R.I.P. Jerome Whitehead

[Tums Festival]

Jerome Whitehead was found dead in his home in San Diego earlier this month. Sad news indeed. He was responsible for one of the greatest moments in MU hoops history, which is sadly largely forgotten about today.

http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/17269079-418/jerome-whitehead-former-nba-player-dead-at-56.html

[KenoshaWarrior]

Wow.  Surprised it took so long for us to find out.

[ATWizJr]

Very sad news.  He provided a singular moment in MU BB history.

[Tugg Speedman]

The article says he drank himself to death.  He was only 56.

Very sad

[MU82]

Made the most important single play in MU hoops history.

A year later, he also was part of one of our most infamous plays ever.

And now he has died a most sad death.

He'll always be remembered in Warrior Land, hopefully fondly.

[Goose]

Thanks for the memories Jerome.

[Blackhat]

RIP Jerome

[ChicosBailBonds]

Been a tough month or so for MU and that '77 team.  Rick and now Jerome.  RIP

[Goose]

I remeber seeing Whitehead up close his first year and could not believe someone could be bigger or muscular than Maurice Lucas and Whitehead was. He really was man and was big part of our success. Game winner against UNCC or not he was a great catch for the Warriors.

[4everwarriors]

This kinda crap is seriously bummin' me out. #54 looked indestructible, like f*ckin' Superman. Al stuck him out with Mulligan at Saddleback CC, then brought him back. His basket vs. UNCC was a storybook ending. Clearly remember him strutin' in front of the Varsity wearin' his full length fur coat. Had a nice, long career in the Association. Don't think he ever married. It's the sh!ts.

[DoggyDaddy]

This is very sad indeed.  Jerome Whitehead was an integral part of the 77 NCAA Champs.  Ironic that his death comes so close to that of Coach Rick.  It was Rick who worked day in and day out turning his raw talent into a darn good center that could complement Bo Eliis after Luke left.  Rick taught him to turn and shoot it rather than dribble it when close to the basket which of course led to that play we remember in the 77 semi-finals against UNC-Charlotte.  Remember he did it over  over future Celtic Cornbread Maxwell.  Poetic.  Sometimes forgotten is his strong post play that deterred penetration.  When Dean Smith went to four corners in the 77 finals UNC could not get good shoots inside due to the triangle wall of Ellis, Whitehead and Toone inside.  It was a beautiful sight to behold for us yet so intimidating to the Tar Heels who approached them without much effect. Yes, an effective MU zone sealed the win and Whitehead was it's cornerstone.  All UNC could do once they missed a longer shot or had one blocked, was to foul.  Butch, Rosie, Boylan and Bo then killed them at the line.  So sweet.  Jerome was the quiet one of the lot but we all knew what he did for that great team.  
Along with Coach Rick, Coach Hank, the Dream, Luke and now Saint Jerome gone to the Big Court, this is yet another hard blow for us older Warriors.        

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

RIP Jerome.  Guy had the broadest shoulders.

[Marqevans]

RIP Jerome.  Guy had the broadest shoulders.

Hope it wasn't Rick's death that triggered it.

[Dawson Rental]

My HS was in the same league as Waukegan HS, and I was in the same class as Jerome.  My junior year our basketball team finished second in the state.  We had our own 7 ft. or there abouts center, Chris Wall, who is now Vice Chairman, North America at Ogilvy & Mather.  I wasn't close to Chris, but word was that Jerome scared the bejebers out of him.

I believe that Jerome's Dad was a minister.

[Sir Lawrence]

I stood next to Jerome outside of Gesu, both waiting for a bus.   Largest dude I've ever encountered, and that includes Kareem, who lived nearby to my parents home while playing for the Bucks. Just a huge presence, on and off the court.

Sad way to die.

[77ncaachamps]

Is Jerome the first player from the 1977 team to pass?

And who's left now that he, Coaches Majerus, Raymonds and McGuire have also departed?

[bilsu]

Is Jerome the first player from the 1977 team to pass?

