John Townsend (basketball)

John Frederick "Jake" Townsend, Sr. (died December 4, 2001"John Townsend Sr. had been attorney, former professional basketball player". "The Indianapolis Star". December 6, 2001. C10.] ) was an American basketball forward and center. He was an All-Big Ten player for the University of Michigan from 1936-1938. In 1938, he was named an All-American. He later played professional basketball for the Indianapolis Kautskys, Oshkosh All-Stars and Rochester Royals.

High school basketball in Indiana

A native of Indiana, Townsend played for Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. He led Arsenal Tech to the state finals in 1934, losing to Logansport. He was All-State in basketball in Indiana twice and won the Dyer Medal, Indianapolis’ top athletic award.

University of Michigan

He played collegiately for the University of Michigan from 1936 to 1938. Townsend was named to the All-Big Ten team and led Michigan in scoring each year from 1936-1938.cite news|author=Snider, Steve|title=Purdue's All-Star Big Ten Five Picked By United Press:Young Townsend, Anderson, Andres and Rolek Choices As Result of Fine Year's Play|publisher=The Oshkosh Northwestern|date=1938-03-08] Considered the greatest Michigan basketball player in the era before Cazzie Russell, Townsend was six feet, four inches tall.

Known as the “Houdini of the Hardwood,” Townsend scored 108 points in 1936 and was the only sophomore selected for the All-Big Ten team. The Associated Press chose Townsend as the All-Big Ten center in 1936 even though he played regularly at forward throughout the season. [cite news|author=Weekes, William|title=All-Conference Basketball Squad Chosen|publisher=The Oshkosh Northwestern|date-1936-03-09]

In 1937, Townsend was named to the All-Big Ten year for the second consecutive year and finished second in scoring in the Big Ten. [cite news|title=Young Tops In Scoring: Townsend and McMichael Tied for Second Place|publisher=The Evening Independent (Masillon, Ohio)|date=1937-03-08] He had 40 field goals, made 43 out of 59 free throws, and had 123 points. Described by the AP as "the great Wolverine ball-handler," Townsend was again named as a center.cite news|author=Hilligan, Earl|title=Big Ten Cage Stars Named: Coaches Make Selections for Associated Press Conference Team|publisher=Ironwood Daily Globe|date=1937-03-08] He was "generally credited with being the best ball handler in the Big Ten." [cite news|author=McCormick, Henry|title=No Foolin' Now|publisher=Wisconsin State Journal|date=1938-01-13]

In 12 games in 1938, Townsend had 45 field goals, converted 45 of 64 free throws, and finished fourth in the conference with 135 points. [cite news|title=Scoring Leaders|publisher=The Oshkosh Northwestern|date=1938-03-08] He was named an All-Big Ten player by both the United Press and the Associated Press for the third straight year. The United Press noted that Townsend was a unanimous choice for the second consecutive year. Though Purdue's Jewell Young was the Big Ten scoring leader in 1938, Townsend excelled as a scorer, rebounder, and ball-handler. The United Press said: "It was Townsend's third year on the all-star team. He won his first recognition as a center, twice more as a forward. Players, especially, conceded Townsend was the greatest all-around man in the conference." The Associated Press said: "John (Jake) Townsend of Michigan won the center assignment by a big margin and in 'making' the team for the third consecutiveyear, accomplished a rare feat in Big Ten basketball. Rated as the greatest player in Michigan hardwood history, Townsend received first place votes, either at forward or center, from nine coaches. The other one picked him for the second five." [cite news|author=Weekes, William|title=Young, Townsend, Andres and Rolek Others Selected|publisher=The Oshkosh Northwestern|date=1938-03-09]

In 1938, he became the fourth consensus All-American in school history. Townsend also competed for Michigan in the shot put and discus. He was ranked fifth in the country in the discus. He earned five varsity letters at Michigan – three in basketball and two in track.

Professional ball

Immediately after graduating, Townsend played baseball in 1938 in the Bush-Feezle State League for the Indianapolis team. The Kokomo Tribune noted in late August: "The Indianapolis aggregation is led by Johnny Townsend, former Technical high basketball star and an All-American cage player at The University of Michigan. Latest statistics . . . show Townsend, a center fielder, is the loop's leading slugger. Townsend showed his prowess with the war club Wednesday when he tripled with the bags loaded to defeat the Muncie Acme-Lees team, 6-4." [cite news|author=Noble, Deke|title=Indianapolis Club Paced By Famed John Townsend|publisher=The Kokomo Tribune|date=1938-08-26]

In October 1938, Ed Ciesar, owner of the Hammond Ciesers announced he had signed Townsend to a professional basketball contract. [cite news|title=Cage Loop Tid-Bits|publisher=The Sheboygan Press|date=1938-10-12] Townsend played professional basketball in the NBL as a member of the Indianapolis Kautskys, Oshkosh All-Stars and Rochester Royals.

Later years

Townsend later became a lawyer in Indianapolis. He also officiated basketball games in the 1940s for the Big Ten Conference, as well as four Indiana-Kentucky all-star games. He later worked as a broadcaster and coach.

Honors and awards

He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1980 as part of the third induction class. Only two basketball players, Cazzie Russell and Rudy Tomjanovich were inducted into the Hall of Honor before Townsend. In 2000, The Sporting News picked Townsend as a member of its Michigan all-time basketball team; he was one of only two players from before 1974 named to the team. [http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/sports2000/players/michigan-guards.html]

Family

Townsend's grandson, Eric Montross, played basketball at the University of North Carolina and in the NBA. [Scott Fowler. "North Carolina Tar Heels: Where Have You Gone?" Sports Publishing LLC, 2005. p. 151.]

Notes

ee also

*University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

External links

* [http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/baskmen/baskmaa/townsaa.htm Bentley Historical Library: John Townsend]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=fd87BHQ4VrkC&pg=PT100&lpg=PT100&dq=john+townsend+basketball&source=web&ots=-zC-olF2QJ&sig=D_Tdhq2Y034gk_KNYYP9JelMs54 Bruce Madej, Champions of the West, p. 85]
* [http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/sports2000/players/michigan-guards.html The Sporting News Michigan all-time basketball team]