John Fulkerson Explained

John Fulkerson
Position:Power forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:219
Team:Free Agent
Nationality:American
Birth Date:29 April 1997
Birth Place:Kingsport, Tennessee
High School:
College:Tennessee (2016–2022)
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Years1:2022–2024
Team1:Leuven Bears
Highlights:
  • Second-team All-SEC – Coaches (2020)

John Michael Fulkerson (born April 29, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Leuven Bears of the BNXT League.

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]

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]

Fulkerson suffered a concussion and facial fracture during Tennessee's 78–64 win over Florida in the 2021 SEC Tournament, forcing him to miss the remaining two games of the season.[15] As a senior, Fulkerson averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He decided to return for a sixth season in April, taking advantage of the NCAA's granting of an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fulkerson underwent wrist surgery in June 2021.[16]

Due to his East Tennessee upbringing, humble personality, the length of his college career, and his style of play, Fulkerson cemented himself as an all-time fan favorite among Volunteer fans. During his career, signs reading “The Incredible Fulk” would often be seen from the Tennessee student section.

Professional career

On July 29, 2022, he has signed with Leuven Bears of the BNXT League.[17]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee| 10 || 6 || 16.0 || .567 || – || .650 || 4.6 || 1.0 || 1.1 || .9 || 4.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee| 30 || 1 || 9.3 || .429 || – || .727 || 1.6 || .5 || .5 || .3 || 1.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee| 36 || 0 || 12.0 || .583 || – || .644 || 2.6 || .7 || .5 || .7 || 3.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee| 31 || 31 || 30.1 || .612 || .500 || .748 || 5.9 || 1.3 || 1.1 || .9 || 13.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee| 25 || 24 || 26.4 || .527 || .000 || .747 || 5.5 || 1.7 || .5 || .6 || 9.5|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 132 || 62 || 18.7 || .567 || .200 || .726 || 3.9 || 1.0 || .7 || .6 || 6.6

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Birchfield . Jeff . December 19, 2016 . Fulkerson disappointed, not discouraged . July 21, 2020 . Johnson City Press.
  2. Web site: Vols recruit Fulkerson takes charge at Christ School . . July 21, 2020 . December 7, 2015.
  3. Web site: Pearson . Andrew . Fulkerson already a starter for Tennessee . . July 21, 2020 . November 25, 2016.
  4. Web site: Lewis . Daniel . Vols Land 3-star Forward John Fulkerson . Rocky Top Insider . July 21, 2020 . November 6, 2015.
  5. Web site: Ramey . Grant . Fulkerson grew up a fan of the Vols . . July 21, 2020 . June 15, 2016.
  6. Web site: Rucker . Wes . High-flying 'Fulky' already making mark for Vols . . July 29, 2020 . December 5, 2016.
  7. Web site: Wilson . Mike . John Fulkerson 'will add a dimension' in eventual return . . July 29, 2020 . October 12, 2017.
  8. Web site: John Fulkerson . University of Tennessee Athletics . July 29, 2020.
  9. Web site: Wilson . Mike . Breaking down Tennessee basketball's projected 2019-20 roster . . July 29, 2020 . April 28, 2019.
  10. Web site: Wilson . Mike . John Fulkerson shows why Vols 'need him' . . July 29, 2020 . December 30, 2018.
  11. Web site: Henley . Gene . Basketball Vols need John Fulkerson to play bigger role again . . July 29, 2020 . October 23, 2019.
  12. News: Kotsar, South Carolina rally to beat Tennessee 63-61 . July 29, 2020 . . . February 15, 2020.
  13. Web site: Fulkerson Scores 27, Tennessee Stuns No. 6 Kentucky . . . July 29, 2020 . March 3, 2020.
  14. Web site: Lambert . Terry A. . John Fulkerson named to All-SEC second team . Rocky Top Talk . July 29, 2020 . March 10, 2020.
  15. Web site: April 16, 2021 . Tennessee's Fulkerson returning for sixth season . March 13, 2022 . ESPN.com . en . Associated Press.
  16. News: Wilson . Mike . Tennessee basketball's John Fulkerson has wrist surgery, expected to miss up to six weeks . June 26, 2021 . . June 25, 2021.
  17. Web site: Nieuwe speler voor Leuven Bears. July 29, 2022. leuvenbears.be. nl. August 22, 2022.