Career
At Lincoln High, he set scoring records that stand to this day. Cannon scored more points all-time than any Philadelphia high school player not named Wilt Chamberlain. Cannon averaged 18.9 points per game during his three seasons, accumulating a total of 1,430 points, and was named to All-American teams.
NOTE: was not permitted to enter the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament in Cannon"s senior year, despite being ranked #2 in the nation behind University of California, Los Angeles, due to recruiting violations against the school.
He was elected to the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Hall of Athletes in 1977. Cannon was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (5th pick overall) of the 1969 National Basketball Association Draft and by the Miami Floridians in the 1969 American Bar Association Draft.
He played in the American Bar Association (4 years) and National Basketball Association (1 year), leading Denver (American Bar Association) with 26.6 points per game during the 1970-1971 season. He played for the Miami Floridians (1969-1970), Denver Rockets (1970-1971), Memphis Pros (1971-1972), Indiana Pacers (1971-1972, 1973-1974) in the American Basketball Association for 194 games and Philadelphia 76ers (1973-1974) in the National Basketball Association for 19 games.
Cannon was forced to retire from pro basketball due to a chronic medical condition, phlebitis in his legs.
