Winston-Salem State University

Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Jackie "Jack" DeFares organized his first basketball game was at the Harlem YMCA, where he attended Frederick Douglass Junior High School. Jack continued his basketball career under the guidance of legendary Coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines at Winston-Salem College. A dynamic playmaker and prolific scorer, he was named to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) All-Star Team for four consecutive years and led his team in scoring from 1953 to 1957. During his junior and senior years, Jack was unanimously selected as CIAA Player of the Year. In 1957, he led his team to a conference championship, averaging an outstanding 24.9 points per game. Over the course of his collegiate career, his leadership carried the team to the CIAA tournament each season. In August of 1962, DeFares graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Education. In 1970, his legacy was further cemented when he was named to the All-Time CIAA Tournament Team, a distinction recognizing him as one of the ten greatest players in the history of the conference. After graduation, Jack played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, with the Williamsport team in Pennsylvania, the Chicago Great Lakers, the Snookies Sugar Bowl, and held his own with and against the best players at the Rucker league in Harlem, NY. Jackie "Jack" DeFares passed away on April 1st, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Jacequline DeFares, and children, Jack DeFares, Jr. and Sandra Nixon.