Forest Able

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Forest Able
Personal information
Born (1932-07-27) July 27, 1932 (age 91)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolFairdale (Louisville, Kentucky)
CollegeWestern Kentucky (1953–1956)
NBA draft1956: 3rd round, 20th overall pick
Selected by the Syracuse Nationals
Playing career1956–1957
PositionGuard
Number6
Career history
1956–1957Syracuse Nationals
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

Forest Edward Able (born July 27, 1932) is an American former professional basketball player. He is nicknamed "Frosty".[1]

A 6'3" (1.90 m) guard, Able attended Fairdale High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He enrolled at the University of Louisville and played a season on their freshman team during the 1951–52 season. Able was the subject of controversy when he announced his intention to enrol at Western Kentucky State College (now Western Kentucky University) to be closer to his girlfriend who also attended the college.[2] Able starred with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, where he tallied 1,221 career points.[2] As a senior, Able was named the Hilltoppers’ most valuable player and named to the Newspaper Enterprise Association 26-man All-America squad.[3]

After his college career, Able had a brief stint with the Syracuse Nationals who selected him in the 1956 NBA draft. He appeared in one game against the Rochester Royals where he recorded two field goal attempts, an assist and a rebound.[4] Able considered himself "a nervous wreck" during his appearance and was released shortly after his debut.[4]

Following the close of his playing career, Able became head coach at his alma mater Fairdale High School in 1959 and coached for more than 10 years.[5][4] He taught physical education and health for 30 years.[4]

Able was inducted into the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.[6]

Able's grandson, Kameron, played on the Morehead State Eagles football team.[7]

NBA career statistics[edit]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season[edit]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1956–57 Syracuse 1 – 1.0 .000 – .000 1.0 1.0 – – 0.0
Career 1 – 1.0 .000 – .000 1.0 1.0 – – 0.0

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Great Fairdale career follows one minute in NBA". Bowling Green Daily News. January 8, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Whitaker, Dave (July 31, 1955). "Forest Able weds 'girl who' today". The Courier-Journal. p. 31. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Able honored as Toppers' "most valuable player"". The Daily News. March 6, 1956. p. 9. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c d Pickman, Ben (February 22, 2022). "In It for a Minute". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Forest Able to return to Fairdale as coach". The Courier-Journal. May 23, 1959. p. 18. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "WKU Athletic Hall of Fame". Western Kentucky University. June 8, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Maloney, Mark (September 19, 2016). "Able-bodied: Kameron considers communication key to success". Morehead State University. Retrieved September 6, 2023.

External links[edit]


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