Michigan State Basketball Alumni

MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL ALUMNI:
FROM JENISON FIELDHOUSE AND BRESLIN TO THE NBA
brought to you by Michael P. Kube-McDowell, MSU '76, author of The Trigger

Magic, 1979. Mateen, 2000. Those championship years are the highlights so far of more than a century of Spartan basketball. But there's more to the story than that, as the long list of players State has graduated to the next level will attest. Not all were the most physically talented blue chip players when they arrived on campus, but under the tutelage of a Jud Heathcote or a Tom Izzo, they learned the value of hard work off the court and effort and teamwork on the court. I love the hustle guys. How can you not root for a Scott Skiles, who was supposed to be too short and too slow even to play Big Ten basketball? I love to see someone make the most of their tools and their opportunities. How can you not applaud when blue-collar players like Peplowski and Feick sweat their way into NBA uniforms? And I love the team guys, the ones whose sense of "us" is stronger than their ego needs. How can you not respect the class of a Steve Smith, who's been an outstanding ambassador for MSU, the NBA, and the USA? They're all here, all part of the rich tradition of Spartan basketball.

GORDON STAUFFER - 6'-0" guard, lettered 1950-52 second in scoring on the 1952 squad with 9.6ppg drafted by Indianapolis in 1952 Cards: none
AL FERRARI - 6'-3" forward, 1953-1955 led team with 16.0 ppg as a sophomore and 20.1ppg as a senior 1955 team captain second team All-Big Ten in 1953 and 1955 drafted by Milwaukee in 1955 Cards: none
BOB ARMSTRONG - 6'-8" center, 1953-55 drafted by Rochester in 1955 Cards: none
JULIUS McCOY - 6'-2" forward, 1954-56 led the 1956 team by scoring 27.2 ppg, which ranks 4th in MSU history as of 2000, still ranked #13 on the all-time MSU scoring list with 1377 points All-American, first team All-Big ten (1956) seventh-round pick of St. Louis in 1956 Cards: none
GEORGE FERGUSON - 6'-3" forward, 1956-57 captain of the 1957 squad, for which he averaged 13.1 ppg seventh-round pick of Minneapolis in 1957 Cards: none
JACK QUIGGLE -6'-3" forward/guard, 1956-58 All-American (1957) eighth-round pick of Detroit in 1958 Cards: none
LARRY HEDDEN - 6'-5" forward, 1956-58 tenth-round pick of the Philadelphia Warriors in 1958 Cards: none
JOHNNY GREEN - 6'-5" center, 1957-1959 currently #25 on MSU career scoring list (1062 points, 16.9 ppg) currently #2 on MSU career rebounding list (1036, 16.4 rpg) current single-season rebound leader (392, 1957-58) first team All-Big Ten all three years he played at MSU All-American (1959) named Big Ten MVP (1959) first-round pick of the New York Knicks in 1959 Cards: Topps 1970 (#81), 1971 (#86), 1972 (#48), 1973 (#124)
BOB ANDEREGG - 6'-3" forward, 1957-59 twice second team All-Big Ten (1958 and 1959) second-round pick of the New York Knicks in 1959 Cards: none
HORACE WALKER - 6'-3" forward/center, 1958-60 currently #9 on MSU career rebounding list (720, 13.8 rpg) pulled down 28 rebounds against Iowa on Jan 23, 1960, an MSU record for Big Ten play All-American (1960) second-round pick by St. Louis in 1960 Cards: none
GEORGE E. "PETE" GENT - 6'-5" center/forward, 1962-64 led the team in scoring three consecutive seasons, topped by 21.0 ppg in his senior year currently #22 on MSU's career scoring list (1146 points, 17.4 ppg) tenth-round pick by Baltimore in 1964 also drafted as a tight end by the Dallas Cowboys, and opted to play professional football (see Football Alumni)
BILL CURTIS - 6'-4" forward, 1964-66 seventh-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1966 Cards: none
