Forest Edward Able (born July 27, 1932) is an American former professional basketball player. He is nicknamed "Frosty".[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 27, 1932 |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Fairdale (Louisville, Kentucky) |
| College | Western Kentucky (1953–1956) |
| NBA draft | 1956: 3rd round, 20th overall pick |
| Selected by the Syracuse Nationals | |
| Playing career | 1956–1957 |
| Position | Guard |
| Number | 6 |
| Career history | |
| 1956–1957 | Syracuse Nationals |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
A 6'3" (1.90 m) guard, Able attended Fairdale High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He enrolled at the University of Louisville and played a season on their freshman team during the 1951–52 season. Able was the subject of controversy when he announced his intention to enrol at Western Kentucky State College (now Western Kentucky University) to be closer to his girlfriend who also attended the college.[2] Able starred with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, where he tallied 1,221 career points.[2] As a senior, Able was named the Hilltoppers’ most valuable player and named to the Newspaper Enterprise Association 26-man All-America squad.[3]
After his college career, Able had a brief stint with the Syracuse Nationals who selected him in the 1956 NBA draft. He appeared in one game against the Rochester Royals where he recorded two field goal attempts, an assist and a rebound.[4] Able considered himself "a nervous wreck" during his appearance and was released shortly after his debut.[4]
Following the close of his playing career, Able became head coach at his alma mater Fairdale High School in 1959 and coached for more than 10 years.[5][4] He taught physical education and health for 30 years.[4]
Able was inducted into the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.[6]
Able's grandson, Kameron, played on the Morehead State Eagles football team.[7]
NBA career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956–57 | Syracuse | 1 | – | 1.0 | .000 | – | .000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | – | – | 0.0 |
| Career | 1 | – | 1.0 | .000 | – | .000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | – | – | 0.0 |
References
edit- ^ "Great Fairdale career follows one minute in NBA". Bowling Green Daily News. January 8, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Whitaker, Dave (July 31, 1955). "Forest Able weds 'girl who' today". The Courier-Journal. p. 31. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Able honored as Toppers' "most valuable player"". The Daily News. March 6, 1956. p. 9. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Pickman, Ben (February 22, 2022). "In It for a Minute". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
- ^ "Forest Able to return to Fairdale as coach". The Courier-Journal. May 23, 1959. p. 18. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "WKU Athletic Hall of Fame". Western Kentucky University. June 8, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ Maloney, Mark (September 19, 2016). "Able-bodied: Kameron considers communication key to success". Morehead State University. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
- College statistics
- WKU HOF List
- Draft Review- College Stats
 | This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Louisville-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |