Gene Rock (2007) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Gene Rock

Induction:
2007
Class:
1947

Gene Rock was an All-American in 1943 when he helped the USC men’s basketball team to its most wins (23) in a season to that point. In a Trojan career interrupted by World War II service in the Marines, he lettered 3 years (1942-43, 1947). He averaged a team-high 12.6 points and won All-Pacific Coast League Southern Division first team honors in 1943 for the division champion Trojans. The 5-9 lefty led the team again in scoring (11.1) in 1947 and was USC’s MVP and team captain en route to All-PCC Southern Division second team honors. He then played for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls in 1948 before joining the Los Angeles Police Department, where he rose to the rank of captain. He died on Oct. 31, 2002, in San Diego at age 80.