Jerry Rook
Encyclopedia
Jerry G. Rook is an American
former basketball player best known for his success at Arkansas State University
.
Rook finished his prep career with 3,103 points. Mississippi State
and Kentucky
were both interested in him, but a decision to stay close to home kept Rook in his home state.
On February 24, 2009, Rook's high school jersey number (#33) was retired at Nettleton. A banner commemorating some of his major achievements was also unveiled and is now a permanent fixture in the gymnasium.
), he instead played for John Rauth's Indians
.
As a true freshman in 1961–62, Rook averaged 19.8 points to lead the team in scoring (a feat he would accomplish for all four years). He averaged 22 points as a sophomore the following season. At the conclusion of that year, however, coach Rauth departed and Rook played the final two seasons under Marvin Speight
. Rook averaged 25 points per game as a junior (1963–64) and then 23 as a senior (1964–65).
During Rook’s career, ASC moved into the Southland Conference
, giving him the opportunity to earn Southland Conference Player of the Year
twice (he was, coincidentally, the recipient of the league's first two awards). ASC advanced to NCAA Division II regional play twice during his career. Rook's highest-scoring game came during his sophomore season when he scored 43 points against Louisiana College
. He scored 35 or more points in 11 other games, including a 39-point outting against Lamar University
during his senior season. Additionally, he put up those numbers more than 20 years before there was a three-point line in college basketball. Rook estimated that one-third or more of his 816 field goals at ASC would have been three-pointers.
Jerry Rook finished his collegiate career as the holder of many Arkansas State University records. Among them, his 2,153 career points, 22.9 points per game average, and 816 field goals made are all still number one.
in the 14th round (1st pick, 97th overall) of the 1965 NBA Draft
, although he never made any final NBA rosters. Rook's professional career lasted one season (1969–70) as a member of the New Orleans Buccaneers
in the relatively new American Basketball Association
(ABA). At the time, a maximum salary a player could hope to earn was $65,000 per year. That money, coupled with the decision that he would rather stay close to home without needing to constantly travel, led Rook to forego any more professional basketball aspirations.
and Pine Bluff
, among others. He led Pine Bluff to two state championships (including an overall title) and coached in the State All-Star Game multiple times. He later coached at Brookland. He is now fully retired.
On February 13, 2009, Rook was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former basketball player best known for his success at Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
.
High school
Rook was born and raised in rural Arkansas. He attended Nettleton High School in Jonesboro. The school system was so small that all elementary, junior high and high school students shared the same three-story school building. As a basketball player for Nettleton, Rook was voted All-Conference and All-District three times (1959–61). He was twice named All-State (1960, 1961) and, his senior season of 1960–61, Scholastic Magazine named him an All-American. Rook was also named the State Tournament MVP that year after his team finished 40–3 and as state champions (he scored 52 points in the state final and 144 points in the state tournament). The previous season, Nettleton had finished as state runners-up.Rook finished his prep career with 3,103 points. Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
and Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
were both interested in him, but a decision to stay close to home kept Rook in his home state.
On February 24, 2009, Rook's high school jersey number (#33) was retired at Nettleton. A banner commemorating some of his major achievements was also unveiled and is now a permanent fixture in the gymnasium.
Arkansas State College
Though Rook would have gained more exposure playing at a higher level Division I school such as Kentucky (then coached by Hall of Famer Adolph RuppAdolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
), he instead played for John Rauth's Indians
Arkansas State Red Wolves
The Arkansas State University Red Wolves is the name given to Arkansas State University's athletic teams. The university is affiliated with the Sun Belt Conference in sports and maintains NCAA Division I status.-History:...
.
As a true freshman in 1961–62, Rook averaged 19.8 points to lead the team in scoring (a feat he would accomplish for all four years). He averaged 22 points as a sophomore the following season. At the conclusion of that year, however, coach Rauth departed and Rook played the final two seasons under Marvin Speight
Marvin Speight
Marvin Speight is a former head basketball coach at Arkansas State University.Born in Hickory Plains, Arkansas, Speight went on to be a standout at Beebe High School and played collegiately at the University of Central Arkansas...
. Rook averaged 25 points per game as a junior (1963–64) and then 23 as a senior (1964–65).
During Rook’s career, ASC moved into the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
, giving him the opportunity to earn Southland Conference Player of the Year
Southland Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Southland Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Southland Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1963–64 season. Four players have won the award two times: Jerry Rook, Larry Jeffries, Andrew Toney and Ryan Stuart...
twice (he was, coincidentally, the recipient of the league's first two awards). ASC advanced to NCAA Division II regional play twice during his career. Rook's highest-scoring game came during his sophomore season when he scored 43 points against Louisiana College
Louisiana College
Louisiana College is a private institution of higher education located in Pineville, Louisiana, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving a student body of approximately 1,300 students. The college operates on a semester system, with two shorter summer terms...
. He scored 35 or more points in 11 other games, including a 39-point outting against Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
during his senior season. Additionally, he put up those numbers more than 20 years before there was a three-point line in college basketball. Rook estimated that one-third or more of his 816 field goals at ASC would have been three-pointers.
Jerry Rook finished his collegiate career as the holder of many Arkansas State University records. Among them, his 2,153 career points, 22.9 points per game average, and 816 field goals made are all still number one.
Professional
He was drafted by the Baltimore BulletsWashington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in the 14th round (1st pick, 97th overall) of the 1965 NBA Draft
1965 NBA Draft
The 1965 NBA Draft was the 19th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 6, 1965, before the 1965–66 season....
, although he never made any final NBA rosters. Rook's professional career lasted one season (1969–70) as a member of the New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
in the relatively new American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
(ABA). At the time, a maximum salary a player could hope to earn was $65,000 per year. That money, coupled with the decision that he would rather stay close to home without needing to constantly travel, led Rook to forego any more professional basketball aspirations.
Later life
Rook returned to Arkansas and launched a successful high school coaching career that included stops at StuttgartStuttgart High School
]]]]Stuttgart High School is a public secondary school for students in grades 9 through 12 located in Stuttgart, Arkansas. The high school is administered by the Stuttgart Public Schools...
and Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff High School
Pine Bluff High School is a public high school in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas, USA. It is the largest public school in the city and county.-Mission:...
, among others. He led Pine Bluff to two state championships (including an overall title) and coached in the State All-Star Game multiple times. He later coached at Brookland. He is now fully retired.
On February 13, 2009, Rook was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.