Mt. Pleasant’s Most Famous Athlete Joe Gaines
Joe Gaines Apollos 72-73 head shot
Joe was born around 1950 in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. In 1968, he graduated from Clarke School, his height at 6’ 8” made playing basketball the ideal sport for him. He is a member of the Clarke High School Tiger basketball team and the first all-black team to win the 1968 22nd District Championship. He is #14 in picture below.
He received a full paid scholarship to play basketball for the (private) Belmont University in Nashville, TN. He was one of the top scorers and rebounders in men’s basketball history at Belmont University.
Inducted into the Belmont Bruins Hall of Fame in 1989. Belmont Bruins wrote, “after graduating from Mount Pleasant High School, Gaines immediately provided Belmont with a stern post presence on both ends of the floor. The 6-8 forward had remarkable mobility and range for his size and was an unstoppable force on the glass.
Gaines' rebounding records will likely never be broken, including 1,895 career rebounds, a career rebounds per game average of 17.2, and a single-game standard of 30 rebounds at Lipscomb in 1970.
A three-time All-VSAC selection, Gaines was the VSAC Most Valuable Player in 1971. Gaines ranks 10th all-time at Belmont with 1,955 career points and is in the top 10 in seven statistical categories.
Gaines was selected by the Portland Trailblazers in the 1972 NBA Draft.
In 2001, he was one of 12 men’s basketball players named to the All-Striplin Gymnasium team”. (Belmont Bruins)
On April 10, 1972, he was drafted in the sixth round, first draft pick by the NBA Portland Trail Blazer to play for the Eastern Basketball Association minor league Scranton Apollos from 1972 - 1975. Joe Gaines minor league basketball statistics on StatsCrew.com
After leaving the Apollos, Joe joined the European National League playing for France and spent one year in Switzerland where he played and coached.
He retired from basketball, making his home in Nashville and a business owner. Joe passed away in July 2022 at the age of 72. We salute the man, the player, and legend.
Joe Gaines #23
Joe Gaines, #22
Clarke High School Tigers