Dave Jamerson

American basketball player (born 1967)

John David Jamerson (born August 13, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round (15th pick overall) of the 1990 NBA draft. Jamerson played for the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets in 3 National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons as well as 4 Continental Basketball Association (CBA) teams. Jamerson was the first NCAA Division I men's basketball player to make 14 three point shots in a single game. Although this NCAA record for most single game three point shots made has been eclipsed, his name remains listed several times in the annual NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Record Book. Jamerson remains the Mid American Conference (MAC) single season three point shots made (131), single game three point shots made (14, shared), single game scoring (60) and single conference game scoring (52, shared) record holder. Additionally, holds several Ohio Bobcat school records. As a college basketball senior, Jamerson finished third in the nation in scoring (31.2 points/game) and first in three point shots/game with (4.68). He was the 1990 Mid American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year as well as a 1990 Academic All America selection. In addition to his three point shooting excellence, he once led the MAC and once led the Continental Basketball Association in free throw shooting percentage. In high school, he was an All Ohio first team selection.

Jamerson graduated from Stow Munroe Falls High School. As a senior, he averaged 34 points per game. He also averaged 5 rebounds, 5 assists, a 58% field goal percentage and 85% free throw percentage. He was an Associated Press 1985 Class AAA All Ohio first team selection and the Northeast Ohio Class AAA player of the year (Jerome Lane was the NEO Class AA player of the year). Jamerson played two years of high school varsity basketball. By the fall of his senior year when he committed to Ohio he had received scholarship offers from Kent State, Penn State, St. Bonaventure and Akron. As a senior, his team won 22 consecutive games before losing in the Class AAA District Tournament semifinal to Central Hower High School 75–62.

After his freshman season for the 1985–86 Bobcats during which he averaged 14 points per game, he injured a knee on the team 1986 10 game European summer trip and missed the entire season. For the 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season the National Collegiate Athletic Association introduced the three point shot. Jamerson returned as a redshirt sophomore for the 1987–88 Bobcats. On November 28, 1987, he scored a then career high 39 points, while Scott Tedder scored 50 points leading to an upset over the Bobcats. Jamerson was an honorable mention All MAC honoree when his 85.1% free throw percentage led the MAC. He was second team All MAC as a junior. The following night Jamerson scored 39 to lead Ohio to a comeback win against He shot 8 for 16 on three pointers including four consecutive late in the first half to cut the deficit to 39–35. Jamerson was the nation's second leading scorer when he posted 52 points against on February 24, 1990. That tied the MAC single conference game scoring record set twice by Jimmy Darrow and was the most points ever scored either for or against Kent State. As a senior for the 1989–90 Bobcats, Jamerson was a first team All MAC honoree when he led the MAC in scoring (31.2) and three point shots per game (4.68). He also earned a spot on the 1990 All MAC Tournament team. After his college career at Ohio, Jamerson was underestimated despite finishing third nationally in scoring because the school had not produced an NBA player since Howie Jolliff in the early 1960s. earning tournament MVP honors and a late invitation to the Orlando All Star Classic. Jamerson turned heads both on hot shooting nights and his off games when he had to demonstrate his all around game during the summer all star circuit. Scott Tedder of Ohio Wesleyan set the arena record with 50 points on November 28, 1987, which still stood as the visiting player record as of 2023. It was not surpassed until Keith Veney posted 15 on December 14, 1996, for Marshall of the Southern Conference against of the Ohio Valley Conference. Also as of 2018, his single season three point shot total of 131 and average of 4.68 per game were still standing conference records. His single season point total of 874 stood as a conference record from 1990 until 2017 when Marcus Keene posted 959. His conference record 14 single game three point shots was tied by Ronald Blackshear on March 1, 2002, but had not been surpassed as of the beginning of the 2018–19 season. When his college basketball eligibility expired, his career total of 2,336 points was second in MAC history to Ron Harper (2,377). Since no MAC player had scored 52 points since he tied the conference single game scoring record, he still shared that record as of 2018. Jamerson is listed five times in the NCAA's 2022 23 Division I Men's Basketball Record book: 1.) 3rd in scoring in 1990 31.2 points per game, 2.) 1990 national leader with 4.68 three point shots per game, 3.) the 60 point game is listed as tied for 13th in the annual top 25 update for single game scoring highs (vs. Non DI), 4.) 14 single game three point shots made is listed as tied for 4th in annual top 25 update, and 5.) 4.68 single season three point shots per game is listed 6th in the annual top 25 update. According to the Ohio Men's Basketball 2023–24 Record Book Jamerson currently holds the following school records: career points (2,336), career field goals made (864), single season points (874), single season scoring average (31.4), single season three point shots made (131), single game points (first and second with 60 and 52), single game field goals made (21 and 20), single game three point field goals made (14 and 11), single game three point field goal percentage (5–5=100%), For the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, the line was further extended to
Jamerson's #33 jersey was retired during halftime in a banner raising ceremony during a January 24, 2007, game at Ohio University' Convocation Center. He was inducted into the Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2015, he was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. At the time he had a wife and four children.

