Mel Peterson
Melvin Lowell Peterson (born March 23, 1938) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Basketball Association (ABA) player.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | March 23, 1938 Thief River Falls, Minnesota | |||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| High school | Stephenson (Stephenson, Michigan) | |||||||||||||
| College | Wheaton (1956–1960) | |||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1960 / Round: 11 / Pick: 78th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1963–1970 | |||||||||||||
| Position | Shooting guard / Small forward | |||||||||||||
| Number | 16, 40, 44 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1963–1964 | Baltimore Bullets | |||||||||||||
| 1967–1969 | Oakland Oaks | |||||||||||||
| 1969–1970 | Los Angeles Stars | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 1,032 (7.7 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 635 (4.7 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Assists | 160 (1.2 apg) | |||||||||||||
| Stats at NBA.com | ||||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | ||||||||||||||
Medals
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Collegiate career
Mel attended Wheaton College. While at Wheaton College, Mel was selected as a three-time All-American basketball player.[1] He was also selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the 1957 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament, as Wheaton College won the inaugural NCAA Division II tournament.[2] Mel finished his career at Wheaton College, averaging 22.7 points and 15.8 rebounds per game. He still ranks as Wheaton College's all-time leader in points per game, career points, field goals made, and career rebounds.[3]
Professional career
Mel was drafted with the fourth pick in the 11th round of the 1960 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. On August 15, 1963 Mel signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Bullets. In two games with the Bullets, Mel recorded a total of two points and one rebound. Peterson did not play for the following three seasons. Mel made his ABA debut on October 13, 1967 for the Oakland Oaks.[4]
References
- "Wheaton College Athletics – Men's Basketball All-Americans". athletics.wheaton.edu. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Records and Statistics: Division II men's basketball Championship" (PDF). Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- "Wheaton College Athletics – Men's Basketball Career Records". athletics.wheaton.edu. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- "Mel Peterson NBA & ABA statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 13 July 2012.