When I Played Basketball

[Shoxthemonkey]

I attended Wichita South in the late 60s. I was one of the last two cut from the team every year. Not much demand for short slow deadeye shooters. Pre 3-point days and all that. I took solace from being one of 2 students picked to fill out he faculty intramural team. Senior year, I had it all worked out to live with my Aunt and Uncle in Chase Co so I could play 3A ball with my cousins. Last minute, Mom decided that Dad's sister wasn't going to have any influence over me and nixed the plan. Played a lot of town team basketball for Cedar Point well into my 30s.

[Kel Varnsen]

I played competitively until sophomore year of high school. I was cut my junior year.

When I was younger, I played in the post because I was typically bigger than most kids my age. Problem was, I stopped growing around freshman year of high school and stood 5'11". I found out that 5'11" post players were not in high demand for some reason. Which would have been fine, but I was not given much athletic ability at all, so I really couldn't play guard. Played in a Y league with some friends my senior year of HS which was a blast. Played intramurals at WSU...I still wasn't that good, although my career highlight was catching fire one game and dropping 27. I finally managed to dunk my junior year of college (definitely not possible now), which was a cool accomplishment.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

My biggest honor in my basketball playing life was being something like the 7th alternate to the walk-on spot on the 2006 squad.

Still waiting for my Sweet 16 ring, and still a little irked that the dude who earned the walk-on spot got kicked off mid-season and missed that incredible March run.

[RoyalShock]

I played through my junior year of high school. I was mostly a rebounder, not much of a scorer. A bunch of us seniors who weren't quite varsity-level players or didn't have time to play for the school decided instead to form a team and play in the Hutch Rec men's league. That was quite the experience. I recall one game where we were winning handily late in the game and went into sort of a 4-corners stall. A player from the other team came up behind our PG and punched him out of frustration.

I played church-league and pick-up ball well into my 30s. Now it's just tennis and volleyball for me.

[SHOXAAC]

I humbly had quite a HS career at Wichita South. As a sophomore in 1977 we were arguably the second best team in 5A behind that great Heights team. I averaged about 12 ppg during that year and also led the team in rebounds. As a junior I averaged about 28 ppg and was part of a special unbeaten 24-0 team (our girls also won state that year). Leading in to my senior year I became kind of a bid deal. I had a constant diet of Dean Smith, Bobby Knight among others that came to watch me play. I settled for that great tactitioner Ted Owens, but not before I averaged around 32 ppg as a senior and helped bring another state title to Coach Himebaugh. One of my fondest memories that year was when I out scored Southeast 46-45 myself. I went on to enroll with 4 colleges, but only played for 3. Oh wait, I just became Ricky Ross for a minute...me, I was just the basketball manager and witnessed Ricky Ross during those 3 years. Sure was fun!!!

[110%]

Loved basketball. Would brake ice as a kid in some ones driveway to play. HS bball was very good and decided I wasn't ready to give it up so I migrated south. Played a few years and realized I wasn't as good as I thought so I decided to enjoy the last year of school and get on with real life. No regrets so many good memories would do it all again.

[atlwsu]

I humbly had quite a HS career at Wichita South. As a sophomore in 1977 we were arguably the second best team in 5A behind that great Heights team. I averaged about 12 ppg during that year and also led the team in rebounds. As a junior I averaged about 28 ppg and was part of a special unbeaten 24-0 team (our girls also won state that year). Leading in to my senior year I became kind of a bid deal. I had a constant diet of Dean Smith, Bobby Knight among others that came to watch me play. I settled for that great tactitioner Ted Owens, but not before I averaged around 32 ppg as a senior and helped bring another state title to Coach Himebaugh. One of my fondest memories that year was when I out scored Southeast 46-45 myself. I went on to enroll with 4 colleges, but only played for 3. Oh wait, I just became Ricky Ross for a minute...me, I was just the basketball manager and witnessed Ricky Ross during those 3 years. Sure was fun!!!

I played for Coach Himebaugh in Jr High. He also coached me some in High School at North. I made the Sophomore and JV BB teams, but dropped BB as a junior to focus on track. Got to run in the summer Meet of Champions on the WSU track as a senior. Ran NAIA as a freshman in college but quite and transferred to WSU.

Played a lot of pickup games at Menisa Park, a little city league, which was over my head. Only 6ft but could jump, anticipate, and was fast. Not a good dribbler but from 10-12ft in I could shoot with either hand.

I can still beat my 13 yr old on the 8ft goal in the drive way, he is very short and unathletic. But i am only good for one game per weekend.

