John Fulkerson
John Michael Fulkerson (born April 29, 1997) is an American college basketball player for the Tennessee Volunteers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Fulkerson in February 2020 | |
No. 10 – Tennessee Volunteers | |
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Position | Power forward |
League | Southeastern Conference |
Personal information | |
Born | Johnson City, Tennessee | April 29, 1997
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | |
College | Tennessee (2016–present) |
Career highlights and awards | |
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High school career
In his first two years of high school, Fulkerson played basketball for Dobyns-Bennett High School in his hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee, before transferring to Christ School in Arden, North Carolina to gain more exposure.[1] As a junior, he averaged 10 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, tying a school record with 93 blocks.[2] In his senior season, Fulkerson averaged 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.5 blocks per game, breaking Marshall Plumlee's school single-season blocks record with 112. He earned NCISAA 3-A All-State accolades and was named Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year.[3]
Recruiting
Fulkerson was considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals. On November 6, 2015, he committed to play college basketball for Tennessee over 20 other NCAA Division I programs, including Georgia and Clemson.[4] He was drawn to the Volunteers because he had grown up supporting the team.[5]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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John Fulkerson PF |
Kingsport, TN | Christ School (NC) | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Nov 6, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: — 247Sports: 184 ESPN: — | ||||||
Sources:
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College career
On November 22, 2016, in his first season at Tennessee, Fulkerson recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a 69–65 overtime loss to 13th-ranked Oregon.[6] On December 15 against Lipscomb, he fractured his right wrist and dislocated his right elbow, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Fulkerson underwent surgery for the injury and was granted a medical redshirt. Before playing another game, he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required another surgery.[7] In his following season, as a redshirt freshman, Fulkerson averaged 9.3 minutes per game.[8] In his sophomore season, he served as Tennessee's primary frontcourt player off the bench.[9] On December 29, 2018, Fulkerson scored a season-high 15 points in a 96–53 win over Tennessee Tech.[10] As a sophomore, he averaged 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.[9]
In his junior season, Fulkerson was placed in a more important role with the departures of Grant Williams and Kyle Alexander.[11] On February 15, 2020, Fulkerson posted 25 points in a 63–61 loss to South Carolina.[12] On March 3, he scored a career-high 27 points to help unranked Tennessee overcome a 17-point deficit and upset sixth-ranked Kentucky, 81–73.[13] Fulkerson finished the season averaging 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and was named to the Second Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) by the league's coaches.[14] He led his team in scoring, rebounding and steals, while shooting 61.2 percent from the field, which ranked second in the SEC and fourth in school history.[8]
Career statistics
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 |
References
- "Fulkerson disappointed, not discouraged". Johnson City Press. December 19, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- "Vols recruit Fulkerson takes charge at Christ School". Asheville Citizen-Times. December 7, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- Pearson, Andrew (November 25, 2016). "Fulkerson already a starter for Tennessee". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- Lewis, Daniel (November 6, 2015). "Vols Land 3-star Forward John Fulkerson". Rocky Top Insider. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- Ramey, Grant (June 15, 2016). "Fulkerson grew up a fan of the Vols". Bristol Herald Courier. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- Rucker, Wes (December 5, 2016). "High-flying 'Fulky' already making mark for Vols". 247Sports. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- Wilson, Mike (October 12, 2017). "John Fulkerson 'will add a dimension' in eventual return". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- "John Fulkerson". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- Wilson, Mike (April 28, 2019). "Breaking down Tennessee basketball's projected 2019-20 roster". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- Wilson, Mike (December 30, 2018). "John Fulkerson shows why Vols 'need him'". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- Henley, Gene (October 23, 2019). "Basketball Vols need John Fulkerson to play bigger role again". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- "Kotsar, South Carolina rally to beat Tennessee 63-61". ESPN. Associated Press. February 15, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- "Fulkerson Scores 27, Tennessee Stuns No. 6 Kentucky". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. March 3, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- Lambert, Terry A. (March 10, 2020). "John Fulkerson named to All-SEC second team". Rocky Top Talk. Retrieved July 29, 2020.