot a perfect 5-5 from the floor and hit four clutch free throws in the closing minutes as Villanova beat the defending champion Georgetown Hoyas
1984–85 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team
The 1984–85 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University. The Head Coach was John Thompson. The team was a member of the Big East Conference.-Roster:-NCAA basketball tournament:*East**Georgetown 68, Lehigh 43...
66-64 in what is considered by many to be one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Jensen was named to the All-tournament team for his performance and would be remembered as one of the surprising heroes of NCAA tournament history.
Jensen built off his surprise sophomore tournament performance to become a starter for his junior and senior seasons. He led the Wildcats in scoring as a senior (15.9 points per game) and netted second team All-Big East honors. Jensen also received national recognition as a two-time first team Academic All-American - the first basketball player in Big East and Villanova history to be so honored. For his career, Harold Jensen scored 1,155 points and dished 231 assists.
After graduating from Villanova, Jensen was drafted in the 1987 NBA Draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
by 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...
(sixth round, 121st pick) but did not play in the NBA. He played one season in the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
(USBL). He then entered a career in business as a marketing executive.
Jensen was elected to the Philadelphia Big 5
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
basketball hall of fame in 1995.
