Tom Hoover (basketball)

Tom Hoover
Personal information
Born (1941-01-23) January 23, 1941
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolArchbishop Carroll
(Washington, D.C.)
CollegeVillanova (1960–1962)
NBA draft1963: 1st round, 6th overall pick
Drafted bySyracuse Nationals
Playing career1962–1970
PositionCenter
Number23, 12, 24, 41, 10
Career history
1962–1963Camden Bullets
1963–1965New York Knicks
1965–1967Wilmington Blue Bombers
1967St. Louis Hawks
1967–1968Denver Rockets
1968Houston Mavericks
1968Minnesota Pipers
1968–1969New York Nets
1969–1970Wilmington Blue Bombers
Career highlights
Career NBA and ABA statistics
Points1,311 (5.9 ppg)
Rebounds1,388 (6.2 rpg)
Assists237 (1.1 apg)
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 

Thomas Lee Hoover Jr. (born January 23, 1941) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) forward/center, Hoover played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1963 to 1967 as a member of the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and St. Louis Hawks. From 1967 to 1969 he played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Denver Rockets, Houston Mavericks, Minnesota Pipers, and New York Nets. He played all or parts of five seasons in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, winning two league championships.

Early life

Hoover was born on January 23, 1941, in Washington, D.C.[1] He attended Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington. Hoover played on the school's basketball team, where his teammates included, among others, future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach John Thompson,[2][3][4] and Edward "Monk" Malloy who would become a Catholic priest and later president of the University of Notre Dame.[5][6]

In March 1958, as a junior, the 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Hoover was a key player in leading Archbishop Carroll to the Eastern States Catholic Invitational Tournament (ESCIT) championship over All Hallows High School of New York. Hoover had 15 points and 15 rebounds in the championship game. He was named the 1958 ESCIT's most outstanding player, and was selected to the first-team all-tournament team.[2][7]

As a senior (1958–59), the 6 ft 8 in 247 lb (112 kg) Hoover was selected as a first-team Parade All American. The Parade magazine article announcing his selection said "he was probably the best high school rebounder in the" United States.[8] Archbishop Carroll won the ESCIT championship again in April 1959, defeating Trenton Catholic High School in the championship game; Hoover's play on both offense and defense in the fourth quarter of that game being critical to Carroll's victory.[9] In the 1959 semifinal win over All Hallows, Hoover had 30 rebounds and 22 points.[10]

In 1959, Hoover led all ESCIT tournament players in rebounding and field goal percentage.[11] He was selected to the first-team ESCIT all-tournament team, and came in second in the voting for the tournament's most outstanding player to teammate George Leftwich (who had been second to Hoover in 1958).[12][11]

The 1959 ESCIT championship game win was Carroll's 33rd consecutive victory over high school opponents (its only losses being to two college freshman teams that season).[10][13] In addition to the ESCIT title, the 1958–59 Carroll team won the Baltimore-Washington Catholic League, Metropolitan Washington League and City championships, and was the winner of the Washington Knights of Columbus tournament.[13] In March 2001, Archbishop Carroll inducted the school's 1958–59 and 1959–60 basketball teams into its Hall of Honor. Hoover was among 25 alumni inducted that year (along with Thompson and Leftwich, among others).[14] As a high school player, Hoover was "one of the first who was said to play the game 'above the rim'".[6]

College career

Over 75 colleges pursued Hoover about playing basketball at their institutions.[8] Hoover chose to attend Villanova University, after being recruited by Villanova head basketball coach Al Severance and Villanova player George Raveling (who would go on to become a top college recruiter, and a college head coach for over 20 years).[15][16] Hoover played on its basketball team. As a sophomore (1960–61), the 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Hoover was the tallest basketball player in school history.[17] That season, he averaged 6.4 point and 9.3 rebounds per game.[18]

