George F. Harmon (July 16, 1902 – January 30, 1954) was a college basketball player for the Mercer Baptists. Harmon was "one of the all-time greats" in Mercer basketball history" and "acknowledged king of the basketball world in so far as Southern circles are concerned." He played at guard, and along with forward Consuello Smith and center Bob Gamble, led the Baptists to finish as runner-up to North Carolina in the 1922 SoCon tournament. Mercer upset the previous season's champion Kentucky, and Harmon was the tournament's top scorer with 75 points.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 16, 1902 Cuthbert, Georgia |
| Died | January 30, 1954 (aged 51) Macon, Georgia |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| Position | Guard |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Early years
editHarmon was born in Cuthbert, Georgia, the son of the Rev. J. A. Harmon and Mrs. Mamie Feagin Harmon.[1]
Mercer
editHarmon played football and basketball at Mercer University.
On the basketball team, Harmon was a running guard and "sharpshooter".[2] His style of dribbling aroused cheers from spectators, and once got fouls called on him in a 1-point loss to the Atlanta Athletic Club.[3] "Maybe the referee was so surprised that such a thing could be done that he was not responsible for what he did."[3] Harmon was "acknowledged king of the basketball world in so far as Southern circles are concerned."[4] He was "one of the all-time greats" in Mercer basketball history".[5]
Mercer was the runner-up to North Carolina in the 1922 SoCon tournament, and upset the prior season's champion Kentucky.[6][7] Harmon was the top scorer of the tournament with 75 points.[6]
He was inducted into the Mercer Hall of Fame, with no relatives attending.[1][8]
References
edit- ^ a b "The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia on April 18, 1973 · 61".
- ^ "History of the Early S.I.A.A. Atlanta Basketball Tournament".
- ^ a b "Mercer Breaking Even on Journey" (PDF). Mercer Cluster. January 26, 1923.
- ^ Taylor Glenn (January 19, 1923). "Mercer Team Wins Additional Game" (PDF).
- ^ "'Champs of Georgia'-Mercer's '23 Team to Have Reunion on Campus". The Mercer Cluster. February 19, 1954. p. 4.
- ^ a b "North Carolina Champions of Dixie Basketball; Mercer Lands Second Place In Atlanta Tournament". Mercer Cluster. March 3, 1922.
- ^ "Kentucky vs. Mercer". February 25, 1922.
- ^ "Hall of Fame".