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Elnardo Webster (basketball)

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Elnardo Webster
Webster playing for UG Goriziana in the 1969–70 season
Personal information
Born(1948-03-06)March 6, 1948
Jersey City, New Jersey
DiedMarch 22, 2022(2022-03-22) (aged 74)
Morristown, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolLincoln (Jersey City, New Jersey)
College
NBA draft1969: 4th round, 54th overall pick
Selected by the New York Knicks
Playing career1969–1976
PositionSmall forward
Number4
Career history
1969–1970UG Goriziana
1971New York Nets
1971–1972Memphis Pros
1972–1973Wilkes-Barre Barons
1973–1974Cajabilbao
1975–1976Wilkes-Barre Barons
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Elnardo Julian Webster Sr. (March 6, 1948 – March 22, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played one season in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played college basketball for the Saint Peter's Peacocks. Webster played in the ABA for the New York Nets and Memphis Pros during the 1971–1972 season. He also played in the Lega Basket Serie A in Italy. At a height of 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m), he played at the small forward position.[1]

Early life

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Webster was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on March 6, 1948. He attended Lincoln High School in his hometown,[1] before studying at Wharton County Junior College from 1965 to 1967.[2] He later transferred to Saint Peter's College.[1]

College career

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Despite only playing two years with the Peacocks,[3] Webster finished with 1,338 points and 769 rebounds.[4] His 24.8 points per game scoring average was second only to Keydren Clark (25.9) in school history, while his rebounding average is first.[4] He was noted for leading the Peacocks' 1967–68 team – nicknamed the "Run Baby Run" team – to the semifinals of the 1968 National Invitation Tournament.[5] He scored 51 points in the first-round win against Marshall, before following that performance up with 29 points in a 100–71 upset over Duke.[6][7] In all 28 games that season, he recorded double digits in points scored, averaging 24.1 points and 14.6 rebounds.[5]

Webster was inducted into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Hall of Fame in 2012. Four years later, he was enshrined into Saint Peter's Hall of Fame.[8][9]

Professional career

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Webster was selected in the 4th round of the 1969 NBA draft by the New York Knicks.[1] He ultimately did not make the team.[5] He then played in the Serie A – Italy's top-tier level league – with UG Goriziana in the 1969–70 season.[10]

Webster was forced to take the 1970–71 season off, while recovering from tuberculosis.[10] He subsequently played with the New York Nets and the Memphis Pros in the American Basketball Association (ABA) during the 1971–72 season.[1][11] He made his ABA debut on January 2, 1972,[1] scoring four points in ten minutes played against the Kentucky Colonels.[12] He was eventually released by the Nets after his final appearance for the franchise on January 18, before being signed as a free agent by the Pros at the end of February that same year.[13][14] He played his final ABA game on March 29, 1972.[13] In his single season in the ABA, Webster scored 122 points to go along with 16 assists and 44 rebounds.[1]

In the 1972–73 basketball season, he played for the Garden State Colonials in their inaugural season in the Eastern Basketball Association.[15]

Webster also had overseas stints playing professional basketball in Spain and Switzerland in a career that spanned seven years.[11][16][17]

Post-basketball career

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After retiring from basketball, Webster went into the field of education,[5] focusing on helping children from inner cities.[6] He was awarded a doctorate in educational leadership by Seton Hall University in 2000.[5] After working as an administrator in the Newark public school system, he served as superintendent for the Roselle school system from 2007 to 2009.[18][19] In 2010, he filled a vacant seat in the city council of West Orange, New Jersey.[20] He was also a consultant for the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education as a Highly Skilled Professional.[5]

Back at his alma mater, he directed a learning center for afterschool programs and extended learning at Saint Peter's.[5][7] He also served on the university's board of trustees from 2008 to 2017 and again from 2021 till his death.[16][17]

Personal life

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Webster was married to Sandra until his death. Together, they had two children: Elnardo Jr. and Damarko.[5][17]