Hoover had failing grades in early 1961, and did not finish the 1960–61 Wildcats' season. He ultimately left Villanova in 1961.[19][20][21][22] He is not listed on the school's 1961–62 player roster.[23]

Professional career

Camden Bullets

In 1962–63, Hoover played center for the Camden Bullets of the Eastern Professional Basketball League (Eastern League). George Raveling and Paul Arizin were among his teammates.[24] Hoover played all 28 of the Camden Bullets games that season, averaging 13.4 rebounds and 11.5 points per game.[25] He was called the "finest defensive player in the Eastern League".[26]

NBA and Wilmington Blue Bombers

After becoming eligible for the NBA draft, in late April 1963 Hoover was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the first round of the 1963 NBA draft (seventh overall). Less than a month later, the team was sold and became the Philadelphia 76ers. Hoover had a salary dispute with the 76ers and originally did not report to training camp. He was offered a tryout with the Harlem Globetrotters and did not find their salary offer agreeable. He returned to the 76ers, who released Hoover on October 10, 1963, before the season started.[27][28][29][21][30] Less than 10 days later, he was signed by the New York Knicks.[31]

Hoover was a reserve center on the 1963–64 New York Knicks. He played in 59 games, averaging 16.7 minutes, 4.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.[32] In his first NBA game, Hoover had 16 points and 17 rebounds in 32 minutes,[33] playing against a St. Louis Hawks team that had future Hall of Fame power forward Bob Pettit[34] and future Hall of Fame center Zelmo Beatty.[35][36]

Hoover began the 1964–65 season with the Knicks. He was released on January 1, 1965, and subsequently rejoined the team for a week at the end of January, due to Len Chappell's injury. Hoover played four games at the end of January 1965. He was released again so he could seek a position with another team.[37][38][22] In total, Hoover played in 24 games for the Knicks that season, his last game being on January 31, 1965.[38] He averaged 1.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.[39]

After his initial release by the Knicks, Hoover joined the Eastern League's Wilmington Blue Bombers in early January 1965.[22] He returned to the Blue Bombers again after the Knicks released him a second time.[40] Hoover had a number of options in the Eastern League, but chose Wilmington because of coach Neil Johnston.[22] Overall in 1965, he played in 11 games for the Blue Bombers, averaging 13.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.[41] He played the full 1965–66 season with the Blue Bombers, at center, averaging 10 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The Blue Bombers were Eastern League champions that season.[42]

It is reported that Hoover signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in early February 1966, and that the Lakers assigned him to the Blue Bombers.[43] While Hoover did not play in the 1965–66 NBA regular season, the Lakers brought him onto their team for the playoffs in 1966. Hoover appeared in three playoff games for the Lakers.[44][45] He was inserted at the end Game 2 of the 1966 NBA finals against the Boston Celtics; playing six minutes, with four points and two rebounds.[46] During the game's final minute, Boston coach Red Auerbach substituted Hoover's former high school teammate John Thompson into the game, and the two played against each other at center.[47]

The Lakers released Hoover in October 1966, and he was signed by the St. Louis Hawks in mid-November 1966.[48] He played in 17 games for the Hawks as a backup center; his last game being January 8, 1967.[49] He averaged 7.6 minutes, 1.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.[50] He returned to the Blue Bombers for 13 games at the end of the 1966–67 season, averaging 10.7 points and ten rebounds per game, and helped the Blue Bombers to their second consecutive Eastern League championship.[51]

American Basketball Association

In mid-September 1967, Hoover signed with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association (ABA).[52] Hoover played in 70 games that season (1967–68), averaging 22.7 minutes, 6.5 points and seven rebounds per game.[53] In May 1968, the Houston Mavericks purchased Hoover's contract rights from Denver.[54] He played in only four games for the Mavericks in 1968,[55] before being traded to the Minnesota Pipers for Willie Porter in late November 1968.[56] He played in only nine games for the Pipers[57] before being waived on December 24. He was signed by the New York Nets less than a week later.[58] The Nets had traded starting center Manny Leaks that same week,[59] and Hoover became the team's starting center, averaging 31.4 minutes, 11 points and 10.3 rebounds per game over 40 games with the Nets.[60]

