Big Men Are A Tough Find

[Navin R. Johnson]

With the recent search we are conducting to find a big to fill out our roster I was just thinking how tough it has been for NU to find quality post players.  There are not a lot to go around and of course your big name schools usually pick over the cream of the crop so the rest are left searching for a late bloomer or a diamond in the rough or have to take a chance on someone as far as character or grades go.  

 

My question is: How many true post players has Nebraska recruited over the years that spent four years here and were not from a foreign country?  I don't really count Ubel as I saw him as more of a 4 man having to play the 5 spot.  I can only think of John Turek (Collier guy) Mikki Moore (Nee) and Venson Hamilton (Nee).  That is going back a ways.  Hamilton was a late sign if I remember right because of grade issues and Moore was a project that did bloom late but was not highly recruited.  Any other names?  I think it just shows that you can find some good guards and wing players but there just are not that many bigs to go around. (We were really lucky to have a Hoppen and a King to come out of our own state years back)

[Huskerpapa]

Richard van Poelgeest

Rich King

Kelly Lively

Tony Wilbrand

[Nebrasketballer]

I would be satisfied if Nebraska signed a Center like Kimani Ffriend every couple of seasons.  (Yes I know that he is from Jamaica and he was only at Nebraska for two seasons, so this is not exactly what you were asking for).  In my opinion, he has been the most exciting Nebraska Center to watch in the last 10-15 seasons.

[49r]

Dave Hoppen?

[AuroranHusker]

How about another Derrick Chandler every now & then?

[Daledangdarn]

Brian Conklin

[49r]

How about another Derrick Chandler every now & then?

 

I approve this message.

[Navin R. Johnson]

Was Chandler a 4 year player? I thought of Conklin more of a 4 man.

[atskooc]

 

How about another Derrick Chandler every now & then?

 

I approve this message.

 

Absolutely!

[cipsucks]

The Huskers have had very few big men the years I've followed them.  Chuck Jura was 6'10".  He graduated in 1972.  Our next big guy after that was Hoppen, a decade later.  Throw in Rich King, and as Navin originally posted, these guys are Nebraska natives.

 

I guess we gotta start breeding taller kids.  Kamdy, get on that.     (So to speak...)

[Huskerpapa]

Chandler was a "very good" two year guy.

[colhusker]

I would take someone with the size and skills as Mr Hamilton.

[Handy Johnson]

How 'bout a 6'6" Andre Smith starting at Center, and winning the Big 8 Player of the Year award in 1980? 

[TheKamdyMan]

The Huskers have had very few big men the years I've followed them.  Chuck Jura was 6'10".  He graduated in 1972.  Our next big guy after that was Hoppen, a decade later.  Throw in Rich King, and as Navin originally posted, these guys are Nebraska natives.

 

I guess we gotta start breeding taller kids.  Kamdy, get on that.     (So to speak...)

 

baby #2's sex should be known in a couple weeks.  Hoping for another boy.

[Silverbacked1]

 

The Huskers have had very few big men the years I've followed them.  Chuck Jura was 6'10".  He graduated in 1972.  Our next big guy after that was Hoppen, a decade later.  Throw in Rich King, and as Navin originally posted, these guys are Nebraska natives.

 

I guess we gotta start breeding taller kids.  Kamdy, get on that.     (So to speak...)

 

baby #2's sex should be known in a couple weeks.  Hoping for another boy.

 

Connie can use a tall player or two if that it goes that way.

[Huskerpapa]

Larry Cox played center for the Huskers in the mid-70's at 6'6" 200 lbs.  I think they fabricated the height though...he may have been 6'5".  Carl McPipe was a good one, he was 6'8".   I think Andre was 6'7" but played bigger, he came in with Dave MacFarlene, who was a 7' out of Plattsmouth.

[Norm Peterson]

Richard van Poelgeest

Rich King

Kelly Lively

Tony Wilbrand

van Poelgeest was from a foreign country.  Like one of those Nordic countries where they grow a lot of blond skiers.

[Silverbacked1]

He was Dutch and they are on average the tallest people in the world.

 

Or something like that.

[Navin R. Johnson]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Lively left after a year or two and Wilbrand was not on scholarship.

[Navin R. Johnson]

So if we go back, say about 40 years we have the following list of 4 year, non foreign true post scholarship players:

 

J. Turek

M. Moore

V. Hamilton

R. King

D. Hoppen

A. Smith

C. McPipe

 

(I can't remember Cox or MacFarlene, CWG you will have to help me out if these two made the qualifications for the list)

 

That is really a short list considering we are going back 40 years.  Some really good players though.

[Silverbacked1]

Bus Whitehead?

[Huskerpapa]

 

Richard van Poelgeest

Rich King

Kelly Lively

Tony Wilbrand

van Poelgeest was from a foreign country.  Like one of those Nordic countries where they grow a lot of blond skiers.

 

Yes, but I like to see his name mentioned every once in awhile

[Huskerpapa]

So if we go back, say about 40 years we have the following list of 4 year, non foreign true post scholarship players:

 

J. Turek

M. Moore

V. Hamilton

R. King

D. Hoppen

A. Smith

C. McPipe

 

(I can't remember Cox or MacFarlene, CWG you will have to help me out if these two made the qualifications for the list)

 

That is really a short list considering we are going back 40 years.  Some really good players though.

MacFarlene came in with some pretty decent hype, but lasted only two years at UNL.  Larry Cox played all four years at dear old Nebraska.  He was the starting center on a team that had one of the better back courts in the college game.  HB  do you (or anyone else) remember who they were?

[hal9000]

Bi-ig men.  Are tough to FI-YI-YIND!

 

THEY'RE TOUGH TO FIND!

 

[colhusker]

Mike Heck from Papillion was a Husker wasn't he?