Gary Hooker

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Wikipedia

Gary Hooker
Personal information
Born(1957-02-10)February 10, 1957
Harlem, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 2024 (aged 67)
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High schoolChelsea (New York City, New York)
College
NBA draft1980: 4th round, 89th overall pick
Drafted bySeattle SuperSonics
PositionForward
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Gary Ray Hooker (February 10, 1957 – September 2024) was an American basketball player. He played college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Murray State Racers. Hooker was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Player of the Year during his only season with the Racers in 1980. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1980 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics and played for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Early life

Hooker was born on February 10, 1957,[1] and raised in a low-rent housing project in Harlem, New York.[2] He started playing sports when he was seven and focused on basketball when he was nine.[3] Hooker played basketball on the playgrounds of New York City where he developed an outside shot because he was thin and "it was dangerous" to play close to the rim.[2]

Hooker attended Chelsea High School and played on the basketball team.[4] He averaged 23 points and 20.2 rebounds per game during his senior season.[4] Hooker committed to play college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs because he wanted to "see something different" than his native New York.[2]

College career

With the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Hooker was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) freshman team in 1976.[5] He started for the Bulldogs during his freshman and sophomore seasons under head coach Kermit Davis but was moved to the bench by new coach Ron Greene during his junior season for disciplinary reasons.[3] When Greene left to join the Murray State Racers in 1978, Hooker decided to follow so that he would not have to go through the experience of having another head coach.[6] In a 1980 interview, Hooked stated that he "was flunking out of school almost anyway" and Mississippi State "might have been glad to get rid of me."[6] Hooker left the Bulldogs ranked 13th in scoring with 1,114 career points.[6]

Due to transfer rules, Hooker had to sit out the 1978–79 season which he utilised to improve his academics.[6] He was selected in the ninth round of the 1979 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets.[7] Hooker did not consider passing up his final year of collegiate eligibility because he "like[d] college ball too much to give it up before [he] had to."[6]

Hooker averaged 18.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game during the 1979–80 season.[8] He led the Racers to a 23–8 record and an appearance in the 1980 National Invitation Tournament.[8] Hooker was named as the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Player of the Year.[9]

Professional career

Hooker was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the fourth round of the 1980 NBA draft.[10] On September 22, 1980, Hooker was cut by the SuperSonics.[11] Head coach Lenny Wilkens explained that he wanted to give more playing time to his experienced players and "there was just no way possible" Hooker could have made the team.[11] Hooker thought that he received rough treatment from the SuperSonics and the experience soured him on wanting to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[12] He had no plans after his college graduation other than playing basketball and briefly worked as a gardener.[12]

On December 26, 1980, Hooker joined the Harlem Globetrotters.[8] He played for the Globetrotters until 1984.[13]

Personal life

Hooker was married and had a daughter.[8]

Hooker died in September 2024.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Bailey, Rick (February 8, 1980). "Murray's rookies give Racers edge". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 13. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Gary Hooker will be 23 Sunday (February 10)...
  2. 1 2 3 Davy, Jimmy (January 5, 1976). "'Tired of Concrete'". The Tennessean. p. 21. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Forbis, Barry (February 11, 1979). "Respect for Greene drew Hooker to MSU". The Paducah Sun. p. 37. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "State Nabs New York Ace". Clarion-Ledger. May 2, 1975. p. 65. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Marshall, Phillip (April 2, 1976). "Two Bulldogs are named to All-SEC freshman team". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. 14. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Mike (February 8, 1980). "Murray Fans Pleased With Hooker's Arrival". The Lexington Herald. p. 45. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Abadie, Chuck (June 26, 1979). "Peck, Norris are picked by San Antonio". Hattiesburg American. p. 14. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Phelps, Gene (January 24, 1981). "Gary Hooker". Hattiesburg American. p. 12. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Murray Coach Given Honors". Elizabethton Stars. February 27, 1980. p. 7. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Sonics grab defensive star". The Spokesman-Review. June 11, 1980. p. 18. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "Gary Hooker Cut By NBA SuperSonics". The Mayfield Messenger. September 2, 1980. p. 7. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 Reimer, John (January 5, 1981). "Showtime!". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 6. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Summer league releases deadline". Kentucky New Era. May 31, 1984. p. 18. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Bidwell, Jeff (September 19, 2024). "The Racer Basketball Podcast: Episode 141: '100 days of 100 years of Murray State Basketball' on Gary Hooker". RacerBasketball.com. Retrieved February 3, 2026.