Athletics at The University of Kansas - Notable Athletes

Notable Athletes

• Phog Allen played basketball at KU under James Naismith. He was known as the "Father of Basketball Coaching" as he coached and mentored Hall of Fame coaches Dutch Lonberg, Adolph Rupp, Ralph Miller, and Dean Smith. Allen, Lonberg, Rupp, Miller, and Smith (all KU alumni and basketball players) amassed 3,481 career wins as head coaches. No other five alumni from any other school come close to this figure. When Allen retired he was the leader in all-time wins (746) until passed by Rupp, who held it until passed by Smith. Allen also founded the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in 1927, which went on to create the NCAA Tournament in 1939. While at Kansas, he was also a member of the Football and Baseball teams.
• Bob Allison, Major League Baseball player, Minnesota Twins
• Ferrell Anderson, Major League Baseball catcher, Brooklyn Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals
• Darrell Arthur, NBA player, forward for the Memphis Grizzlies
• Charles B. Black, Basketball player and only four-time All-American in KU history (2 of those years he was Consensus All-American). First 1,000 point scorer at KU.
• Charlie T. Black, Basketball player, was member of 1922 and 1923 Helms National Championship teams. Two-time All-American and 1924 Helms National Player of the Year.
• B. H. Born, Basketball player. Member of 1952 National Championship team and 1953 National runner-up team. 1953 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In the 1953 National Final game he scored 26 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, and blocked 13 shots. First-round NBA Draft pick who declined to play in the league. Helped recruit Wilt Chamberlain.
• Bill Bridges, Basketball player, 3-time NBA All Star. 1975 NBA Champion. 2-time NBA All-Defensive Team. 13-year NBA career.
• Gilbert Brown, 10-year NFL defensive tackle, Green Bay Packers
• Isaac Byrd, 6-year NFL wide receiver, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers
• Mario Chalmers, NBA Player, Hit the "Shot heard 'round the world" to send the 2008 NCAA Championship Game into overtime, eventually beating Memphis for the 2008 National Championship Title, currently plays for Miami Heat
• Wilt Chamberlain, two-time All American, Final Four MVP, National Basketball Hall of Fame, Top 50 All Time Greatest NBA players
• Anthony Collins, All-American, NFL player, offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Nick Collison, NBA Player, former Team USA member, power forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jon Cornish, 2006 First Team All-Big 12, second round draft pick of the Calgary Stampeders
• Nolan Cromwell, 1975 Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year, All-Pro safety, Los Angeles Rams
• Glenn Cunningham, two-time US Olympic Runner, Silver Medalist 1936 Berlin Olympics, dominant runner of 1930s
• Bobby Douglass, All-American QB, 13 year NFL player
• Paul Endacott, Basketball player and member of 1922 and 1923 Helms National Championship teams. Named 1923 Helms National Player of the Year.
• Ray Evans starred both on the hardwood and the gridiron. Playing both offense and defense, he led KU to the 1948 Orange Bowl. Only player in college football history to lead the nation in passing (on offense) and interceptions (on defense) in the same season. Single-season KU leader in interceptions with 10, as well as career leader with 17. All-American in football and in basketball. Drafted by the New York Knicks and Pittsburgh Steelers. His time in college was interrupted by three years of service in the United States Army Air Forces. Therefore, his All-American Basketball season was 1943 and his All-American Football season was 1947. He is the only player at KU to have his jersey retired both in football and basketball. Member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Matt Gogel, golf, PGA Tour winner of 2002 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
• Drew Gooden, NBA player, power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks
• Charles Gordon, NFL player, cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings
• John Hadl, two-time All-American, one year as a halfback and one year as quarterback; 16 year NFL player
• Justin Hartwig, NFL player, center for the Carolina Panthers, holds distinction of being the NFL's highest-paid center
• Kirk Hinrich, NBA player, point guard for the Atlanta Hawks
• Darnell Jackson, NBA player, forward for the Sacramento Kings
• William "Skinny" Johnson, Basketball player, 2-time All-Big 6. Member basketball Hall of Fame.
• Adrian Jones, NFL player, offensive lineman for the Houston Texans
• Raef LaFrentz, NBA player, power forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, retired
• Dutch Lonborg, Basketball player under Phog Allen. Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as a Head Coach.