The Nets waived Hoover in mid-September 1969,[61] and he did not play in the ABA or NBA again.[1] He played 15 games for the Blue Bombers in the 1969–70 season, averaging 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.[62][63]

Over his NBA/ABA career, Hoover averaged 5.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.[1]

Reputation as player

Hoover reportedly had an aggressive and menacing style of play on the court, with a powerful physique; while off the court he was gracious and cordial.[40] He had been referred to as a "bad boy" during his career.[64][65][66] Hoover reportedly received the nickname "bad boy" as early as the summer of 1960, playing summer basketball in Philadelphia before his sophomore season at Villanova.[67] He once was reportedly charged with a technical foul during an intrasquad game with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1966.[68] Hoover once described himself as having a "roughneck" reputation, which he wanted to reform later in his career (1967) "'to erase the hatchet-man stigma" he had acquired.[65]

Hoover had developed his reputation early in his career, as a rookie with the Knicks. In a January 1964 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Knicks' Billy McGill and Lakers' Jim Krebs began exchanging punches on the court near the game's end. All of the players from both teams wound up on the court brawling among each other, and the referees had to call in the police to stop the fighting. Hoover had paired off with the Lakers' Don Nelson (a future Hall of Fame coach),[69] and punched Nelson in the mouth, resulting in an injury that required stitches.[70]

In an early March 1964 game in Baltimore, Hoover and Terry Dischinger of the Baltimore Bullets got into a fight, until they were separated by the Bullets' Walt Bellamy.[71] Each was fined $50 by NBA commissioner Walter Kennedy for fighting during a game. A Baltimore fan alleged that as Hoover was leaving the playing floor during that game, he brushed up against Hoover who punched the fan in the face, breaking various bones. In media coverage at the time, Hoover was called the "heir apparent to Jim Luscutoff's National Basketball Association 'Bad Boy' crown".[64][71]

Personal life

Since his basketball career ended, Hoover has worked in a wide variety of fields. With former NFL player Lane Howell, he ran an employment program for teenagers in New York City. Afterward, he turned to the entertainment industry, and worked as a road manager for Richard Pryor, The Spinners and Natalie Cole.[72] He managed singer James "D-Train" Williams.[6] He worked in night clubs, billing himself as "'the world's tallest stand-up comic'".[6] He had a brief career acting in television commercials, then channeled his interest in boxing into a job with the New York State Athletic Commission.[72] He later ran the Adopt-A-School Program in New York City.[73]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA/ABA

Source[1]

Regular season

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG PPG
1963–64 N.Y. Knicks 5916.7.413.6145.6.64.8
1964–65 N.Y. Knicks 246.4.406.5712.4.51.4
1966–67 St. Louis 177.6.419.3852.1.51.8
1967–68 Denver (ABA) 7022.7.451.400.6217.0.96.5
1968–69 Houston (ABA) 420.0.500–.8337.51.38.3
Minnesota (ABA) 99.2.462–.4763.4.73.8
N.Y. Nets (ABA) 4031.4.466.000.67910.32.711.0
Career (NBA) 10012.7.413.5914.3.63.5
Career (ABA) 12324.4.460.333.6417.81.57.8
Career (overall) 22319.2.447.333.6266.21.15.9

Playoffs

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG PPG
1966 L.A. Lakers 42.8.667–.8.31.0
1968 Denver (ABA) 28.0.571–.7142.0.56.5
Career 64.5.600–.7141.2.32.8

