John Rinka (born October 4, 1948) is an American former college basketball player best known for his high-scoring offensive ability and accurate jump shot while at Kenyon College from 1966 to 1970.[1] A 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) shooting guard, Rinka is in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) top ten in all-time scoring despite playing before the advent of the three–point line and the shot clock.[2][3] He once scored 69 points in a game, which is tied for the 21st-highest single game output in NCAA history;[3] his 41.0 points per game average in 1969–70 as well as his 3,251 career points are also the eighth-highest average and total, respectively.[3]
Rinka, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native,[1] did not get serious consideration from any Division I colleges coming out of Shorewood High School[4] due to his size.[4]Kenyon College, a Division III school in Ohio, was his only viable option. From 1966 to 1970, Rinka played for Kenyon in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and set nearly every school and conference scoring record.[1] He was a four-time first-team OAC selection, three-time conference player of the year, a three-time All-American and one-time Academic All-American, and he led the nation in free throw percentage (234-of-263; 89%) in 1969–70.[1][2][3] As a senior, he was the first non-Division I recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, which was given to the top men's college basketball player under 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) tall.[1]
Rinka would forgo any further aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player and opted to become a teacher and to coach basketball instead.[2] He served as an assistant coach and assistant athletic director at Brandeis University and moved from school to school, before landing in Wilmington, North Carolina, to teach at John T. Hoggard High School.[1][2] Over his teaching career, he garnered three Teacher of the Year awards in three different school districts. He was the initial coordinator and teacher of the AVID program at John T. Hoggard High School that helped 97 percent of the program's first generation students receive admission into college.
On May 20, 2006, Rinka was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class. Among a larger group, he was inducted with players Oscar Robertson (his boyhood idol),[1]John Havlicek, Clark Kellogg, Jerry Lucas and Bob Knight.[1] In 2016, Rinka was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane letters from Kenyon College for his work in education. In 2017, Rinka was a member of the inaugural class of the Small College Hall of Fame, along with Phil Jackson, Lucious Jackson, Dick Barnett and Travis Grant.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgh. Kenyon Athletics Hall of Fame. Kenyon College. 19 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
^ abcdefScott, Sam (1 June 2006). "Scoring machine: Rinka didn't let small stature stop him from putting up big numbers". Star News Online. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
^ abAssociated Press (13 February 1967). "Rinka Riding High: Former Shorewood Star Standout at Kenyon" (Archived story). The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
^. BasketballReference.com. 2010. Archived from the original on 21 April 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
"SMALL IS A WAY OF LIFE," by Curry Kirkpatrick, Sports Illustrated, Dec. 2, 1968
"Scoring machine: Rinka didn’t let small stature stop him from putting up big numbers,” by Sam Scott, Wilmington (NC) Star-News, June 1, 2006
January 01, 1970
john, rinka, born, october, 1948, american, former, college, basketball, player, best, known, high, scoring, offensive, ability, accurate, jump, shot, while, kenyon, college, from, 1966, 1970, shooting, guard, rinka, national, collegiate, athletic, association. John Rinka born October 4 1948 is an American former college basketball player best known for his high scoring offensive ability and accurate jump shot while at Kenyon College from 1966 to 1970 1 A 5 ft 9 in 1 75 m shooting guard Rinka is in the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA top ten in all time scoring despite playing before the advent of the three point line and the shot clock 2 3 He once scored 69 points in a game which is tied for the 21st highest single game output in NCAA history 3 his 41 0 points per game average in 1969 70 as well as his 3 251 career points are also the eighth highest average and total respectively 3 John RinkaRinka from the 1970 ReveillePersonal informationBorn 1948 10 04 October 4 1948 age 75 NationalityAmericanListed height5 ft 9 in 1 75 m Career informationHigh schoolShorewood Shorewood Wisconsin CollegeKenyon 1966 1970 NBA draft1970 7th round 118th overall pickSelected by the Milwaukee BucksPositionShooting guardCareer highlights and awardsFrances Pomeroy Naismith Award 1970 3 NCAA Small College All American 1968 1970 3 OAC Player of the Year 1968 1970 4 First team All OAC 1967 1970 No 24 retired by Kenyon Lords Contents 1 Kenyon College 2 Later life 3 References 4 External linksKenyon College editRinka a Milwaukee Wisconsin native 1 did not get serious consideration from any Division I colleges coming out of Shorewood High School 4 due to his size 4 Kenyon College a Division III school in Ohio was his only viable option From 1966 to 1970 Rinka played for Kenyon in the Ohio Athletic Conference OAC and set nearly every school and conference scoring record 1 He was a four time first team OAC selection three time conference player of the year a three time All American and one time Academic All American and he led the nation in free throw percentage 234 of 263 89 in 1969 70 1 2 3 As a senior he was the first non Division I recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award which was given to the top men s college basketball player under 6 ft 0 in 1 83 m tall 1 Later life editHe was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association NBA in 1970 in the seventh round 5 but because he was leery of playing at home and because the American Basketball Association ABA utilized a three point line Rinka tried out for the ABA s Utah Stars instead 2 He was the Stars final cut and the Bucks won the NBA Finals in what would have been Rinka s rookie season 2 Rinka would forgo any further aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player and opted to become a teacher and to coach basketball instead 2 He served as an assistant coach and assistant athletic director at Brandeis University and moved from school to school before landing in Wilmington North Carolina to teach at John T Hoggard High School 1 2 Over his teaching career he garnered three Teacher of the Year awards in three different school districts He was the initial coordinator and teacher of the AVID program at John T Hoggard High School that helped 97 percent of the program s first generation students receive admission into college On May 20 2006 Rinka was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class Among a larger group he was inducted with players Oscar Robertson his boyhood idol 1 John Havlicek Clark Kellogg Jerry Lucas and Bob Knight 1 In 2016 Rinka was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane letters from Kenyon College for his work in education In 2017 Rinka was a member of the inaugural class of the Small College Hall of Fame along with Phil Jackson Lucious Jackson Dick Barnett and Travis Grant 6 References edit a b c d e f g h Hall of Fame Hoopster John Rinka Kenyon Athletics Hall of Fame Kenyon College 19 May 2006 Archived from the original on 2 September 2006 Retrieved 16 May 2010 a b c d e f Scott Sam 1 June 2006 Scoring machine Rinka didn t let small stature stop him from putting up big numbers Star News Online Retrieved 16 May 2010 a b c d 2009 10 NCAA Men s Basketball Media Guide PDF Men s Basketball History and Records National Collegiate Athletic Association 2009 Retrieved 16 May 2010 a b Associated Press 13 February 1967 Rinka Riding High Former Shorewood Star Standout at Kenyon Archived story The Milwaukee Journal Retrieved 16 May 2010 1970 NBA Draft BasketballReference com 2010 Archived from the original on 21 April 2010 Retrieved 16 May 2010 Hall of Fame External links edit SMALL IS A WAY OF LIFE by Curry Kirkpatrick Sports Illustrated Dec 2 1968 Scoring machine Rinka didn t let small stature stop him from putting up big numbers by Sam Scott Wilmington NC Star News June 1 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Rinka amp oldid 1129126598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
