Kansas High School Graduates in the Pros HOME DATE: 12-16-2005
This list attempts to show only Kansas high school graduates who actually played in a major league professional basketball or football league. This leaves some people out whose resume includes playing with a professional team. EXAMPLE: Gene Keady graduated from Larned High in 1954 and later played football for Kansas State. He is listed in several sources as serving a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1958. I could not find any record of statistics that show he played in any games. I finally found some biographical information that verified he was signed by the Steelers - but suffered a knee injury in training camp that ended his career. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Some players played briefly in pre-season exhibition games - but never made the final cut for regular season games. I think Brian Shay was in this category. In basketball, many players were drafted , then never played in a regular season game.
BASKETBALL: NBA or ABA
Some played with several different teams - I tried to pick out the team where the person played the majority of his games or made the most significant contribution.
Basketball Pros
| ALL-AMERICAN | ||||||||
| YR | Player | POS | High School | College | PRO | |||
| 1941 | Otto Schnellbacher | Sublette | KANSAS | PROVIDENCE Steamrollers | ||||
| 1943 | Robert Brannum | Winfield | KENTUCKY | BOSTON Celtics | ||||
| 1947 | Ernie Barrett | Wellington | KANSAS STATE | BOSTON Celtics | ||||
| 1949 | Dick Knostman | Wamego | KANSAS STATE | SYRACUSE Nationals | ||||
| 1962 | Riney Lochman | Wichita North | KANSAS | DALLAS Chaparrals (ABA) | ||||
| 1957 | Larry Comley | Wyandotte | KANSAS STATE | BALTIMORE Bullets | ||||
| 1963 | Ron Franz | Ward-K.C. | KANSAS | FLORIDIANS (ABA) | ||||
| 1965 | Lucius Allen | Wyandotte | UCLA | MILWAUKEE Bucs | ||||
| 1967 | Pierre Russell | Wyandotte | KANSAS | KENTUCKY Colonels (ABA) | ||||
| 1969 | Leonard Gray | Sumner-K.C. | LONG BEACH ST-CA | SEATTLE Supersonics | ||||
| 1976 | Larry Drew | Wyandotte | MISSOURI | KANSAS CITY Kings | ||||
| 1977 | Darnell Valentine | Wichita Heights | KANSAS | PORTLAND Trailblazers | ||||
| 1978 | Ed Nealy | Bonner Springs | KANSAS STATE | KANSAS CITY Kings | ||||
| 1978 | Scott Hastings | Independence | ARKANSAS | ATLANTA Hawks | ||||
| 1979 | Antoine Carr | Wichita Heights | WICHITA STATE | UTAH Jazz | ||||
| 1981 | Greg Dreiling | Wichita Kapaun | WSU/KANSAS | INDIANA Pacers | ||||
| 1984 | Danny Manning | Lawrence | KANSAS | LOS ANGELES Clippers | ||||
| 1986 | Steve Henson | McPherson | KANSAS STATE | MILWAUKEE Bucs | ||||
| 1992 | Adrian Griffin | Wichita East | SETON HALL | CHICAGO Bulls | ||||
| 1993 | Martin Lewis | Liberal | Seward County CC | TORONTO Raptors | ||||
| 1996 | Paul Shirley | JW-Meriden | IOWA STATE | PHOENIX Suns | ||||
| 1997 | Earl Watson | Washington-K.C. | UCLA | MEMPHIS Grizzlies | ||||
| 1997 | Maurice Evans | Wichita Collegiate | WSU/TEXAS | SACRAMENTO Kings | ||||
| 1999 | Melvin Sanders | Liberal | OKLAHOMA ST | SAN ANTONIO Spurs | ||||
| 2000 | Matt Freije | Shawnee Mission West | VANDERBILT | NEW ORLEANS Hornets | ||||
BASKETBALL by Kansas High School
| 1978 | Ed Nealy | Bonner Springs | KANSAS STATE | KANSAS CITY Kings | ||||
| 1978 | Scott Hastings | Independence | ARKANSAS | ATLANTA Hawks | ||||
| 1996 | Paul Shirley | JW-Meriden | IOWA STATE | PHOENIX Suns | ||||
| 1984 | Danny Manning | Lawrence | KANSAS | LOS ANGELES Clippers | ||||
| 1993 | Martin Lewis | Liberal | Seward County CC | TORONTO Raptors | ||||