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Tom Hoover NBA/ABA stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Carroll Wins ESCIT Title; Drubs All Hallows, 66–45". The News (Newport, Rhode Island). March 31, 1958. pp. Twelve.
  3. ↑ "John Thompson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  4. ↑ "John Thompson". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ "CCHS Takes 3d; Reo, Geiger On All-Stars". The Troy Record (Troy, New York). March 24, 1958. p. 20.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Gildea, William (June 19, 1987). "PRIDE OF LIONS GREAT AS EVER". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Hoover Voted ESCIT's Outstanding Player; DLS's Gibson On Second All-Tourney Team". Daily News (Newport, Rhode Island). pp. Twelve.
  8. 1 2 "Over 75 Colleges Seeking Caroll's 6'8" Tom Hoover". The News (Newport, Rhode Island). April 1, 1959. pp. Fourteen.
  9. ↑ "Trenton Scares Carroll, But Loses ESCIT Final". The News (Newport, Rhode Island). April 6, 1959. pp. Sixteen.
  10. 1 2 "Final Round Tonight In Catholic Tourney". Lewiston Evening Journal (Lewiston-Auburn, Maine). Associated Press. April 4, 1959. p. 9.
  11. 1 2 "Carroll's Leftwich Outstanding Player; Hoover Runnerup". The News (Newport, Rhode Island). April 6, 1959. pp. Sixteen.
  12. ↑ "Sports In The News, Front And Center". The News (Newport, Rhode Island). April 7, 1959. pp. Sixteen.
  13. 1 2 "Defending ESCIT Champion Seeks Fifth Hoop Title". Fall River Herald News (Fall River, Massachusetts). April 1, 1959. pp. Twenty–Four.
  14. ↑ "Archbishop Carroll to honor championship teams of '58 – '60". The Common Denominator (Washington, D.C.). February 26, 2001. p. 13.
  15. ↑ "Ex-St. Mike's Ace George Raveling Top Recruiter for Villanova Squad". The Scrantonian (Scranton, Pennsylvania). March 24, 1968. p. 58.
  16. ↑ "George Raveling Coaching Record". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Villanova, Penn Make Debut on Palestra Bill". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 3, 1960. p. 19.
  18. ↑ "Tom Hoover College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Villanova's Severance Plans to Quit Coaching At The End of This Season". The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania). United Press International. February 9, 1961. p. 32.
  20. ↑ Hampton, Bob (February 18, 1961). "All ACC Teams in Action". Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, North Carolina). p. 10.
  21. 1 2 "76ers Waive Tom Hoover". Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey). United Press International. October 11, 1963. p. 33.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Zabitka, Matt (January 8, 1965). "Addition of Tom Hoover Seen Boost for Bombers". Evening Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). p. 25.
  23. ↑ "1961-62 Villanova Wildcats Men's Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  24. ↑ "1962-63 Camden Bullets Roster". StatsCrew.com.
  25. ↑ "1962–63 Camden Bullets Statistics". StatsCrew.com.
  26. ↑ Schuck, Charlie (November 1, 1963). "Tom Hoover Impressive In Debut With Knicks". Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey). p. 33.
  27. ↑ Becker, Jim (May 1, 1963). "New York Knicks Get 2 All-America Players In Annual NBA Draft". The Daily American (Somerset, Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 7.
  28. ↑ "1963 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  29. ↑ Schuck, Charlie (September 21, 1963). "Is There a Tom Hoover In EBL Bullets' Future?". Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey). p. 14.
  30. ↑ Onondaga Historical Association (May 22, 2015). "Today in History: The NBA Officially Leaves CNY, Syracuse Nationals Move to Philadelphia". Onondaga Historical Association. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  31. ↑ "New York Knicks Sign Tom Hoover". Twin City Sentinel (Winston-Salem, North Carolina). United Press International. October 19, 1963. p. 13.
  32. ↑ "1963-64 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Tom Hoover 1963-64 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Bob Pettit". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Hawks vs Knicks, October 29, 1963". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Zelmo Beaty". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Knicks Waive Tom Hoover". Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey). United Press International. February 3, 1965. p. 39.
