 He graduated from Central High School in Newark, though he was such a fan of baseball that he intentionally failed high school final exams so he could remain at the school for one more year in order to play for his high school baseball team.He wanted to go to college; but the school of his choice, Panzer College of Physical Education in East Orange (NJ) did not accept black students.He received his nickname of "Jocko" when he was a teenager.