| 1999 | Melvin Sanders | Liberal | OKLAHOMA STATE | SAN ANTONIO Spurs | ||||
| 1986 | Steve Henson | McPherson | KANSAS STATE | MILWAUKEE Bucs | ||||
| 2000 | Matt Freije | Shawnee Mission West | VANDERBILT | NEW ORLEANS Hornets | ||||
| 1941 | Otto Schnellbacher | Sublette | KANSAS | PROVIDENCE Steamrollers | ||||
| 1969 | Leonard Gray | Sumner-K.C. | LONG BEACH ST-CA | SEATTLE Supersonics | ||||
| 1949 | Dick Knostman | Wamego | KANSAS STATE | SYRACUSE Nationals | ||||
| 1963 | Ron Franz | Ward-K.C. | KANSAS | FLORIDIANS (ABA) | ||||
| 1997 | Earl Watson | Washington-K.C. | UCLA | MEMPHIS Grizzlies | ||||
| 1947 | Ernie Barrett | Wellington | KANSAS STATE | BOSTON Celtics | ||||
| 1997 | Maurice Evans | Wichita Collegiate | WSU/TEXAS | SACRAMENTO Kings | ||||
| 1992 | Adrian Griffin | Wichita East | SETON HALL | CHICAGO Bulls | ||||
| 1977 | Darnell Valentine | Wichita Heights | KANSAS | PORTLAND Trailblazers | ||||
| 1979 | Antoine Carr | Wichita Heights | WICHITA STATE | UTAH Jazz | ||||
| 1981 | Greg Dreiling | Wichita Kapaun | WSU/KANSAS | INDIANA Pacers | ||||
| 1962 | Riney Lochman | Wichita North | KANSAS | DALLAS Chaparrals (ABA) | ||||
| 1980 | Brian Martin | Wichita Northwest | KANSAS | PORTLAND Trailblazers | ||||
| 1943 | Robert Brannum | Winfield | KENTUCKY | BOSTON Celtics | ||||
| 1957 | Larry Comley | Wyandotte | KANSAS STATE | BALTIMORE Bullets | ||||
| 1965 | Lucius Allen | Wyandotte | UCLA | MILWAUKEE Bucs | ||||
| 1967 | Pierre Russell | Wyandotte | KANSAS | KENTUCKY Colonels | ||||
| 1976 | Larry Drew | Wyandotte | MISSOURI | KANSAS CITY Kings | ||||
FOOTBALL: NFL, AAFL (X) or AFL
| FOOTBALL - List in Progress | ALL-AMERICAN | NFL HALL OF FAME | |||||
| YR | Player | POS | High School | College | NFL | ||
| 1910 | John Detwiler | Smith Center | KANSAS | HAMMOND Pros | |||
| 1915 | Ray Hahn | Clay Center | KANSAS STATE | HAMMOND Pros | |||
| 1916 | William "Link" Lyman | McDonald (Cheylin) | NEBRASKA | CHICAGO Bears | |||
| 1916 | Lew Lane | Bucklin | ST MARY'S-KS | KANSAS CITY Blues | |||
| 1916 | Lee Wykoff | Osborne | WASHBURN-KS | ST LOUIS All-Stars | |||
| 1917 | Al Jolley | Manhattan | KANSAS STATE | AKRON Pros | |||
| 1917 | Larry McGinnis | TCHS (Hayden-Topeka) | MARQUETTE | MILWAUKEE Badgers | |||
| 1918 | Proc Randels | Chaparral | KANSAS STATE | KANSAS CITY Cowboys | |||
| 1918 | Hal Burt | Eureka | KANSAS | CLEVELAND Bulldogs | |||
| 1920 | Lyle Munn | Norton | KANSAS STATE | KANSAS CITY Cowboys | |||
| 1922 | Louis Weller | Haskell | HASKELL INDIAN-KS | BOSTON Redskins | |||
| 1923 | Bert Person | Manhattan | KANSAS STATE | CHICAGO Bears | |||
| 1924 | Jim Bausch | Cathedral-Wich (Kapaun) | KANSAS | CHICAGO Bears | |||
| 1926 | Pete Bausch | Cathedral-Wich (Kapaun) | KANSAS | CHICAGO Cardinals | |||
| 1926 | Dale Burnett | Dodge City | EMPORIA STATE-KS | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1928 | Homer Hanson | Riley County | KANSAS STATE | CHICAGO Cardinals | |||
| 1928 | Len Dugan | McCracken (LaCrosse) | WICHITA STATE | CHICAGO Cardinals | |||
| 1928 | Charlie McLaughlin | Peabody | WICHITA STATE | CNC/STL Reds-Gunners | |||
| 1929 | Elmer Schaake | Lawrence | KANSAS | PORTSMOUTH Spartans | |||
| 1930 | Leland Shaffer | Minneola | KANSAS STATE | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1930 | Pete Mehringer | Kinsley | KANSAS | LOS ANGELES Rams | |||
| 1931 | Harry Kline | Elmdale (Chase County) | EMPORIA STATE-KS | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1932 | Hal Brill | Norton | WICHITA STATE | DETROIT Lions | |||