  38. 1 2 "Tom Hoover 1964-65 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  39. ↑ "1964-65 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  40. 1 2 Zabitka, Matt (February 19, 1965). "Tom Hoover on boxing". Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). p. 29.
  41. ↑ "1964–65 Wilmington Blue Bombers Statistics". StatsCrew.com.
  42. ↑ "1965-66 Wilmington Blue Bombers Statistics". StatsCrew.com.
  43. ↑ "L. A. Lakers Sign Tom Hoover; Assign Him To Wilmington". The Register (Danville, Virginia). Associated Press. February 3, 1966. pp. 2–D.
  44. ↑ "Lakers Set For Hawks". The Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, Connecticut). United Press International. April 1, 1966. pp. Twenty–Four.
  45. ↑ "Tom Hoover 1965-66 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  46. ↑ "1966 NBA Finals Game 2: Lakers vs Celtics, April 19, 1966". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  47. ↑ Collins, Bud (April 20, 1966). "Triumph Fails To Ignite Red". The Boston Globe. pp. Fifty–One.
  48. ↑ Archibald, John J. (November 13, 1966). "Hawks Call Subs To Oppose Russell". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 1F.
  49. ↑ "Tom Hoover 1966-67 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Tom Hoover 1966-67 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  51. ↑ "1966–67 Wilmington Blue Bombers Statistics". StatsCrew.com.
  52. ↑ "Denver Rockets Sign Tom Hoover of NBA". Los Angeles Times. United Press International. September 16, 1967. pp. 6, Part II.
  53. ↑ "1967-68 Denver Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Mavs Purchase Hoover". The Pensacola Journal (Pensacola, Florida). Associated Press. May 3, 1968. pp. 3D.
  55. ↑ "1968-69 Houston Mavericks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Mavericks Trade". The Atlanta Journal. Associated Press. November 25, 1968. pp. 3–D.
  57. ↑ "1968-69 Minnesota Pipers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Nets Release Wilburn For Tom Hoover". The Indianapolis News. Associated Press. December 30, 1968. p. 31.
  59. ↑ "Seattle Halts 10-Game Skid". Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, Pennsylvania). Associated Press. December 31, 1968. p. 10.
  60. ↑ "1968-69 New York Nets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Nets Waive Player". Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia). Associated Press. September 17, 1969. pp. B–8.
  62. ↑ "1969–70 Wilmington Blue Bombers Statistics". StatsCrew.com.
  63. ↑ "Tom Hoover minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  64. 1 2 "Tom Hoover, Dischinger Fined $50". Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey). United Press International. March 7, 1963. p. 18.
  65. 1 2 Zabitka, Matt (February 13, 1967). "Ex-Bad Boy Tom Hoover Lauds Refs After Victory". Evening Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). p. 25.
  66. ↑ "'Bad Boy' Hoover Paces Wilmington". The Evening Times (Trenton, New Jersey). January 26, 1967. p. 24.
  67. ↑ Shefski, Bill (December 29, 1960). "Hoover on Spot, Needed for 'Cat Sweep". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 48.
  68. ↑ Archibald, John J. (April 1, 1966). "'New' Baylor and L. A. Face Hawks Tonight". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 4B.
  69. ↑ "Don Nelson". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  70. ↑ "Don Nelson Gets Fat Lip As Lakers, Knicks Fight in LA". Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa). Associated Press. January 9, 1964. p. 13.
  71. 1 2 "Terry Dischinger Discusses His Fight". The Terre Haute Tribune (Terre Haute, Indiana). Associated Press. March 5, 1964. p. 31.
  72. 1 2 PAIGE, TONY (March 5, 2026). "NBA old head Tom Hoover recalls days with Wilt, Malcolm X, and Richard Pryor". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  73. ↑ "Where Are They Now?" Tom Hoover Archived 2011-02-27 at the Wayback Machine. nba.com. 2009. Retrieved on September 24, 2009.
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