John Best (basketball)
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Neptune, New Jersey, U.S.
- Neptune
(Neptune, New Jersey) - Whitehaven
(Memphis, Tennessee)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 27, 1971 Neptune, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 216 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | Tennessee Tech (1989–1993) |
| NBA draft | 1993: 2nd round, 36th overall pick |
| Drafted by | New Jersey Nets |
| Playing career | 1993–2007 |
| Position | Forward |
| Career history | |
| 1993–1994 | Le Mans |
| 1994 | Westchester Stallions |
| 1995 | Piratas de Quebradillas |
| 1995 | San Miguel Beerman |
| 1995–1996 | Chorale Roanne |
| 1996–1997 | Fribourg Olympic |
| 1997 | Formula Shell |
| 1997–1998 | Angers BC 49 |
| 1998 | Formula Shell |
| 1998–1999 | Fribourg Olympic |
| 1999–2000 | Formula Shell |
| 2000–2003 | Bayer Giants Leverkusen |
| 2003–2004 | Alba Berlin |
| 2004–2007 | Élan Chalon |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
John Herbert Best (born March 27, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player. A forward/center listed at 6-foot-8, he played college basketball at Tennessee Tech for 4 years, and in his senior year he ranked third in NCAA Division I in scoring with an average of 28.5 points per game. He was selected by the New Jersey Nets in the second round of the 1993 NBA draft (36th overall), but he was cut before the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season and started his professional career in France. After playing in Puerto Rico, Switzerland and the Philippines, Best joined German team Bayer Giants Leverkusen where he was the Basketball Bundesliga Top Scorer in 2001 with an average of 22.9 points per game. He then participated in the 2003–04 Euroleague with Alba Berlin and retired after three more seasons in France with Élan Chalon.
Best grew up in Neptune, New Jersey and then moved to Memphis, Tennessee with his family in 1987, before his junior year of high school.[1][2] While being at Neptune High School he had not played in the varsity basketball team; he later had a 6 inches growth spurt and when at Whitehaven High School in Memphis he played two years in the varsity team.[3] In his senior season at Whitehaven he averaged 21.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.[4]
College career
Best signed for Tennessee Tech in April 1989.[5] He wasn't cleared to play until November because his old high school in New Jersey had not given a final certification for a science course taken in the 9th grade: after the school provided the certification, Best became eligible.[4] While at Tennessee Tech he chose to wear number 25 and he played mostly center during his college career.[2] In his freshman season he played 15 games (no starts) and averaged 3.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game, receiving limited playing time; he also won the Golden Eagle Award given by Tennessee Tech every year to players who showed "sacrifice, dedication and hard work": he received the award together with his teammate Mitch Cupples.[6] After the graduation of forward Earl Wise, the 1989–90 top scorer at Tennessee Tech,[7] coach Frank Harrell gave Best a spot in the starting lineup, and he led the team during his sophomore season, recording a team-best 13.9 points per game. In a preseason game on November 23, 1990, against Bethel he recorded a then career-high 32 points.[8] Best went on to average 5.3 rebounds (second on the team behind Jerome Rodgers) and 0.9 steals (second behind Van Usher).[9]
Best's junior season saw him start 27 out of 29 games, averaging 32 minutes per game and record a team-leading 20 points per game. His 7 rebounds per game placed him second behind Charles Edmondson, and he ranked third in steals behind Usher and Edmondson.[10] At the end of the season he was an All-OVC selection,[11] as he ranked third in the entire conference in scoring behind Division I scoring champion Brett Roberts and Popeye Jones.[12] Best was named team capitain for his senior year.[13] On December 12, 1992, in a game against Southern Mississippi he recorded a new career-high of 36 points;[8] on January 9, 1993, against Eastern Kentucky he improved his career best with 38 points, and equalled it on January 30 against Murray State.[8] He recorded his career-high of 42 points playing against Morehead State on February 22, 1993.[8] He led the NCAA in 2-point field goals with 292, led the OVC in total points (799, also an all-time record for Tennessee Tech[8]) and points per game (28.5), which also ranked him 3rd in the entire Division I and 2nd all-time in Tennessee Tech history behind Jimmy Hagan's 1958–59 season (28.8).[14] At the end of the 1992–93 season he was named in the All-OVC team, NABC All-Region and All-District teams, and in the Basketball Weekly All-Region team.[11]
He ranks 4th all-time for points scored at Tennessee Tech with 1,773 in 97 games.[15]
In 2018, he was named an OVC basketball legend.[16]
College statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | Tennessee Tech | 15 | 0 | 6.3 | .429 | .000 | .708 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
| 1990–91 | Tennessee Tech | 25 | 25 | 22.1 | .547 | .111 | .754 | 5.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 13.9 |
| 1991–92 | Tennessee Tech | 29 | 27 | 32.0 | .568 | .188 | .710 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 20.0 |
| 1992–93 | Tennessee Tech | 28 | 28 | 36.0 | .553 | .222 | .749 | 8.4 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 28.5 |
| Career | 97 | 80 | 26.6 | .557 | .186 | .737 | 6.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 21.0 |