Tom Hopper moved from Illinois to Ridgewood in 1945 and brought the one-hand jump shot with him. It was the day of the set shot and new to New Jersey hoops. and coach Charlie Yennie said he introduced it to Garden State scholastic basketball. He scored 735 points over the 1948-49-50 seasons, was named All-County twice and selected on the All-State Third Team his senior season.

He also played soccer for the Maroons, and Yennie coached him in both sports. After three years in the Marines, he went to North Carolina State and played three varsity seasons on the hardwood there. He began a career in the textile business after graduating in 1950 and spent two years in Spartanburg, S.C., before moving north to Glen Rock from 1961 to 1969. Then he went back south and has been in Atlanta ever since. The 73-year old worked for the Milliken Company, a major textile manufacturer, for 17 years. He started his own business in 1972 and spent 26 years on his own before retiring. Tom and his wife Jan have four grown children.