And who's left now that he, Coaches Majerus, Raymonds and McGuire have also departed?

Is Bernard Toone is still alive?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Is Jerome the first player from the 1977 team to pass?

And who's left now that he, Coaches Majerus, Raymonds and McGuire have also departed?

I'm pretty sure he is the first from the '77 team to pass as a player.  We lost Maurice Lucas from the '74 team earlier, and of course Hank, Al and Rick from '77 team.

[keefe]

I believe that Jerome's Dad was a minister.

That is correct. The organist would sometimes play 'Son of a Preacher Man' after J would score

[Dr. Blackheart]

http://youtu.be/n5u8JuNltiw

RIP
The old Surburban League teams were very good to MU:  Jay, the Black Swan, Doc, Todd T (although it was the CSL by then). A great hoops conference. I remember seeing Jay vs. Corzine in the Supersectional at McGaw in the Battle of Bigs as a youngin. Very traditional outcome with a 39-31 finish for Hersey over Waukegan... the two were to battle over and over again in college and the NBA for years.

Funny thing, Joe Ponsetto was the big player that year at Proviso East.  

[murphmurphy]

Reply to DoggyDaddy:

Dean "The Dream" suffered serious smoke inhalation in a house fire in Nov 2009, but I believe he recovered and is still living in NY.  There is no info on the web about him passing on.

[DoggyDaddy]

I hope you are correct Murph and if so, why not have Dean the Dream back for a home game or at least for a game against St. John's or for the BE tournament in the MSG before he joins Jerome.  We should have him sit right behind Buzz.  We all saw what Al did: there was no smoother or safer a ball handler on earth.   
In 71 MU never lost a game when the Dream was on the floor which was all year until those last few minutes against Ohio State when he fouled out (on a questionable call) for the first time in four years. 
Al once said in praise: "he paved my driveway," moreover he paved MU's road to national recognition.     

[jsglow]

http://youtu.be/n5u8JuNltiw

RIP
The old Surburban League teams were very good to MU:  Jay, the Black Swan, Doc, Todd T (although it was the CSL by then). A great hoops conference. I remember seeing Jay vs. Corzine in the Supersectional at McGaw in the Battle of Bigs as a youngin. Very traditional outcome with a 39-31 finish for Hersey over Waukegan... the two were to battle over and over again in college and the NBA for years.

Funny thing, Joe Ponsetto was the big player that year at Proviso East.  

I could do the research I suppose but it's just easier to ask.  Dr., where did you play HS ball?

[mufvr]

I had the opportunity to know Jerome ("Jay" as his teammates called him) while at MU.  He was a very quiet guy who was not a big socializer but spent a lot of his free time reading.  His dad was a minister and he came from a good background.  He was a hard worker and took school seriously.  In all the years watching MU he was one of the few true centers we have had.  Reflecting back on what happened to him is very saddening and he unfortunately lost his way somewhere.  RIP and god bless your soul.  You will be missed.

[Dawson Rental]

http://youtu.be/n5u8JuNltiw

RIP
The old Surburban League teams were very good to MU:  Jay, the Black Swan, Doc, Todd T (although it was the CSL by then). A great hoops conference. I remember seeing Jay vs. Corzine in the Supersectional at McGaw in the Battle of Bigs as a youngin. Very traditional outcome with a 39-31 finish for Hersey over Waukegan... the two were to battle over and over again in college and the NBA for years.

Funny thing, Joe Ponsetto was the big player that year at Proviso East.  

To fill in the blanks for the younger ones, Joe Ponsetto went on to play for DePaul where he met a women's basketball player (and four sport athlete) named Jean Lenti who is now known as Jean Lenti Ponsetto.

Whitehead, Corzine, and Ponsetto were all drafted by the NBA (in a 10 round draft).  Butch Lee was taken 10th, Corzine 18th, Jerome 41st, Jim Boylan 68th, Ponsetto  176th, and Gary Rosenberger 182nd.