• Clyde Lovellette, Basketball player, led KU to the 1952 NCAA Tournament championship. The only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in scoring and then win the National Championship in the same season. 1952 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Scored a then record 141 points in the 1952 NCAA Tournament. 3-time All-American (twice Consensus All-American) and 1952 Helms College Player of the Year. 1952 Olympic Gold Medalist while earning the Most Outstanding Player and leading the team in scoring. 9th overall pick in the 1952 NBA Draft. 4-time NBA All Star, 3-time NBA champion, and Basketball Hall of Fame member.
• Danny Manning, Basketball player and current assistant coach for the Kansas Jayhawks. Two-time All-American 1988 recipient of the Naismith and Wooden Awards, Big 8 Player of the Decade for 1980s, 2-time NBA All-Star, National Collegiate Basketball Hall Of Famer.
• Curtis McClinton, three-time All-Pro running back, Kansas City Chiefs
• Mike McCormack, NFL Hall of Fame tackle. Former NFL head coach and GM.
• David McMillan, NFL player, linebacker for the Cleveland Browns
• Ralph Miller, Basketball and Football player at KU. Assistant under Phog Allen. Went on to become Basketball Hall of Famer as a Head Coach with 657 wins.
• Billy Mills, First American to win gold medal in the 10,000m run, 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games
• Bill Nieder, Former record holder in High School shot put, first college Athlete to surpass 60 feet with the 16-pound shot, two National championships, Silver Medal 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, Gold Medal 1960 Rome Olympic Games
• Moran Norris, NFL player, fullback for the San Francisco 49ers
• Al Oerter, Olympic gold medal discus thrower in four consecutive Olympiads
• Rhino Page, MVP of the 2004 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships, now a 3-time titleist on the PBA Tour
• Paul Pierce, NBA player, small forward for the Boston Celtics, 2008 NBA Finals MVP, MVP of the Big 12 Conference Tournament in both 1997 and 1998 NBA
• Willie Pless, All-American LB, CFL Hall of Famer, all-time tackling leader at KU and the CFL
• Scot Pollard, NBA player, power forward for the Boston Celtics, retired.
• Fred Pralle, Basketball player, 2-time All-American. First Jayhawk to win Consensus All-American honors.
• Nick Reid, 2-time All-Big 12, 2005 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
• Steve Renko, Major League Baseball pitcher, California Angels
• John Riggins, NFL Hall of Fame running back, MVP of Super Bowl XVII
• Dave Robisch, All-American forward, 2-time Big 8 Player of the Year, 13-year ABA/NBA player
• Adolph Rupp, Basketball Player under Phog Allen. Member of 1922 and 1923 Helms National Championship teams. Retired as winningest college basketball Head Coach with 876 wins. Member of Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Brandon Rush, NBA Player, shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors
• Jim Ryun, World record holder in mile, Olympic silver medalist, former Congressman
• Wes Santee, American middle distance runner and athlete, 1952 Olympics
• Gale Sayers (the Kansas Comet), 2-time All American, NFL Hall of Fame running back, Chicago Bears
• Wayne Simien, 2-time All American, first-round draft pick by the Miami Heat
• Dean Smith played basketball under Phog Allen. Also played baseball. Member of the 1952 National Championship Basketball Team. Assistant Coach at KU for 1 season. Retired as winningest college basketball Head Coach with 879 wins. Member of Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Marilynn Smith, 21-time winner on the LPGA Tour. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006
• Bud Stallworth, Basketball player, 1972 Big 8 Player of the Year. Dropped 50 on Missouri in 1972 game. 7th overall pick in 1972 NBA draft.
• Dana Stubblefield, All-American, 3-time All-Pro defensive tackle, 1997 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• Aqib Talib, All-American, 2008 NFL Draft Pick, first round – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Darnell Valentine, All-American guard, 3-time Academic All-American, 9-year NBA player
• Jacque Vaughn, All-American player, won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs, retired, current assistant coach for the Spurs
• Rex Walters, played on KU Final Four team in 1993, played seven years in NBA, current coach of the University of San Francisco men's basketball team.
• Walt Wesley, Basketball Player, 2nd team All-American. 6th overall pick in 1966 NBA Draft. 10 year NBA career.
• Jo Jo White, All-American guard, 12-year NBA player, member of two NBA champion teams, number retired by the Boston Celtics
• Lynette Woodard, 4-time All-American, Major college basketball's career Women's Scoring leader, Gold Medalist 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, First woman ever to play with Harlem Globetrotters, WNBA player, former Assistant and Interim Head Coach for the Kansas Jayhawks, National Basketball Hall of Fame, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
• Gary Woodland, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
• Julian Wright, NBA player, power forward for the Toronto Raptors
• Layla Young, Soccer player, professional with Fulham L.F.C. and England women's national football team