Jack D. McCracken

Jack McCracken's stunning leaping ability earned him the nickname "Jumpin' Jack." Playing under Hall of Fame coach Hank Iba at Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, McCracken led his team to 43 consecutive wins and a perfect 31-0 record in 1929-30. Iba considered Jumpin' Jack one of the finest players he ever coached. McCracken was a feared and complete player in the Amateur Athletic Union for 12 spectacular seasons. His two-handed set shot was devastating and he showed no fear in launching the basketball from any spot on the floor. Following the 1939 AAU campaign, McCracken was named the greatest player of all time by the amateur organization. He starred on the Denver Safeway team that captured the 1937 AAU national championship, the first of three national titles McCracken teamed with fellow Hall of Famer Bob Gruenig to win. In 1939 McCracken was named the Most Valuable Player of the AAU tournament leading his Denver Nuggets to the national championship.