 Don Hennon drives aroundDuquesne University's Bob Slobbodnik during a 71–56 Pitt victory in theSteel Bowl tournament on December 13, 1958 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1937-11-08)November 8, 1937 (age 87) |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Wampum (Wampum, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Pittsburgh (1956–1959) |
| NBA draft | 1959: 6th round, 41st overall pick |
| Selected by theCincinnati Royals | |
| Position | Point guard |
| Number | 10 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
Don Leroy Hennon (born November 8, 1937) is an Americansurgeon and a formerbasketball player for theUniversity of PittsburghPanthers basketball team, where he was a two-time ConsensusAll-American. A 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall guard, Hennon was noted for his prolific scoring ability and is a member of theHelms Athletic Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame.[1]
In high school, Hennon led Wampum High School inWampum, Pennsylvania to an undefeated 31–0 record and a state championship in 1955. His dad, L. Butler Hennon, was his high school coach and was known for leading the state's smallest high school to 12 league titles and three state championships. During his high school days he set aWestern Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League four-year scoring record (1951–55) of 2,376 points that endured until 1993.[2]
Hennon played in college at theUniversity of Pittsburgh from 1956 to 1959, where he led the Panthers to the1957 NCAA basketball tournament and the1958 NCAA basketball tournament. While there he became a First TeamConsensus All-American selection in 1958 and a Second TeamConsensus All-American in 1959, while being named to theUnited Press International and Helms Foundation first teams that season.
Hennon's basketball career was highlighted by a 1957 contest where he scored a school record 45 points (scoring on 20 of 42 field goals and 4 of 5 free throws), leading Pitt to an 87–84 double-overtime victory overDuke University.[1][3]
He finished his career at Pitt, an era without the three point shot and before freshman could play, as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,841 points, and currently remains fifth on the school's all-time scoring list.
The 1958 AP First Team All-American team consisted of Hennon and fourNaismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees:Guy Rodgers Temple,Elgin Baylor Seattle,Wilt Chamberlain Kansas andOscar Robertson Cincinnati.[4]
Hennon was named to the East team, coached byAdolph Rupp, of the 1959 East-West All-Star Contest.[5]
Hennon was picked 41st by theCincinnati Royals in the sixth-round of the1959 NBA draft. He turned down professional basketball in order to study medicine.[6] He earned hisMD in 1963 from theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and went on to become a surgeon. Hennon spent time as a medical surgeon in theArmy and later continued his medical career in thePittsburgh area, where he still resides.
Hennon's number 10 jersey was retired by the University of Pittsburgh in 1968.
Hennon was named to the Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.
Hennon was inducted into the Lawrence County Hall of Fame in 1984.[7][8]