Jim Homer
James Powell Homer was an American basketball player and coach. He played two seasons for the Syracuse Nationals of the American National Basketball League. He was an All-American college player at the University of Alabama and coached at the college level following his playing career.
Homer went to Alabama from Columbus High School in Columbus, Georgia. In his junior season of 1942–43, Homer finished second in the Southeastern Conference scoring race to Tulane’s Bob Duffy.
After serving for three years with the United States Navy in World War II, in Homer returned to the Tide for the 1946–47 season. For the season, Homer set a new SEC scoring record with 268 points. He was named a third-team All-American by the Helms Athletic Foundation at the close of the season.
Homer moved to the Syracuse Nationals of the NBL after the close of his college career. In two seasons with the Nats, he averaged 9.4 points over 115 games.
Following the close of his professional career, he was named head basketball coach at Livingston State College. He also served as head baseball coach, was an assistant football coach, and continued as the school’s athletic director after his coaching career.