Jamerson became the first Ohio Bobcat to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft when he was selected 15th overall in the 1990 NBA draft by the Miami Heat before he was traded with 30th overall selection Carl Herrera to the Houston Rockets for the rights to 12th overall selection Alec Kessler. His father, John, had been an All American for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons and was drafted in the 1970 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. When he was due to report to October training camp, Jamerson went through a 5 day holdout before signing a 4 year $3.5 million ($3.5 in 1990 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years million in ) contract.

As a rookie, he posted 12 points on January 8, 1991, against the Portland Trail Blazers. He matched this output in the April 25, 1991 NBA playoffs opening game 94–92 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with 12 points that included 6–6 free throw shooting. Head coach Don Chaney inserted Jamerson in the backcourt with Sleepy Floyd for unusually meaningful time in the second quarter when the Rockets were down by 11 points. While he was in the game, the Rockets cut the lead to 7 and the rested starters returned to cut the lead to 1 by halftime. In that game, Jamerson and Terry Teagle got tangled up in the second quarter and Teagle threw two punches at Jamerson. Teagle was ejected, fined $7500 ($7500.0 in 1991 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years in ) and suspended from game 2. Jamerson did not respond and was not penalized.

His best year as a pro came during the 1991 92 NBA season as a member of the Rockets, when he appeared in 48 games and averaged 4.0 ppg. That season, he twice posted double digit scoring in back to back appearances. In the first of these, double digit pairs, he boosted his career high to 13 points and added 8 assists against the on December 30, 1991, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the second of these pairs, he posted his NBA career high 16 points in 9 minutes of play against the Denver Nuggets on April 2, 1992.

In the 1992 offseason, Jamerson sprained his medial collateral ligament and tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a pickup game, causing him to miss the 1992 93 NBA season. The Rockets waived Jamerson on November 2 after their 1993 training camp triggering a delayed payment of a $1 million ($1.0 in 1993 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years million in ) guarantee over a period of 8 years. When David Benoit injured his hamstring, the Utah Jazz signed Jamerson on November 13. On November 26, the Jazz decided that they needed a center or power forward to replace Benoit and waived Jamerson, subsequently signing Aaron Williams. On December 10, Jamerson signed with the Omaha Racers of the Continental Basketball Association. On February 3, he posted a professional career high 36 points for the Racers against the Columbus Horizon. The Racers made several trades before the February 25 trade deadline, with Jamerson ending up with the Rochester Renegades. In his CBA tenure, he averaged 12.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and led the CBA in free throw shooting percent (90.1%, 82 of 91). On March 23, the New Jersey Nets signed Jamerson to a 10 day contract. He subsequently signed a second 10 day contract on April 3. After the maximum 2 10 day contracts, Jamerson was not offered a regular contract after he missed all 5 field goals with the Nets. He played in a 1994 Summer League with the Nets. He played in the Detroit Summer League for the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 8.3 in three games. Then, he went to training camp with the team, officially signing on October 3. On November 2, Jamerson was waived. At some point thereafter, he joined the Harrisburg Hammerheads before being traded with Ronnie Grandison to the Rapid City Thrillers for three 1995 draft picks, Winston Garland and $20,000 ($20000.0 in 1995 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years in ) on January 4, 1995.

Players from the CBA, including Jamerson, Rumeal Robinson, Brian Davis, Mike Williams, and A. J. Wynder, were chosen to represent the United States in Basketball at the 1995 Pan American Games. The United States lost the gold medal game 90–86 to Argentina men's national basketball team.

In 1996, Jamerson was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes affiliated Sportspower International touring team along with David Magley and John Grieg. He became an Outreach Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. As of 2009, he was the pastor of Renovate Church in Cedar Park, Texas.