Ranking Wichita State’s basketball players: 71-80
Eagle columnist Bob Lutz ranks the Wichita State basketball program’s best players, 10 per week through March 12. Go to Kansas.com to see bios of players already revealed.
71. Henry Carr
6-9 center
Wichita (Heights)
Years at WSU: 1983-87
Ah, if Carr could only have made free throws. The younger brother of Antoine scored 758 points and grabbed 5.2 rebounds during his career and improved steadily to lead the Shockers in scoring as a senior at 11.8 points.
72. Rob Kampman
6-8 forward
Forest City, Iowa
Years at WSU: 2001-05
Kampman was a four-year starter who was steady throughout his Shocker career, finishing with 974 points and 532 rebounds although never averaging in double figures.
73. Neil Strom
6-7 forward
Jamaica, N.Y.
Years at WSU: 1973-76
Strom was part of a strong New York flavor on the Shockers’ roster during his career, joining fellow New York City natives Cheese Johnson, Robert Elmore and Calvin Bruton. He averaged 12 points as a junior and scored 620 points in his three seasons.
74. Robert George
6-1 guard
Irvington, N.J.
Years at WSU: 1990-92
A junior-college transfer, George was a daredevil point guard whose risks sometimes paid off and sometimes didn’t. He averaged 12.0 and 10.6 points during his two seasons and had 130 assists as a junior.
75. Karl Papke
6-6 guard
Wichita (West)
Years at WSU: 1980-85
Papke, a fan favorite, scored 619 points and had 363 rebounds as a Shocker and made one of the biggest shots in WSU history, a banking hook shot with eight seconds left that helped the Shockers beat No. 11 Tulsa, 66-64, in 1984.
76. Jim Givens
6-7 forward
Nickerson
Years at WSU: 1968-71
Dubbed “The Kid from Nickerson” by Shocker broadcaster Gus Grebe, Givens was a tough defender and rebounder who avearged 7.2 rebounds during his career, the 19th-most in WSU history.
77. John Smith
6-8 center
Columbia, S.C.
Years at WSU: 1991-93
Smith was a top-flight recruit but his career at WSU lasted two seasons before he transferred to VCU. Those seasons were good ones, though, as Smith averaged 12.8 and 10.6 points and 7.4 and 5.8 rebounds.
78. Gaylon Nickerson
6-3 guard
Wichita (North)
Years at WSU: 1989-90
Nickerson spent time at WSU and Kansas State before finally finding peace at Northwest Oklahoma State in Alva. He played 42 games in the NBA and averaged 10 points as a Shocker sophomore.
79. Troy Mack
6-8 forward
Detroit
Years at WSU: 1998-2002
Mack, a solid contributor during his first three seasons, had an outstanding senior season when he averaged 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds for Mark Turgeon. Included was a 22-rebound performance against Missouri State in 1999.
80. Jim McNerney
6-2 guard
McKeesport, Pa.
Years at WSU: 1951-54
McNerney was a key part of the Shockers’ 1953-54 NIT team that finished 21-4, averaging 9.1 points. He scored 661 points and had 420 rebounds during his four-year career.
Players already revealed
81. Joe Griffin
82. Lew Hill
83. Graham Hatch
84. Steve Kalocinski
85. Ozell Jones
86. L.D. Swanson
87. C.C. McFall
88. Darin Miller
89. John Gales
90. Larry Callis
91. Aaron Hogg
92. Terry Hankton
93. Ev Wessel
94. Bill Lang
95. Gary Thompson
96. Evan Wessel
97. Darrin Williams
98. Ryan Herrs
99. Dwayne Praylow
100. David Kyles
Go to Kansas.com to see bios of players who have already been revealed.
The Greatest Shockers 1 to 100
Bob Lutz ranks the top Wichita State players of the modern era, beginning in 1951-52 when Ralph Miller took over as coach.
▪ Where do the 21st century stars rank in Shocker history?
Check back each Saturday for the next 10 players.
This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Ranking Wichita State’s basketball players: 71-80."