Creston Whitaker
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Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
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| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||
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| Born | August 12, 1947 Quincy, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 187 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||
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| High school | Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Illinois) | ||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
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Creston B. Whitaker (born August 12, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for two seasons with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college basketball for the Southern Illinois Salukis and North Texas Mean Green. After not playing football since high school, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Rams in 1970.
Whitaker was born in Quincy, Illinois, on August 12, 1947. His family moved to Jacksonville, Illinois when he was 7 years old.[2] At that time his father, Leroy, started Whitaker Sanitation Services.[2] He first started athletics at Turner Junior High School. He then went to Jacksonville High School and excelled at baseball, basketball, football and track.[2] He later focused on basketball, which he was considered best at, because it seemed as his best opportunity at a college scholarship.[2] He was their leading scorer in the 1963–64 season, averaging over 14 points per game.[3] He helped the 1964–65 team reach the state finals, but lost.[2]
An article by The Jacksonville Daily Journal wrote "If one player has to be selected as being the standout of the team it has to be Whitaker of course. The almost-certain all-state selection threw in 70 points in three most recent games, on nights, 17, 25 and 28. Whitaker is an exciting type of player who can destroy an opposing team in a few minutes and do it in every way possible. Whitaker continually draws the raves of fans, players and coaches wherever he plays."[4]
He finished his career as 23rd all-time in Jacksonville High School scoring.[2] Following his senior year in 1965, Whitaker was named all-state in basketball, honorable mention all-state in football, and honorable mention all-state in baseball.[2] He was inducted into the high school's Hall of Fame in 1983.[2]
College career
Southern Illinois
After being encouraged by high school coach Richard "Itchy" Jones, Whitaker accepted a scholarship offer from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1965.[2] He played on their freshman team in his first year, being one of the team's leading scorers until suffering a broken ankle late in the season.[5] The freshmen squad finished with a record of 14–1, only losing by five points to the Bradley freshmen. Even after suffering the injury, Whitaker "still kept his basketball handy and got a bit of shooting now and then despite a cast on his ankle."[5] It was first thought to be a sprain, then a fracture, before it was later found out to be a brake.[5] Whitaker said "They put the ankle in a cast a week later and I'll have to keep it on for another six weeks, but I can still shoot around and dribble, I'm just a little slower."[5]
When asked about playing varsity the next season, Whitaker said, "It's going to be tough to play varsity ball next year, but I have hopes of making it. I don't expect to play a lot at first, but plan to play quite a bit before the year is over. I have a program laid out to work on this summer, about an hour and a half a day on a regular schedule, and hope that this will help my chances. A lot of this year's reserves are going to be back next season, but I hope I can move them out."[5]
Whitaker was part of Southern Illinois' 1966–67 National Invitational Championship team,[6] with Walt Frazier and Dick Garrett, both of whom would go on to play professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[2]
North Texas
After two seasons[7] at Southern Illinois, Whitaker transferred to the University of North Texas. He would letter there from 1967 to 1970.
At North Texas he would earn All-Missouri Valley Conference honors for his high average of field goals. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote "Joe Hamilton and Creston Whitaker continually pester opponents' offenses and puncture them with their shooting."[8] In his senior year, the 1969–70 season, he was able to improve his scoring average to 16.9 through the first 20-season games.[9] He shot at 40% from the field and 71% from the foul line. He rated fourth in rebounds with 109 retrievals. In a 93–81 double-overtime victory against the nationally ranked Drake, Whitaker ended with 25 points to help his team win. Whitaker was inducted into the North Texas athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.[10]
