Jack Foley (basketball)
Encyclopedia
John E. "Jack" Foley is a retired American
professional basketball formerly of the Boston Celtics
and New York Knicks
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). He was selected in the second round as the 18th pick in the 1962 NBA Draft
by the Celtics and spent one season playing in the league. Foley was given the nickname "The Shot" because of his explosive offensive ability.
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts
, Foley attended Assumption High School
, where he graduated in 1958. He decided to stay close to home when playing college basketball and enrolled at The College of the Holy Cross. Since college freshmen were ineligible to participate on varsity teams, Foley's college career did not officially begin until 1959–60. In his three seasons as a Crusader, he scored so many points that his nickname, "The Shot", was what he was commonly referred to. In his sophomore
season, Foley averaged 24.6 points per game (ppg), followed by 26.9 ppg and 33.3 ppg during his junior
and senior
seasons, respectively. In his senior year of 1961–62, he finished second in the nation in scoring behind Utah
's Bill McGill
(38.8 ppg). That season, Foley garnered consensus Second Team All-American
honors. In addition to his high season scoring averages, Foley also put up big single game numbers. He is the record holder of the two highest scoring games in school history—56 points against Connecticut
in 1962 and 55 against Colgate
in 1960—as well as having scored 40 or more points five times in his career. Foley became the first player in school history to score 2,000 career points, and his 2,185 points was the most in school history until the early 1980s.
Foley's professional career was not spectacular, especially compared to his college career. He played in five total games for the Celtics in , averaging 6.4 points, before being sold to the New York Knicks
on January 22, 1963. He then played in six games for the Knicks and averaged 3.5 points. For his career, Foley scored 53 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and recorded 5 assists.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball formerly of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
and New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in 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). He was selected in the second round as the 18th pick in the 1962 NBA Draft
1962 NBA Draft
The 1962 NBA Draft was the 16th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 26, 1962 before to the 1962–63 season. In this draft, nine NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college...
by the Celtics and spent one season playing in the league. Foley was given the nickname "The Shot" because of his explosive offensive ability.
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, Foley attended Assumption High School
Assumption Preparatory School
Assumption Preparatory School was an American secondary boarding school located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and operated by the Catholic order Augustinians of the Assumption...
, where he graduated in 1958. He decided to stay close to home when playing college basketball and enrolled at The College of the Holy Cross. Since college freshmen were ineligible to participate on varsity teams, Foley's college career did not officially begin until 1959–60. In his three seasons as a Crusader, he scored so many points that his nickname, "The Shot", was what he was commonly referred to. In his 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...
season, Foley averaged 24.6 points per game (ppg), followed by 26.9 ppg and 33.3 ppg during his 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 senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
seasons, respectively. In his senior year of 1961–62, he finished second in the nation in scoring behind Utah
Utah Utes men's basketball
The University of Utah Utes have consistently been one of the most successful basketball programs in the NCAA. They are currently an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Pacific-12 Conference. The school has made the NCAA Tournament 26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 3rd behind...
's Bill McGill
Bill McGill
Bill "The Hill" McGill is a retired American basketball player.-NCAA achievement:A 6'9" center/forward from the University of Utah, he was the NCAA scoring leader in the 1961-1962 season with 1,009 points in 26 games , a higher one-season average than any previous player except Frank Selvy in the...
(38.8 ppg). That season, Foley garnered consensus Second Team All-American
1962 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1962 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of six 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, the...
honors. In addition to his high season scoring averages, Foley also put up big single game numbers. He is the record holder of the two highest scoring games in school history—56 points against Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
in 1962 and 55 against Colgate
Colgate Raiders men's basketball
The Colgate Raiders men's basketball team represents Colgate University in Hamilton, New York in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Patriot League and play their home games in Cotterell Court.-NCAA Tournament Results:...
in 1960—as well as having scored 40 or more points five times in his career. Foley became the first player in school history to score 2,000 career points, and his 2,185 points was the most in school history until the early 1980s.
Foley's professional career was not spectacular, especially compared to his college career. He played in five total games for the Celtics in , averaging 6.4 points, before being sold to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on January 22, 1963. He then played in six games for the Knicks and averaged 3.5 points. For his career, Foley scored 53 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and recorded 5 assists.