| 1932 | Bob Tarrant | El Dorado | PITTSBURG STATE-KS | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1933 | Sam Francis | Oberlin | NEBRASKA | CHICAGO Bears | |||
| 1934 | Elmer Hackney | Oberlin | KANSAS STATE | DETROIT Lions | |||
| 1936 | Wen Goldsmith | Melvern (MDS) | EMPORIA STATE-KS | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1937 | Dean Helmick | Sedan | SOUTHWESTERN-KS | PITTSBURGH Steelers | |||
| 1938 | Bob Layden | Frontenac | SOUTHWESTERN-KS | DETROIT Lions | |||
| 1938 | Don Pierce | C | Topeka High | KANSAS | CHICAGO Cardinals | ||
| 1938 | Hub Ulrich | Quinter | KANSAS | MIAMI Seahawks (X) | |||
| 1939 | Ray Evans | HB | Wyandotte | KANSAS | DETROIT Lions | ||
| 1940 | Gene Spangler | Coffeyville | TULSA | DETROIT Lions | |||
| 1940 | Doug McEnulty | Wichita East | WICHITA STATE | CHICAGO Bears | |||
| 1941 | Otto Schnellbacher | Sublette | KANSAS | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1944 | Linwood Sexton | Wichita East | WICHITA STATE | LOS ANGELES Dons (X) | |||
| 1945 | Ray Romero | Wichita North | KANSAS STATE | PHILADELPHIA Eagles | |||
| 1946 | Dick Tomlinson | Dodge City | KANSAS | PITTSBURGH Steelers | |||
| 1947 | John Amberg | Shawnee Mission | KANSAS | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1948 | Oliver Spencer | Ulysses | KANSAS | DETROIT Lions | |||
| 1949 | Veryl Switzer | B | Bogue (Hill City) | KANSAS STATE | GREEN BAY Packers | ||
| 1949 | Galen Fiss | Johnson (Stanton Cnty) | KANSAS | CLEVELAND Browns | |||
| 1949 | Bob Hantla | Meade | KANSAS | SAN FRANCISCO 49ers | |||
| 1951 | Larry Hartshorn | El Dorado | KANSAS STATE | CHICAGO Cardinals | |||
| 1952 | Bill Danenhauer | Clay Center | EMPORIA STATE-KS | DENVER Broncos | |||
| 1953 | Eldon Danenhauer | Clay Center | PITTSBURG STATE-KS | DENVER Broncos | |||
| 1955 | Curtis McClinton | E | Wichita North | KANSAS | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | ||
| 1956 | Doyle Schick | B | Lawrence | KANSAS | WASHINGTON Redskins | ||
| 1956 | Nelson Toburen | E | Colby | WICHITA STATE | GREEN BAY Packers | ||
| 1956 | Al Reynolds | Winchester | TARKIO COLLEGE-MO | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | |||
| 1957 | Dale Evans | Highland Park-Topeka | KANSAS STATE | DENVER Broncos | |||
| 1957 | Roland Lakes | Parsons | WICHITA STATE | SAN FRANCISCO 49ers | |||
| 1957 | John Hadl | B | Lawrence | KANSAS | SAN DIEGO Chargers | ||
| 1958 | Bobby Morgan | Wamego | NEW MEXICO | PITTSBURGH Steelers | |||
| 1959 | Hank Schichtle | Coffeyville | HAWAII | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1960 | Brian Schweda | T | Lawrence | KANSAS | CHICAGO Bears | ||
| 1961 | Mike Johnson | Garden City | KANSAS | DALLAS Cowboys | |||
| 1961 | Dick Tyson | Sumner-KC | TULSA | DENVER Broncos | |||
| 1962 | Jim Waskiewicz | Wichita East | WICHITA STATE | NEW YORK Jets | |||
| 1963 | George Harvey | Parsons | KANSAS | NEW ORLEANS Saints | |||
| 1964 | John Zook | E | Larned | KANSAS | ATLANTA Falcons | ||
| 1964 | Bobby Douglas | QB | El Dorado | KANSAS | CHICAGO Bears | ||
| 1965 | Dave Jones | Goodland | KANSAS STATE | CLEVELAND Browns | |||
| 1966 | John Riggins | B | Centralia | KANSAS | WASHINGTON Redskins | ||
| 1966 | John Mosier | Wichita West | KANSAS | DENVER Broncos | |||
| 1967 | Mike Montgomery | Dodge City | KANSAS STATE | SAN DIEGO Chargers | |||
| 1967 | Lynn Dickey | QB | Osawatomie | KANSAS STATE | GREEN BAY Packers | ||
| 1968 | Steve Crosby | Pawnee Rock | FORT HAYS ST-KS | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1969 | John Lohmeyer | Emporia | EMPORIA STATE-KS | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | |||
