Hall of Fame
Release. Dead corner. Ball in mid-air. Crowd chanted: "...Zee, Zee, Zee." Swish. Northern Illinois' own Rick Mount as 6-4, 195-pound swingman. Thrilled Evans Field House partisans with deadly accurate, long-range jump shots. "If you had him (Zielinski) with that rule (three-point basket), it would have been illegal," said HOF coach Tom Jorgensen. "I'll bet half of his field goals in college were threes. Jerry was one of the best pure shooters I've ever come across." Named on NIU All-Century (2000-01) and All-Time Evans Field House (1998) units. Drafted by ABA Dallas Chapparals (10th round in April, 1972). Played pro ball in Mexico. Two-time NIU HOFer. Averaged 18.1 ppg. and 6.8 rbpg. on 21-4 HOF quintet that won Midwestern Conference title, upset No. 5 Indiana, and crashed AP Top 20 (1971-72). Repeat First-Team All-Midwestern Conference (1970-72). One-time NIU No. 1 career scorer (1,402 points in 1969-72) & career FT pct. leader (.881). Reached twin-digit points 64 times, 20s 30 times, and 30s 10 times in 73 games. Set season NIU FT pct. mark (.900) on 90-of-100 (1969-70). Hit career-high and Evans FH record 46 points (21 FGs) vs. Southern Illinois (2-20-71). Posted 38 vs. SIU (2-16-72), 37 vs. Western Illinois (12-13-71), 31 vs. Ball State (2-19-72), 23 points & 10 boards vs. No. 11 South Carolina (1-29-72), and 22 vs. St. Bonaventure (2-2-72). Made debut with 23 vs. Indiana (12-1-69). Set Millett Hall mark with 31 vs. Miami (OH) (12-3-69). Led 14-2 Pups (29.4 ppg.) as frosh. All-Stater and HM All-America (29.1 ppg.) on 24-1 Putnam County High unit as senior (1967-68). Long-time coach in Hinsdale district.
