John Pinone: College Basketball Star And International Pro Legend
Explore the remarkable career of John Pinone, a three-time ACC Player of the Year at Wake Forest who went on to become a standout professional in Europe and a U.S. Olympian.
Jul 25, 20259.9K Shares256.1K Views
John Gabriel Pinone Jr. was born on February 19, 1961, in Hartford, Connecticut. He attended South Catholic High School in Hartford. While he was there, his team won the Class L state championship in 1977 and again in 1979. During the 1978–79 season, Pinone and South Catholic beat Middletown High School, ending Middletown’s record of 80 straight wins, which was the longest winning streak in state history at that time.
Playing Career
John Gabriel Pinone Jr. was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the third round (58th pick) of the 1983 NBA Draft. He played seven games with the Hawks during the 1983–84 NBA season and averaged 2.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. After that, he joined the Ohio Mixers in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and was named to the 1984 CBA All-Star Game.
Starting in the 1984–85 season, Pinone moved to Spain and joined Estudiantes in the Liga ACB, where he played for nine seasons until 1992–93. Over those years, he played 332 games, scored 6,175 points, pulled down 2,193 rebounds, and averaged about 18.6 points per game. He was selected for the ACB All-Star Game in 1989 and 1991.
In the 1991–92 season, Pinone helped Estudiantes win the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) and was named the MVP of that tournament. Estudiantes also reached the EuroLeague Final Four in 1992.
On the international level, he played for the United States national team at the 1982 FIBA World Championship, where the team won the silver medal.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Pinone became a high school coach. He led the Cromwell High School boys’ basketball team to state championships in 2009, 2018, and 2023. He has coached at Cromwell for over 20 years, winning more than 400 games, and consistently guiding the team to the class playoffs. His coaching style emphasizes strong preparation, tough defense, and player responsibility. Several of his former assistants have become successful head coaches in Connecticut, helping to build a coaching legacy rooted in his philosophy.
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