Ranking Wichita State’s basketball players: 51-60

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.

51. Dave Leach

6-5 forward

McPherson

Years at WSU: 1962-65

Leach was a tremendous baseline shooter and tough defender and rebounder. He was so proficient from the baseline that his favorite spot for shooting became known as “Leach’s Corner.” Leach finished his career with 740 points and 365 rebounds while playing in two NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four..

52. Randy Smithson

6-3 guard

Normal, Ill.

Years at WSU: 1979-81

Smithson played for his father, Gene, at Wichita State and was the inspirational leader on those teams, which included Antoine Carr and Cliff Levingston. Smithson scored 732 points and made two huge free throws in an NCAA Tournament win over Iowa in 1981.

53. Paul Scheer

6-1 guard

Wichita (Cathedral)

Years at WSU: 1951-54

Scheer played on Ralph Miller’s first Shocker team in 1951-52 and went on to have a standout career as one of the top guards in WSU history. He averaged 12.1, 12.1 and 11.7 points in his three seasons.

54. J.T. Durley

6-8 forward

Pittsburg, Texas

Years at WSU: 2007-11

Durley butted heads with Gregg Marshall early in his career, but eventually became one of WSU’s best players during his junior and senior seasons, when he averaged 11.2 points. He finished his career with 1,327 points and 617 rebounds.

55. Tony Martin

6-3 guard

Willingboro, N.J.

Years at WSU: 1980-82

After transferring from junior college, Martin became a sparkplug for some of the best Shocker teams in history. He played in the same backcourt with Randy Smithson and scored 747 points in his two seasons.

56. Leonard Kelley

6-1 guard

Parsons

Years at WSU: 1961-64

Shocker great Dave Stallworth has always referred to Kelley as the unsung star of some of the outstanding Shocker teams of the early 1960s. Kelley and Ernie Moore formed what was one of the best backcourt duos in school history. Kelley, an outstanding defensive player, scored 630 points in his career.

57. Ron Mendell

6-0 guard

Ottawa

Years at WSU: 1966-69

Mendell, a terrific all-around guard, scored 853 points in his three seasons and was one of five Shockers to average in double figures for the 1967-68 team, led by Warren Armstrong. Mendell was a deadly shooter from inside the key and made 82.1 percent of his free throws, 10th best in WSU history.

58. Sean Ogirri

6-2 guard

Denver

Years at WSU: 2004-07

Ogirri was a big-time recruit who made an immediate impact. He averaged 12 points for the 2005-06 Sweet 16 team and ranks second in Shocker history with 200 three-pointers, even though he transferred to Wyoming following his junior season.

59. Bob Trogele

6-3 guard

Somers, N.Y.

Years at WSU: 1975-79

Trogele was a swing man who could play a variety of positions. He scored 1,028 career points and ranks fourth in assists and 15th in steals. He was a freshman on WSU’s NCAA Tournament team in 1975-76 that lost to Michigan 74-73 in the first round.

60. Gus Santos

6-7 forward

New York

Years at WSU: 1983-87

A four-year starter, Santos averaged 15 points and 5.6 rebounds as a junior in 1985-86. He scored 1,278 career points and started 22 of 29 games as a freshman under Gene Smithson before finishing his career for Eddie Fogler.

This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Ranking Wichita State’s basketball players: 51-60."