Jerry Nemer
Encyclopedia
Jerome "Jerry" Nemer was an American
basketball player at the University of Southern California
(USC) who became the first Jew to captain
a major athletic team at the school. Nemer had enrolled at USC in the fall of 1929 to play for the basketball and baseball teams, but Sam Barry
, who coached both sports, felt that the basketball team needed more help, so Nemer quit baseball to focus on basketball.
year, he averaged 7.8 points per game in league play, which was the 10th highest average in the Pacific Coast Conference
(PCC). As a junior
the following year, Nemer averaged 12.0 points per game and was named to the PCC South Division First Team as well as USC's most valuable player
. Nemer had a breakout senior
season in 1932–33. He guided the Trojans to an overall record of 18–5 (10–1 in conference) as they won the PCC South Division title. They lost to Oregon
, the winners of the North Division, in a best-of-three championship series to decide the conference's outright winner. Although he averaged only 9.0 points per game, Nemer was voted as a consensus NCAA All-American
.
(AAU) for the Firestone Non-Skids for several years. He became an AAU basketball referee in 1942, and then in 1948 he formed a law firm with Irwin Buchalter and Murray Fields called Buchalter, Nemer, Fields & Younger. Nemer worked as a lawyer in Los Angeles
for the rest of his life. Nemer died in December 1980, and to commemorate his life, USC created the Jerome Nemer Lecture Series. The series was created to explore Jewish thinkers' contributions to Western life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC) who became the first Jew to captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
a major athletic team at the school. Nemer had enrolled at USC in the fall of 1929 to play for the basketball and baseball teams, but Sam Barry
Sam Barry
Justin McCarthy "Sam" Barry was an American collegiate athletic coach who achieved significant accomplishments in three major sports. He remains one of only three coaches to lead teams to both the Final Four and the College World Series.-Early career:Barry was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota...
, who coached both sports, felt that the basketball team needed more help, so Nemer quit baseball to focus on basketball.
College
Nemer earned three varsity letters while playing with the basketball team from 1930–31 through 1932–33. In 1930–31, his sophomoreSophomore
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...
year, he averaged 7.8 points per game in league play, which was the 10th highest average in the Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
(PCC). 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...
the following year, Nemer averaged 12.0 points per game and was named to the PCC South Division First Team as well as USC's most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. Nemer had a breakout senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
season in 1932–33. He guided the Trojans to an overall record of 18–5 (10–1 in conference) as they won the PCC South Division title. They lost to Oregon
Oregon Ducks men's basketball
Oregon Ducks men’s college basketball is an intercollegiate basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, representing the University of Oregon. The Ducks play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon, then coached by Howard Hobson, won...
, the winners of the North Division, in a best-of-three championship series to decide the conference's outright winner. Although he averaged only 9.0 points per game, Nemer was voted as a consensus NCAA All-American
1933 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1933 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of three major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse and College Humor Magazine.-1933...
.
Later life
After college, Nemer played basketball in the Amateur Athletic UnionAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU) for the Firestone Non-Skids for several years. He became an AAU basketball referee in 1942, and then in 1948 he formed a law firm with Irwin Buchalter and Murray Fields called Buchalter, Nemer, Fields & Younger. Nemer worked as a lawyer in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for the rest of his life. Nemer died in December 1980, and to commemorate his life, USC created the Jerome Nemer Lecture Series. The series was created to explore Jewish thinkers' contributions to Western life.