Jerry Harkness

Jerald B. "Jerry" Harkness (born May 7, 1940) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Harkness attended Loyola University Chicago, where he was captain of the team that won the 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. He is a civil rights activist.

Early life and career

Harkness was born in Harlem. Before playing in the professional leagues, the 6'3" Harkness was a star at DeWitt Clinton High School and Loyola University Chicago. At Loyola, he served as captain of the team that upset the University of Cincinnati in overtime to win the 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Harkness and the other four Loyola starters played the entire game, without substitution.

From that same tournament, a 111-42 first-round victory over Tennessee Tech on March 11, 1963 by Harkness and the Ramblers remains the largest margin of victory (69 points) in an NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament game.