John Tidwell

John Tidwell
Tidwell sets Michigan scoring record with 43 points against Minnesota
Education	Bachelor of Science, 1961 Doctor of Medicine, 1965
Alma mater	University of Michigan
Occupation	Medical doctor
Years active	1965–present
Known for	College basketball player, 1958–1961 Established University of Michigan single game and season scoring records Inducted into University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, 1996
Home town	Charlotte, North Carolina
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg)

John W. Tidwell is a retired American basketball player and medical doctor. He played for the University of Michigan from 1958 to 1961 and broke the school's records for points scored in a single game and single season. He later became an obstetrician-gynecologist in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Tidwell grew up in Herrin in southern Illinois. He played basketball for Herrin High School from 1955 to 1957, leading the school to a 28–3 record as a junior and 31–2 as a senior. In 1957, the 6 feet, 4 inch Tidwell was the tallest player and the high scorer for the Herrin High School team that won the Illinois state basketball championship. Herrin defeated Elgin in the quarter-finals, Quincy Notre Dame in the semi-finals, and Collinsville in the championship game. The 1957 state championship was considered a great feat because Herrin was a relatively small city, and Illinois had only one class in basketball. Tidwell was also selected as a first-team forward on the 1957 Illinois All-State basketball team.

Tidwell was one of the most highly rated high school basketball players in the Midwest in 1957. He reportedly received scholarships from 70 colleges, including the University of Illinois and University of Michigan. Michigan's head coach Bill Perigo did not travel to Herrin to recruit Tidwell, but Tidwell chose Michigan because of its good engineering school.

He played college basketball for the University of Michigan from 1958–1961. Tidwell managed to excel in basketball game despite what the Chicago Daily Tribune described as "the handicap of a short and twisted left arm." Tidwell sustained the injury while playing quarterback for the freshman football team while in high school in 1953. He dislocated his left elbow when his arm was pinned behind his back on being tackled. He had a pin placed in his elbow. Tidwell later recalled how the injury had affected his jump shot: