Athletic Contributions:
Basketball: 1963, 1964, 1965 & 1966
John McKinney, Class of 1966
John McKinney is a 1966 graduate of Mays High School. He was a three-year starter for the Rams and set the all-time career scoring record. He is regarded as the school’s greatest player in history. During his senior year he averaged 27.2 points per game.
John played in an era when there were very few individual honors to win except for school and league awards. McKinney was All-League, All-City, 2nd Team All-State. Twice he was named team MVP. As a Varsity player he earned 2 Varsity letters as a forward for the Ram basketball team playing for Coach Robert Moore.
He set a new high in Dade County by scoring 706 points in one season. He kept on scoring after reaching No. 700. He finished with 757 points. Playing long before the addition of the 3-point line, McKinney set the school record for most points in a career with 1,191, and most points in a game with 43. He played Junior Varsity basketball as a freshman and sophomore. As a Ram sophomore in 1964, he led the Junior Varsity team to an undefeated season. He helped lead the Rams to the 1964 Attucks’ Junior Varsity Basketball Tournament Crown as the Rams defeated Delray Beach Carver High School, 58-53. John led all scorers in the game with 28 points. John was the high scorer in the tourney with 93 points. McKinney averaged 24 points per game for the JV team before being moved up to the varsity in the closing games of 1964, and he averaged 20 points per game. John McKinney started his high school varsity basketball career at Mays in 1964 when he scored 25 points. As a junior during the 1964-1965 season, John was named the basketball team MVP while leading the Rams in scoring. John averaged 24.2 points per game. The team went 11-10 and advanced to the State Tournament. During the 1965-1966 season, his senior year, John led the Rams to a 20-6 record and a Sectional Championship. However, Mays lost to Roosevelt in the Districts, 77-62. John averaged over 27 points and 24 rebounds per game as a senior. During this same season, he made Ram athletic history by being the first African American high school basketball player to ever win the Dade County scoring race. He also became the first county basketball player to score 700 points in a season. His post season awards included All City and All State, as well as being selected Most Valuable Player. During his tenure, the Rams were 40-27.
After graduation, John went to Norfolk State College (now, Norfolk State University) where he played basketball for three years. As a sophomore, he helped lead Norfolk State to the 1968 CIAA regular season and tournament titles, finishing 24-2 overall and 17-1 in the league. During his senior year he averaged 32.2 points per game. He was named AP honorable-mention Little All-American in 1969-70 and also earned first-team all-CIAA honors that season. The 1969-70 team finished with a 19-7 record. The team lost against Winston-Salem State in the first round of the CIAA Tournament. On February 23, 1970, McKinney set a new single-game scoring record with 54 points in Norfolk State’s 123-112 win over Old Dominion. The 54 points still is the school record. His Norfolk State Basketball teams won Commonwealth College Conference Basketball Championships in 1967, ‘68, ‘70 as well as the CIAA Championship in 1968. In three years, he totaled 1,572 points for a 25.5 scoring mark. He still holds several season and career school records.
John McKinney was drafted in the fourth round of the NBA (National Basketball Association) by the Boston Celtics and also picked by the Miami Floridians in the ABA (American Basketball Association) draft in 1970. He signed a contract with the Celtics on April 10, 1970. He lasted until the last cut before the start of the season. He then played for the Milwaukee Muskies of the Continental Basketball Association, averaging 32 points. John led the Muskies to a 17-4 record and the champion of the CBA League’s Northern Division in 1971. The team lost in the First Round of the CBA Playoffs. He was named to the CBA All-Star team. After being released by the ABA Dallas Chaparrals in 1971, McKinney decided to try out with the Celtics again. He was waived on October 1, 1971. He was a star athlete and will be remembered for his many achievements.
As a member of these teams, John received numerous accolades such as:
Member of Junior Varsity Tournament Championship Team (1964)
1965 2nd Team All City
1965 2nd Team All County
1965 Attucks Invitational All-Tournament Team
1966 1st Team All County
1966 1st Team All City
1966 2nd Team All State
1966 Team MVP
Member of Southeastern Regional Championship Team (1966)
Three-year Letterman
1966 Full Scholarship to NSU where he played basketball for 3 years
Member of Commonwealth College Conference Championship Team (1967)
Member of Commonwealth College Conference Championship Team (1968)
Member of CIAA Men’s Basketball Championship Team (1968)
Holds school record of 54 points in a single game
Member of Commonwealth College Conference Championship Team (1970)
1970 All-CIAA Basketball Team
1970 Little All-American College Basketball Honorable Mention
Drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 4th round in 1970
Drafted by the Miami Floridians in the 7th round in 1970
Milwaukee Muskies 1970-71 (CBA)
Member of Northern Division Championship Team (1971)
Continental Basketball Association All-Star Team (1971)
Mays Alumni Keep the Legacy Alive by giving honor and praise to the graduates and students of Mays High School of Goulds, Florida.
Please send information on any corrections, omissions or additions to Alonzo Hardy at uniteocala@yahoo.com.
Mays High School majorette Patrica Clark, Class of 1968, is shown in this photo, taken around 1966-67. Mrs. Willa Ann Gaskin was the sponsor. Photo courtesy of Patrica Clark.
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