Tom Hoover


Thomas Lee Hoover Jr. is an American former professional basketball player.
Hoover was born in Washington, D.C. A forward/center from Villanova University, Hoover played in the National Basketball Association from 1963 to 1967 as a member of the New York Knicks and St. Louis Hawks. He jumped to the American Basketball Association in 1967, and played two seasons there with the Denver Rockets, Houston Mavericks, Minnesota Pipers, and New York Nets. In his NBA/ABA career, Hoover averaged 5.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Since his basketball career ended, Hoover has worked in a wide variety of fields. With former NFL player Lane Howell, he ran an employment program for teenagers in New York City. Afterward, he turned to the entertainment industry, and worked as a road manager for Richard Pryor, The Spinners and Natalie Cole. He had a brief career acting in television commercials, then channeled his interest in boxing into a job with the New York State Athletic Commission. He later ran the Adopt-A-School Program in New York City.