Players

Gene Jontry

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations:

Chenoa High School

Illinois State University

Biography:

Many wonder how many points Gene Jontry may have scored if he had played in an era with the 3 point rule.  His college coach at Illinois State University, Jim Collie, named Gene to his All-ISU team (1957-70).  Collie said of Jontry:  “Jontry was a good shoorter with no speed.  In one game he hit 3 shots from 21 feet, moved back and hit 3 more from 23 feet.  He ended up hitting 17 field goals from as far out as 35 feet.”

Gene attended Chenoa High School where he was a 3-year letter winner.  He averaged 14.7 ppg as a junior and 20.1 ppg as a senior in 1953-54.  His 965 career points ranked him 6th on the career scoring list behind IBCA Hall of Famers Bill Sarver and Stan Albeck.  Twice Gene was a unanimous All Midstate Conference guard and led the 1954 team to a 12-0 conference record while averaging 22.3 ppg in conference play.  That season, he was named to the Pontiac Tournament All Tournament team and was an honorable mention all state player. 

He was a member of the Illinois State varsity for 4 season, lettering twice.  He was the Redbirds’ leading scorer with 15.0 ppg as a senior.  That year he made 47-50 free throws to set the ISU percentage record of 94%.  During one stretch Gene made 35 in a row.  His 36 points against St. Ambrose during the 1957-58 season ranked him 22nd on the all time ISU single game scoring list.  As a senior, Gene averaged 17.9 ppg in the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to rank him in the top 5 for that season.  

Gene went on coach 3 sports in the 1960’s at Chenoa High School.  He later became the superintendant at Ridgeview Unit District 19.