Clinton Wheeler

Clinton Wheeler (October 27, 1959 – February 14, 2019) was an American professional basketball player. He was a 6'1" (185 cm) 185 lb (84 kg) point guard and played collegiately at Division III's William Paterson University.[1] In his brief NBA career from 1987 to 1989 he played for three teams.

Clinton Wheeler
Personal information
Born(1959-10-27)October 27, 1959
Neptune Township, New Jersey
DiedFebruary 14, 2019(2019-02-14) (aged 59)
Middletown, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolLong Branch
(Long Branch, New Jersey)
CollegeWilliam Paterson (1977–1981)
NBA draft1981 / Round: 7 / Pick: 150th overall
Selected by the Kansas City Kings
Playing career1984–1995
PositionPoint guard
Number5, 10, 11
Career history
1984–1985Albany Patroons
1985Jersey Jammers
1985–1986Albany Patroons
1986–1987Rapid City Thrillers
1987Miami Tropics
1987–1988Indiana Pacers
1988Rapid City Thrillers
1988Miami Heat
1989Portland Trail Blazers
1989–1993Bayer Giants Leverkusen
1993–1994Rochester Renegade
1994Jacksonville Hooters
1994–1995Rapid City Thrillers
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Life

Wheeler played high school basketball at Long Branch High School in Long Branch, New Jersey.[2]

A product of the William Paterson University program where he played four years, Wheeler scored 1,624 points for WP, which put him in third position on the school's all-time list, when he left college in 1981. In the 1979–80 season, he averaged 26.1 points a contest and 22.4 points a game in 1980–81.[3]

During the 1980s, Wheeler played frequently in the Jersey Shore Basketball League which was a Pro-Am league that played outdoors at the Headliner in Neptune, NJ. NBA players and NJ residents like Kelly Tripucka, Roy Hinson, and Mike O'Koren also played. Wheeler's spectacular plays were memorialized by the PA announcer with "Wow Wheeler!" after an impressive basket.

Wheeler was selected by the Kansas City Kings in the 7th round (12th pick) of the 1981 NBA Draft.[4] He is ranked eighth on the Albany Patroons' all-time regular season scoring list.[5] From 1989 to 1993, he played for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany's top flight Basketball Bundesliga, where he formed a successful duo with fellow American Kannard Johnson. Wheeler won four German national championship titles with Leverkusen.[6]

He died February 14, 2019 at age 59.[7]

References
  1. Augsburg's Devean George in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks! Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Clinton Wheeler Archived 2009-04-03 at the Wayback Machine, database Basketball. Accessed October 1, 2007.
  3. "Men's Basketball All-Team Statistical Records". www.wpupioneers.com. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  4. 1981 NBA Draft Archived 2007-08-24 at the Wayback Machine, basketballreference.com
  5. Albany Patroons History Archived 2007-09-17 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "BAYER GIANTS trauern um Clinton Wheeler". www.giants-leverkusen.de. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  7. Edelson, Stephen (February 21, 2019). "Former Long Branch star Clinton Wheeler, who played in NBA, dies at 59". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
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