[NU Sports] NU Hoopsters to NBA?

[Weinbaum, Willie]

Don Adams, not the "Get Smart" comedian, was a respectable NBA forward. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com]
On Behalf Of dave bradley
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 1:54 PM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: [NU Sports] NU Hoopsters to NBA?

Since many of you on the list are so well-versed on the details of all
of NU's sports teams & athletes, I've hesitated to ask for what many may
consider "every day" knowledge...but after yet another round of
harassment from the guys I play hoops with each week about the lack of
Northwestern alumni in the NBA, I just had to ask the experts and see if
the list is as short as I have found so far (not to be considered an
exhaustive search).  So far I have this:

1. Evan Eschmeyer '99
Drafted in 2nd round of 1999 NBA draft by New Jersey Nets. played four
seasons - the Nets from 1999-2001 and the Dallas Mavericks from
2001-2003. In October 2004, retired from basketball because of knee
problems, since enrolled at the Northwestern University School of Law
and the Kellogg School of Management where he is pursuing a JD/MBA
degree in Chicago and Evanston.

2. Billy McKinney
(NU nickname "Billy Z", from Zion, Illinois) '77 (my class) Drafted in
6th round in the 1977 NBA Draft,  played seven seasons in the league,
beginning with the Kansas City Kings, then  Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets,
San Diego Clippers and Chicago Bulls.  Now a sportscaster (radio
analysis) for Timberwolves

3. Joe Ruklick '59
Drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in the 2nd round of the 1959 NBA
draft (the same draft they selected Wilt Chamberlain), he played three
seasons.  A reserve, he was on the team when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100
in one game in 1962, & got the assist on Chamberlain's final basket that
night....(my daughter met him on an airline flight home last year, she
ended up sitting next to Craig Moore on same flight....eerie).

4. Phil Warren '59
Drafted 11th by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959 NBA draft.Don't think
he became roster player.

5. Nick Mantis '59
Drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 5th round of the 1959 NBA draft.
Played with Kansas City Steers in ABL (2nd Team All-League '61-62
season).

<3 guys from the '59 team got drafted and they didn't even win the Big
10!> 

And...expanding the list to include "professional" basketball ball..

6. Jitim Young '04
Plays for the Minot Skyrockets (North Dakota) in the Continental
Basketball Association, currently 5th in Assists per Game (4.6).

7. Vedran Vukusic '06
Playing for HAPOEL IRONI NAHARIYA (Israel), part of a European
basketball league.


Are there others that went to NBA or is this it?

Thanks.



dave bradley
(717) 687-5355
ddave at NUsports.com


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