[OregonShocker]

My "claim to fame" in basketball is that while in HS I played against 4 guys that went on to the NBA; AC, Darnell Valentine, Greg Dreiling, and Scott Hastings. My HS team (small southern town) wasn't very good (hence why I got to play) and since there wasn't a great calling for 5'9" players that were slow and couldn't jump, my days were over after HS. But, I still love the game and played on various "league" teams until I tore my Achilles a couple years ago; classic old man's injury. Now I am relegated to stationary offense games like HORSE, or around the world with my grandsons.

[_kai_]

Conner's dad once told me that I had the fastest shot release he's ever seen. I don't think Conner was born yet. I'm assuming Coach Frankamp molded Conner's shot after mine.

[WstateU]

First, I learned to play basketball at a young age on a rock drive and that made me a better dribbler and ball handler. I was always a decent rebounder and could snag rebounds from taller players; although I had a ‘Xavier McDaniel’ nose for the ball, at 5’-11” (probably 5’-10” now) I had to use my skinny butt and instincts to get good rebounding position. One proud achievement occurred in one of my first freshman high school games. I came off the bench (I was pissed because the coach always played his favorites and I wasn’t one of them) and committed five of the quickest fouls in basketball history. Our Shaq would have been proud of my effort.

By the end of my freshman season, I was starting to get comfortable playing organized basketball and developed a ‘sweet stroke’ gaining numerous accolades from my coach. When we scrimmaged the varsity, I would often get “hotter than a pistol” and it would upset some of the star varsity players… I guess they didn’t like a ‘skinny’ freshman showing them up. I even got into a brawl with the star junior after I dominated and embarrassed him in a scrimmage. While I was attempting a layup, he pushed me into the brick wall and I immediately went after him throwing a rapid series of haymakers. :) Toward the end of the season, the coach told my father that I had a good chance to play a lot the following year and could become a star on the team; unfortunately, I sustained a serious leg injury the next summer and rehab kept me from playing basketball and football my sophomore and junior year and thereby ended my high school playing days.

I played intramural basketball at WSU with several former city league players (a couple of them were very good players) in old Henrion Gymnasium. Some of my teammates were surprised when I told them I had only played one year of organized basketball. I could hold my own with most of them and my outside shooting and ball handling skills kept me on the floor (I had the Ross McBurney touch). When I was feeling it, watch out! Unlike @Tyrone Shoelace:, I can’t recall ever inventing any basketball moves, however former Coach Gene Smithson would have said, “ole @WstateU: could sure tickle the twine”. I didn’t invent the popular "picket-fence” play, but I did help patent it. Overall, I’d say I was a ‘salty’ multi-sport intramural athlete during my collegiate days and a legend in my own mind.

Here I am with some of my high school buddies…

[im4wsu]

I've been cheering since I watched Cleo Littleton at the Wichita Forum. I was 5'9" as a senior at Wichita East and did not try out for the team. Short, slow and couldn't jump. But I did cheer loudly, even when sitting down (yes, I can be very loud from a sitting position). I grew to 6"2" during my senior year and following summer. Alas, I gained neither speed or jumping ability along with the growth.

[ShockerPrez]

I was able to get technical fouls in the parochial league. Got one for smacking the ball out of an inbounders hand, another for throwing the ball overhand back at the ref from 5 feet away, another for tripping a player after he dribbled by me. Loved 6th, 7th and 8th grade basketball. Wasn't cut out for high school bball. Not tall enough.

[kcshocker11]

Played starting point guard on my high school team(Largest class in Ks history, almost 1K).I also played in the Boys Clubs of America national tournament as a backup point guard. We finished 3rd out of 20 teams.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Thanks for all of the basketball autobiographies or resumes, whichever fits best. I have enjoyed reading it immensely.

I would love to read Ron Mendell's basketball resume.

I was not sure of the spelling of Ron's last name, so I searched to get the answer.

In doing so, I found an article that Ron wrote for the Wichita Eagle in 2012. In case anyone missed it, here is a link.

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article1096014.html

The story is about Warren Armstrong's passing.


rdr

[molly jabali]

Thanks for all of the basketball autobiographies or resumes, whichever fits best. I have enjoyed reading it immensely.

I would love to read Ron Mendell's basketball resume.

I was not sure of the spelling of Ron's last name, so I searched to get the answer.

In doing so, I found an article that Ron wrote for the Wichita Eagle in 2012. In case anyone missed it, here is a link.

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article1096014.html

The story is about Warren Armstrong's passing.


rdr

TOTALLY worth reading again....