Pop Gates
Encyclopedia
William "Pop" Gates was an American professional basketball
player. He was born in Decatur, Alabama
and attended high school in New York, New York. After playing college basketball at Clark Atlanta University
, he continued his basketball career in New York City with the Harlem Renaissance
, for several years beginning in 1938–39. He became one of the early black players in the NBL
in 1946. Later he played for and coached the Harlem Globetrotters
. Gates is one the few athletes who went directly from a high school championship team (Benjamin Franklin, New York, 1938) to a World Professional Champion (Rens
, 1939).
Gates was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1989.
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 was born in Decatur, Alabama
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
and attended high school in New York, New York. After playing college basketball at Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
, he continued his basketball career in New York City with the Harlem Renaissance
New York Renaissance
The New York Renaissance, also known as the Renaissance Big Five and as the Rens, was an all-black professional basketball team established February 13, 1923, by Robert "Bob" Douglas in agreement with the Renaissance Casino and Ballroom...
, for several years beginning in 1938–39. He became one of the early black players in the NBL
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
in 1946. Later he played for and coached the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
. Gates is one the few athletes who went directly from a high school championship team (Benjamin Franklin, New York, 1938) to a World Professional Champion (Rens
New York Renaissance
The New York Renaissance, also known as the Renaissance Big Five and as the Rens, was an all-black professional basketball team established February 13, 1923, by Robert "Bob" Douglas in agreement with the Renaissance Casino and Ballroom...
, 1939).
Gates was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1989.
External links
- "William Henry "Bill" Gates III" at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.