Webster died on March 22, 2022, in Morristown, New Jersey. He was 74, and suffered from a heart issue prior to his death.[5][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Elnardo Webster Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Mosca, David (January 22, 2018). "Texas racism of the '60s showed hoops star that civil rights were worth the fight". NorthJersey.com. North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Morgan: Webster is a rising star at St. Peter's University -- again". NJ.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Career History - Saint Peter's Records". SaintPetersPeacocks.com. Saint Peter's University. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Canavan, Tom (March 23, 2022). "Elnardo Webster, led Saint Peter's to NIT semis in '68, dies". Associated Press. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Carino, Jerry (March 22, 2022). "Saint Peter's basketball great Elnardo Webster dies at 74". USA Today. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Zeitlinger, Ron (March 22, 2022). "Elnardo Webster Sr., star of the 'Run Baby Run' Saint Peter's 1968 team, dead at 74". NJ.com. Advance Publications. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "Two Saint Peter's Men's Basketball Legends are Named to New Jersey List of Best College Basketball Players in History". SaintPeters.edu. Saint Peter's University. January 3, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Elnardo Webster". MAACsports.com. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Nets Add Webster, Ex‐Star At St. Peter's, to Roster". The Milwaukee Journal. November 9, 1971. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Romero, Adrienne J. (February 21, 2018). "Two Alum Named to Top 25 NJ Basketball Players". The Pauw Wow (St Peter's Tribune). Retrieved March 24, 2022. After college, Webster went on to play two seasons in the American Basketball Association with the Memphis Pros and the New York Nets. He also spent time playing overseas in Italy and Spain, marking seven years of professional play.
  12. ^ "January 2, 1972 New York Nets at Kentucky Colonels Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. January 2, 1972. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Elnardo Webster 1971–72 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  14. ^ "Sports in Brief – Basketball". Corpus Christi Times. Associated Press. February 29, 1972. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "New Jersey Sports". The New York Times. December 30, 1972. Retrieved March 25, 2022. After a long delay, the brand new Garden State Colonials finally got their brand new uniforms early last month. There was only one problem—the lettering on the green and gold outfits said "Golden State Colonials." Unlike the team's tailor, the Colonials haven't been confused in the first month of their first season in the Eastern Basketball Association. ... In paying $3 (adults) and $2 (children), fans are able to see such Colonial players as Vince White, Elnardo Webster and Joe Hammond. ... Webster, a St. Peter's alumnus who performed with New York and Memphis of the American Basketball Association last season, is averaging 20.9 points a game.
  16. ^ a b "Saint Peter's University Elects Six New Members to the Board of Trustees". Saint Peter's University. August 16, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2022. Elnardo Webster, Ed.D. '69, '83 is the director for Saint Peter's Center for After School and Expanded Learning (C.A.S.E.L). ... He previously served on the Saint Peter's University Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2017. ... Dr. Webster went on to play professional basketball for seven years with the New York Nets, Memphis Pros, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Eastern League for the New York Knicks.
  17. ^ a b c "Saint Peter's University Mourns Loss of Elnardo Webster '69, '83". maacsports.com. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Retrieved March 25, 2022. Saint Peter's University is mourning the loss of Elnardo Webster, Ed.D., '69, '83, a member of the Saint Peter's University Board of Trustees (2008 to 2017 and 2021 to the present), who passed away Tuesday (March 22). ... While a student, he played a pivotal role on the renowned 1967-68 "Run Baby Run" men's basketball team and went on to play professional basketball for seven years with the New York Nets, Memphis Pros, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Eastern League for the New York Knicks. In 2018 Dr. Webster was named to a list of the top 25 men's college basketball players in New Jersey's history. ... The Saint Peter's Community extends its condolences to Dr. Webster's wife, Sandra, and to his two sons, Elnardo Jr. and Damarko.
  18. ^ Burns, Dan (March 29, 2007). "Roselle hires superintendent" (PDF). The Linden Progress. Vol. 90, no. 12. p. 1. Retrieved March 26, 2022. The board voted 5-4 to hire Elnardo Webster as Roselle's superintendent of public schools. ... Webster is an administrator in the Newark school system.
  19. ^ Caroom, Eliot (October 27, 2009). "Roselle schools chief steps down for medical leave". The Star-Ledger, nj.com. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Appelbaum, Aliza (August 5, 2010). "Former school administrator chosen for West Orange council seat". The Star-Ledger, nj.com. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
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