| 1969 | Spencer Thomas | Wyandotte | WASHBURN-KS | WASHINGTON Redskins | |||
| 1970 | Marv Kellum | Perry-Lecompton | WICHITA STATE | PITTSBURGH Steelers | |||
| 1970 | Rick Dvorak | Spearville | WICHITA STATE | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1970 | David Jaynes | QB | Bonner Springs | KANSAS | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | ||
| 1970 | Tom Owen | Turner-KC | WICHITA STATE | SAN FRANCISCO 49ers | |||
| 1970 | Don Calhoun | Wichita North | KANSAS STATE | NEW ENGLAND Patriots | |||
| 1970 | Steve Grogan | QB | Ottawa | KANSAS STATE | NEW ENGLAND Patriots | ||
| 1970 | Steve Towle | E | Shawnee Mission South | KANSAS | MIAMI Dolphins | ||
| 1972 | Terry Beeson | L | Coffeyville | KANSAS | SEATTLE Seahawks | ||
| 1972 | Nolan Cromwell | B | Ransom | KANSAS | LOS ANGELES Rams | ||
| 1972 | Chris Golub | Shawnee Mission North | KANSAS | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | |||
| 1972 | Marvin Switzer | Bogue (Hill City) | KANSAS STATE | BUFFALO Bills | |||
| 1972 | LaVerne Smith | RB | Wichita Southeast | KANSAS | PITTSBURGH Steelers | ||
| 1973 | Derrel Gofourth | Parsons | OKLAHOMA STATE | GREEN BAY Packers | |||
| 1973 | Steve Little | QB | Shawnee Mission South | ARKANSAS | ST LOUIS Cardinals | ||
| 1973 | Derrick Jensen | B | Osawatomie | TEXAS-ARL | OAKLAND Raiders | ||
| 1973 | Tom Dinkel | B | Shawnee Heights | KANSAS | CINCINNATI Bengals | ||
| 1973 | Gary Spani | B | Manhattan | KANSAS STATE | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | ||
| 1974 | Mike Bell | Wichita Carroll | COLORADO STATE | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | |||
| 1974 | Mark Bell | Wichita Carroll | COLORADO STATE | SEATTLE Seahawks | |||
| 1974 | Billy Campfield | Derby | KANSAS | PHILADELPHIA Eagles | |||
| 1974 | Paul Coffman | TE | Chase | KANSAS STATE | GREEN BAY Packers | ||
| 1974 | Mike Wellman | Lawrence | KANSAS | GREEN BAY Packers | |||
| 1975 | Jeff George | Atchison | ILLINOIS STATE | TAMPA BAY Bucs | |||
| 1975 | David Verser | WR | Sumner-KC | KANSAS | CINCINNATI Bengals | ||
| 1975 | Steve Henry | Nemaha Valley | EMPORIA STATE-KS | ST LOUIS Cardinals | |||
| 1975 | Mike Friede | Goodland | INDIANA | NEW YORK Giants | |||
| 1976 | James Walker | Wichita East | KANSAS STATE | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | |||
| 1976 | Frank Wattelet | Abilene | KANSAS | NEW ORLEANS Saints | |||
| 1977 | Roy Foster | Shawnee Mission West | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | MIAMI Dolphins | |||
| 1977 | Monte Bennett | Sterling | KANSAS STATE | NEW ORLEANS Saints | |||
| 1977 | Bobby Whitten | Junction City | KANSAS | CINCINNATI Bengals | |||
| 1969 | Spencer Thomas | Wyandotte | WASHBURN-KS | WASHINGTON Redskins | |||
| 1978 | Kyle McNorton | Seaman-Topeka | KANSAS | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | |||
| 1978 | Doug Hoppock | Wichita Southeast | KANSAS STATE | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | |||
| 1978 | Will Cokely | Washburn Rural-Topeka | KANSAS STATE | BUFFALO Bills | |||
| 1979 | Bucky Scribner | Lawrence | KANSAS | MINNESOTA Vikings | |||
| 1979 | Jim Morris | Hamilton | KANSAS STATE | GREEN BAY Packers | |||
| 1979 | Scott Fulhage | Beloit | KANSAS STATE | ATLANTA Falcons | |||
| 1979 | Craig White | Lawrence | MISSOURI | BUFFALO Bills | |||
| 1979 | Jeff Smith | B | Wichita Southeast | NEBRASKA | KANSAS CITY Chiefs | ||
| 1980 | Bob LeBlanc | Shawnee Mission South | ELON | BUFFALO Bills | |||
| 1980 | Steve Tasker | WCHS-Leoti | NORTHWESTERN | BUFFALO Bills | |||
| 1981 | Sylvester Byrd | ||||||