Professional Basketball Player. For ten seasons (1962 to 1972), he played at the guard position in the National and American Basketball Associations with the St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, San Diego Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Denver Rockets. Born John Anthony Barnhill, he attended Lincoln High School in Evansville, Indiana, where he first achieved greatness on the hardwood. He continued his athletics as he played collegiate basketball at Tennessee State University. Selected by St. Louis during the 11th-round of the 1959 NBA Draft, he went on to play in 589 total NBA and ABA games, as he compiled 5,085 career points. During his rookie year, he yielded a career-high 901 points and while with the Pacers, he experienced a world championship as a member of the 1969-1970 ABA Champion Indiana squad. He went on to play for a second ABA Championship crown with the Pacers as they captured the league title in 1972. After retiring as a player, he served as an assistant coach under Bill Sharman with the Los Angeles Lakers. Following his retirement from basketball, Barnhill was the proprietor of a sporting goods business and later served as a teacher with the Los Angeles School District. Later in life, he suffered from a form of Muscular Dystrophy.
Professional Basketball Player. For ten seasons (1962 to 1972), he played at the guard position in the National and American Basketball Associations with the St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, San Diego Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Denver Rockets. Born John Anthony Barnhill, he attended Lincoln High School in Evansville, Indiana, where he first achieved greatness on the hardwood. He continued his athletics as he played collegiate basketball at Tennessee State University. Selected by St. Louis during the 11th-round of the 1959 NBA Draft, he went on to play in 589 total NBA and ABA games, as he compiled 5,085 career points. During his rookie year, he yielded a career-high 901 points and while with the Pacers, he experienced a world championship as a member of the 1969-1970 ABA Champion Indiana squad. He went on to play for a second ABA Championship crown with the Pacers as they captured the league title in 1972. After retiring as a player, he served as an assistant coach under Bill Sharman with the Los Angeles Lakers. Following his retirement from basketball, Barnhill was the proprietor of a sporting goods business and later served as a teacher with the Los Angeles School District. Later in life, he suffered from a form of Muscular Dystrophy.
Bio by: C.S.
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