Former Louisville basketball star John Turner was honored earlier this week at Newport High School where he had his jersey retired. In the mid 1950’s Turner was an All State performer in both basketball and football.
Turner played at Louisville from 1958-1961. He led the school to its first Final Four appearance in 1961 while earning All American honors. Turner was the unanimous selection as the MVP of the NCAA Mideast Region. He led Louisville in scoring for three consecutive seasons and averaged 23.1 points per game as a senior.
Turner is one of twenty players to have their number honored by the University of Louisville. He also is a member of the University of Louisville Hall of Fame He ranks 22nd all time on the Louisville scoring list with 1,451 points and 9th all time in rebounds with 919. Turner scored 669 points as a senior which ranks second in school history for points in a single season. Former Louisville coach Bernard “Peck” Hickman called Turner the best player that he has ever coached.
After graduating from Louisville in 1961, Turner went on to play professionally with the Chicago Packers of the NBA for one season. He also spent time in the Continental Basketball League.
Due to medical issues, Turner has been in a wheel chair since 1974. On top of his other medical issues, he recently had a bad fall and lost the use of one of his arms. Turner has used all of his funds to repair his automated wheelchair and is now confined to a convalescent home in Newport, KY.
Newport High School has setup the Big John Turner Medical Maintenance Fund. Click here to make a donation.
Below is a video of Turner getting his jersey retired at Newport High School on Tuesday night.
February 14, 2013 at 7:18 pm
I was a kid, but watched him lead one of the all time great UL teams with Fred Sawyer, Bud Olsen, Joe Reuther, Ron Rubenstein, Jadie Frazier, Buddy Leathers and others who I canot recall. A great coaching job by Peck Hickman with a really gutsy call at the end of the semi final game vs an incredible Ohio State team.
February 16, 2013 at 10:49 am
What # got retired ? In the article about John it has a pic of him wearing # 29 , the artical says #25 . In the video of the ceremony a board behind John shows his # as 22 but his jersy at the presentation showed # 20 . Some body is nuts !!
February 18, 2013 at 10:55 pm
He is my uncle. Heckuva basketball player back in the day, and a good man today!
May 16, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Big John passed away today. Wonder why it took over 50 years to retire his jersey.?
Well, at least they retired it while he was still living.