About Hook Dillon
Lived 1924 – 2004 (aged 80). Hook Dillon was an American basketball player.
John Joseph "Hook" Dillon (January 8, 1924 – January 18, 2004) was an American basketball player.
He played collegiately for the University of North Carolina from 1945 to 1948. Prior to attending UNC, he previously played in the Savannah (GA) Ice Delivery city league and Benedictine Military Academy.
Dillon earned All-America honors in 1946 and 1947. He was the leading scorer on the 1946 team, which was UNC's first team to ever reach the Final Four. He first started gaining national attention early in 1946 against New York University in Madison Square Garden when he scored 21 points, many on his deadly hook shot. After the game, the media declared his shot to be one of the best ever showcased in Madison Square Garden, and the nickname stuck.
Because of his national accolades, Dillon's number 13 was honored by the University of North Carolina and currently hangs in the rafters of the Dean Smith Center.
Dillon had a brief professional career with the Toronto Huskies and Washington Capitols of the NBA.
He died on January 18, 2004.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Hook Dillon's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Hook Dillon's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Hook Dillon?
American basketball player (1924–2004)
When was Hook Dillon born?
Hook Dillon was born on 8 January 1924 in Savannah.
When did Hook Dillon die?
Hook Dillon died on 18 January 2004 in Winston-Salem.
What was Hook Dillon's occupation?
Hook Dillon was a basketball player.
What nationality was Hook Dillon?
Hook Dillon was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hook Dillon. https://biography.guide/hook-dillon/
MLA: "Hook Dillon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hook-dillon/.
Chicago: "Hook Dillon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hook-dillon/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC