Pete Perry (basketball)

Pete Perry

Personal information
Born	(1948-03-24) March 24, 1948 (age 76) Utica, Mississippi, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College	Hinds CC (1969–1971) UT Rio Grande Valley (1971–1973)
NBA draft	1973: 2nd round, 34th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Position	Center
Stats at Basketball Reference

John "Pete" Perry (born March 24, 1948) is an American former basketball player. He played college basketball for the Pan American Broncs.

College career

Perry attended high school in Hinds County, Mississippi.^[1] He played his freshman and sophomore seasons of college basketball at Utica Junior College (now Hinds Community College).^[2] Perry transferred to Pan American College (now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) at the end of his sophomore season.^[3]

As a junior, Perry set a school single-season record with 96 total blocks. He also established a school single-game record with 8 blocked shots against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on December 6, 1971, which he later broke with 11 blocks against the Lamar Cardinals on February 21, 1972.^[4]

As a senior, Perry played in 26 games, averaging 20.1 points, 14.9 rebounds (seventh in school history),vfor a single-season total of 388 rebounds (seventh in school history) and a total of 120 blocked shots (school record).^[4]

Perry was a prolific shot blocker while playing for the Broncs and set the program record for most career blocks with 216, which is over double that of the second highest player.^[5] He also ranks eighth in career rebounds with 670.^[5]

Professional career

Perry was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (34th overall) of the 1973 NBA draft. He was also selected by the Virginia Squires in the 1973 ABA draft.^[6] He signed with the Lakers on July 3, 1973,^[7] but did not play for the team.

In September 1974, he signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks.^[8][9] In October, he was released before the start of the season after the re-signing of Tom Riker.^[10] Perry never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Personal life

Perry was one of 14 children born to reverend Reverend Charlie Perry and his wife.^[11] He had a stutter.^[12]

Perry married Jacqui who was a fellow student at Pan American.^[11] Their son, Makeba, played college basketball for the Tulane Green Wave.^[13]

References

1. Brewster, Louis (April 25, 1973). "Lakers Pick Perry Fourth In the Draft". The Monitor. p. 21. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "John "Pete" Perry". The Draft Review. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
3. "Perry Is Drafted By LA". The Brownsville Herald. April 25, 1973. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
4. "The 2022-23 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Men's Basketball Information Guide" (PDF). UTRGV Athletics Communications Office. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
5. "Men's Basketball 2019–20 Information Guide" (PDF). University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
6. "Lakers sign 2nd choice". Pomona Progress Bulletin. July 3, 1973. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
7. "Los Angeles Lakers sign No. 2 draft pick". Arizona Republic. July 3, 1973. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
8. "Hope Now Eternal In Pro Camps". Asbury Park Press. September 13, 1974. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
9. "Sports News Briefs". The New York Times. September 27, 1974. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
10. "Sun Sets on Jerry West". Daily News. October 4, 1974. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
11. "Pete Perry Tickled to Be A Laker". The Monitor. April 29, 1973. p. 17. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Bronc Diary". The Monitor. October 20, 1989. p. 21. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "UTPA Broncs to battle Tulane Green Wave Saturday". The Monitor. December 21, 1990. p. 18. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• College statistics