Jim Rose (born May 26, 1947 - May 30, 2009) was an American collegiate and professional basketball player. He was a second round pick of the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association in the 1971 NBA Draft.
A graduate of Hazard High School, where he was selected to the Parade All-American Team. After originally committing to the Houston Cougars, the press release on May 18, 1967 read as follows:"Western Kentucky signed its third all-state basketball player, Jim Rose of Hazard, Ky., to a grant-in-aid yesterday. ROSE, a 6-3, 175-pound guard, averaged 24.9 points and 14 rebounds last season. He was a first team all-stater in 1965 and 1967 and slipped to the Cage Standout second team, in 1966. He was named to the Kentucky All-State Tournament Kentucky team as a freshman and was a fourth team All-American this year."
Rose played college basketball at Western Kentucky University, from 1967 to 1971 under Coach John Oldham. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists for his career. As a Senior, Rose averaged 15.4/4.8/2.9 and he helped lead the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Final 4 in 1971, along with teammates Clarence Glover (#10 pick in 1971 NBA Draft), Jim McDaniels (#23 pick in 1971 NBA Draft) and Jerry Dunn. In the 1971 NCAA Tournament, the Hilltoppers defeated Jacksonville University (with Artis Gilmore), Coach Adolph Rupp and his University of Kentucky Wildcats (107-83) and Ohio State University before losing to Villanova University in the semi-finals (92-89 in double overtime). They then defeated Kansas University in the third place game, finishing 24-6. Rose had 25 points in the victory over Kentucky, 18 points in the Final-4 loss to Villanova and 11 in the victory over Kansas.
Rose was drafted 28th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1971 NBA draft, but never appeared in an NBA regular season game. Rose was also drafted by the Memphis Tams in the second round of the 1971 American Basketball Association.
Rose died on May 30, 2009 at Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport, Tennessee. He is buried in Town Mountain Cemetery in Hazard, Kentucky.