Henry Wilmore
Encyclopedia
Henry Wilmore is an American
former basketball player who is most known for being an National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) All-America
n in 1972 while playing for the Michigan Wolverines
. He played at the University of Michigan
from 1970–71 through 1972–73, scored 1,654 points and grabbed 573 rebounds. A native of Manhattan
, New York
, Wilmore honed his skills and tenacity by playing streetball
at well-known basketball courts, such as Rucker Park
.
in 1969–70. In his three-year career at Michigan, however, he still managed to etch his name into the school's all-time record books by averaging 25.1 points per game as a sophomore
, 23.9 ppg as a junior
and 21.8 ppg as a senior
. His career scoring average of 23.6 ppg is still third at Michigan. A guard/forward swingman, Wilmore was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference First Team selection and one-time All-Big Ten Second Team honoree. He was twice named an All-American, and was a Consensus Second Team All-American
as a junior in 1972. He scored 40 or more points in a game three times, including a career-high 42 against Ohio State
in 1971. Wilmore led the Wolverines in scoring all three seasons he played for them. The Detroit Pistons
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA) selected him as the 9th pick in the 5th round (78th overall) in the 1973 NBA Draft
, although he never played professionally.
held in Cali
, Colombia
from July 25 to August 8. Despite a 2–1 record in the preliminary round (the loss being a 73–69 setback to Cuba
), they did not advance to the medal round due to a tie-breaker rule of margins of victory. Three of the competition's strongest teams—the United States, Cuba and Brazil
—were controversially all placed in the same preliminary group, with only the top two teams from each group advancing. It was the first time since the Pan American Games started in 1951 that the United States not only failed to advance to the medal round, but also the first time they did not win the gold medal.
Wilmore played in all three games. He shot 11-for-23 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw
line. He scored 24 total points, which was an average of 8.0 points per game. One of Wilmore's teammates was fellow NCAA All-American and future Basketball Hall of Fame
r Bob McAdoo.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former basketball player who is most known for being an National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in 1972 while playing for the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
. He played at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1970–71 through 1972–73, scored 1,654 points and grabbed 573 rebounds. A native of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Wilmore honed his skills and tenacity by playing streetball
Streetball
Streetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
at well-known basketball courts, such as Rucker Park
Rucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
.
College career
Wilmore did not play college basketball as a freshmanFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
in 1969–70. In his three-year career at Michigan, however, he still managed to etch his name into the school's all-time record books by averaging 25.1 points per game as a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
, 23.9 ppg as a junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
and 21.8 ppg as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
. His career scoring average of 23.6 ppg is still third at Michigan. A guard/forward swingman, Wilmore was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference First Team selection and one-time All-Big Ten Second Team honoree. He was twice named an All-American, and was a Consensus Second Team All-American
1972 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1972 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the...
as a junior in 1972. He scored 40 or more points in a game three times, including a career-high 42 against Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
in 1971. Wilmore led the Wolverines in scoring all three seasons he played for them. The Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) selected him as the 9th pick in the 5th round (78th overall) in the 1973 NBA Draft
1973 NBA Draft
The 1973 NBA Draft was the 27th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1973 before the 1973–74 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
, although he never played professionally.
1971 Pan American Games
Wilmore was chosen to represent the United States on the men's basketball team in the 1971 Pan American Games1971 Pan American Games
The 6th Pan American Games were held in Cali, Colombia, from July 30 to August 13, 1971. The then called "Salsa World Capital", located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, hosted a total of 2,935 athletes from 32 countries, who participated in seventeen sports...
held in Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
from July 25 to August 8. Despite a 2–1 record in the preliminary round (the loss being a 73–69 setback to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
), they did not advance to the medal round due to a tie-breaker rule of margins of victory. Three of the competition's strongest teams—the United States, Cuba and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
—were controversially all placed in the same preliminary group, with only the top two teams from each group advancing. It was the first time since the Pan American Games started in 1951 that the United States not only failed to advance to the medal round, but also the first time they did not win the gold medal.
Wilmore played in all three games. He shot 11-for-23 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
line. He scored 24 total points, which was an average of 8.0 points per game. One of Wilmore's teammates was fellow NCAA All-American and future Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
r Bob McAdoo.
See also
- Basketball at the 1971 Pan American GamesBasketball at the 1971 Pan American GamesThe Men's Basketball Tournament at the 1971 Pan American Games was held from July 31 to August 12, 1971 in Cali, Colombia.-Participating nations:-Preliminary round:...
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorThe University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...