JO JO WHITE
1946 – 2018
Inducted - 1997

Kansas University basketball has had its share of great guards, and the smooth and talented Jo Jo White was one of the greatest. An All-Big Eight selection in 1967, ’68 and ’69, the 6’-3” White was the heart and soul of Jayhawk teams which made two NCAA and two NIT appearances. He was also a two-time All-American and was the second-leading scorer on the 1968 U.S. Olympic team which won America’s seventh straight gold medal. In 1966, White became eligible to play at the start of the second semester. His abilities helped KU win seven straight games and go on to claim the Jayhawks’ first outright conference title in nine years. During his time at KU, White played on the U.S. team at both the University Games and Pan-American Games, but it was his performance on the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team that brought him international fame. After graduating from KU in 1969 White became the first round draft pick of the Boston Celtics where he spent ten seasons. A member of the All-NBA Rookie Team in 1969-70, White was later a two-time All-star and the Most Valuable Player in the 1976 playoffs when the Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns for the world title. During his NBA career, White scored over 14,000 points averaging 17.2 points per game. In helping the Celtics to the playoffs six times, he averaged 21.5 points per game for 80 games. One of the greatest players in Celtics history, White’s jersey Number 10 has been retired by the team. He was named to KU’s All-Time Team in 1986. Born November 14, 1946; Graduated McKinley H.S. (St. Louis, Missouri), 1965; Kansas University, 1969.