Jim Master (born March 16, 1962) is an American former basketball player. He played collegiately for the Kentucky Wildcats.[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 16, 1962 |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Paul Harding (Fort Wayne, Indiana) |
| College | Kentucky (1980–1984) |
| NBA draft | 1984: 6th round, 127th overall pick |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 20 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
High school
editMaster's family moved to the Fort Wayne, Indiana community during his high school years, and he attended Paul Harding High School as a junior and senior and played for the Hawks.
During his junior year, Master led the Hawks to the school's first ever Indiana state tournament wins at the sectional and regional levels.[2][3]
As a senior, Master set SAC records for most points scored in a season. His outstanding year was acknowledged when he was awarded the 1980 Indiana Mr. Basketball award.
His high school coach, Harlan Frick, is on record saying he believes Master is the finest shooting guard ever to play in Fort Wayne.[4]
- High School Honors and Accomplishments[1]
- 1980 Indiana Mr. Basketball award
- 1980 2nd team Parade All-American
- 1980 McDonald's All-American
College
editMaster attended the University of Kentucky on a basketball scholarship. He was part of the 1980 recruiting class that included Melvin Turpin, Bret Bearup, and Dickie Beal. This group was considered by PrepSports.com as the best recruiting class in the nation.[5] It was also rated by one as the eighth-best Wildcat recruiting class of all time. Master was seen as the best outside shooter in the country.[6] Besides Kentucky, Master was reported as being recruited by Notre Dame[7]
During Master's freshman (1980/81) season, two players were named as all-SEC selections (a first-team and a third-team). The 1981/82 season ended with four players (including Master) named as all-SEC selections (a first-team, a second-team and two third-teams). The 1982/83 season ended with four players (including Master) named as all-SEC selections (a first-team and three third-teams). And the 1983/84 season ended with three players named as all-SEC selections (a first-team, a second-team and a third-teams).[8]
Master and his Wildcat teammates translated their talent to wins and lofty national rankings. The 1980/81 team finished the season 22-6 and ranked 8th best nationally in both the [AP] and [UPI] polls. The team played in the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed.[9]
The 1981/82 team finished the season 22-8 and ranked 15th best nationally in the AP poll. The team was a SEC regular-season co-champion, and they played in the NCAA tournament as a No. 6 seed.[10]
The 1982/83 team finished the season 23-8 and ranked 12th in the AP poll and 10th in the UPI version. The team was the SEC regular-season champion, and they reached the NCAA Regional Finals from a No. 3 seed.[11]
The 1983/84 team finished the season 29-5 and ranked 3rd in both polls. The team was SEC regular-season and tournament champions, and they reached the NCAA Final Four from a No. 1 seed.[12]
The talent on each of these Wildcat teams meant Master had a successful career that did not translate into lofty personal statistics. For his career, Master averaged 10.6 points, 2.10 assists, and 1.73 rebounds per game. But his value to the team was demonstrated by his playing time that averaged 28.7 minutes per game over his career and 31.4 minutes after his first year.[1]
As testimony to his keen shooting eye, Master is currently 11th best all-time on the SEC record list for single-season free-throw shooting percentage (.896), and he is tied for 8th best all-time for career free-throw shooting percentage (.849)[13] Those statistics rank Master 8th best and 4th best, respectively, all-time in Kentucky history.[14]
Professional
editMaster was one of five Kentucky Wildcats to be drafted in the 1984 NBA draft. Melvin Turpin and Sam Bowie were 1st round selections and went on to play in the NBA for several seasons. Dickie Beal, Tom Heitz, and Master were drafted in later rounds, but none would play in a single NBA game.
Post-career
editMaster now works as a financial advisor at Hilliard Lyons in Lexington, Kentucky.[1] In 2013, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Master is also a part time coach for the Sayre School men's basketball team in Lexington, Kentucky.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "UK Career Statistics for Jim Master".
- ^ "All-Time Sectional Championships".
- ^ "All-Time Regional Championships".
- ^ "Readers sound off on Top 26 athletes | the Journal Gazette". www.journalgazette.net. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012.
- ^ "PrepStars 1980". Archived from the original on January 22, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
- ^ "Head of the Class? - Kentucky Sports Network". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "With only one blue-chipper Notre Dame is off to its worst - 01.11.82 - SI Vault". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
- ^ a b http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/all-time-awards-honors.pdf Archived November 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
- ^ http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/19801-81.html[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Schedule for 1981-82".
- ^ "Schedule for 1982-83".
- ^ "Schedule for 1983-84".
- ^ http://live2.secsports.com/doc_lib/bkc_weekly_release.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Kentucky Statistics Main Page".