STAN WASHINGTON - 6'-3" guard/forward, 1964-66 currently #16 on MSU's all-time scoring list with 1242 points fifth-round pick of Los Angeles in 1966 Cards: none
CHARLES SMITH - eleventh-round pick of Baltimore in 1967 Cards: none
MATTHEW AITCH - 6'-7" center, 1966-67 thirteenth-round pick of Detroit in 1967 Cards: none
LEE LAFAYETTE - 6'-6" forward/center, 1967-69 fourth-round pick of San Francisco in 1969 Cards: none
RUDY BENJAMIN - 6'-3" guard, 1969-71 fifth-round pick of San Diego in 1971 Cards: none
RALPH SIMPSON - 6'-5" guard, 1970 averaged 29 points per game in his only season as a Spartan All-American (1970) first-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1972 Cards: Topps 1971 (#232), 1972 (#235, #257), 1973 (#190). 1974 (#219), 1975 (#240), 1976 (#22)
BILL KILGORE - 6'-7" center, 1971-73 ninth-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1973 Cards: none
MIKE ROBINSON - 5'-11" guard, 1972-74 ranks #6 (25.3ppg, 1973) and #8 (24.7ppg, 1972) in MSU single-season records averaged 24.2 ppg over 71 games, tops in MSU history led the team in scoring three years in a row 1972 and 1973 Big Ten scoring champion team captain for his senior year seventh-round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1974 Cards: none
LINDSAY HAIRSTON - 6'-7" center, 1972-75 #19 on MSU career scoring list (1155 points, 15.8 ppg) #5 on MSU career rebounding list (803, 11.0 rpg) third-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1975 Cards: none
PETER DAVIS - 6'-1" guard, 1973-75 seventh-round pick of the New York Knicks in 1975 Cards: none
TERRY FURLOW - 6'-5" forward, 1972-76 left MSU as all-time career scoring leader (1777 points, 17.8 ppg) - now #7 left MSU as single-season scoring leader (793 points) - now #2 his 50 points against Iowa on Jan 5, 1976 is tops in MSU history 1975 (20.2ppg) and 1976 (31.0ppg) Big Ten scoring champion All-American (1976) drafted #1 (12th overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1976 was the 12th man on the 1976-77 Sixers team that went to the NBA finals, losing to Portland was on the Utah roster when killed in a off-season car crash in 1980 Cards: none
BOB CHAPMAN - 6'-2" guard, 1974-78 #10 on MSU career scoring list (1382, 13.3 ppg) fifth-round pick by Kansas City in 1977 Cards: none
EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON - 6'-8" guard, 1977-79 currently #26 on MSU career scoring list (1059, 17.1 ppg) currently #5 on MSU career assist list (491, 7.1 apg) currently #4 on MSU career free throw percentage list (.8157) named Big Ten MVP (1979) MVP of 1978-79 NCAA championship team two-time All-American (1978 & 1979) went pro after his sophomore season and was the first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers led Lakers to five NBA championships during the 1980s nine-time NBA All-Star Cards: Fleer 1986 (#53), 1987 (##56), 1988 (#67, #123), 1989 (#77), 1990 (#93), 1990 All-Star (#4), 1991 (#100), 1991 Pro Visions (#6), 1995 Metal Force (#6), 1995 Metal Scoring (#3), 1996 (#54, #132); NBA Hoops 1989 (#166, #270), 1990 (#18, #157, #367), 1991 (#101, #266, #316, #321, #473, #535, #578), 1991 All-Star (#11), 1992 (#309, #340, #482), 1992 Supreme Court (#10), 1994 (#296), Skybox 1990 (#138), 1991 (#137, #323, #533), 1992 (#310, #358), 1992 Olympic (#12), 1992 USA (#12, #28-#36), 1994 USA (#87), 1995 (#301), 1995 E-XL (#4, #6, #40); Topps 1980 (#111), 1981 (#21, #197), 1992 (#2, #126), 1992 Stadium Club (#32), 1995 Finest (#252), 1995 Gallery (#6), 1995 Stadium Club (#361), 1996 Finest Reprints (#9), 1996 Stars (#22, #72, #122), 1996 SC Gallery (#6), 1998 Classic (#2), 1998 Golden Greats (#10); Upper Deck 1991 (#45, #57, #464), 1992 (#32), 1992 Jerry West (#5, #7, #10), 1995 (#237), 1995 SP (#66), 1995 SP Champions (#13, #51, #130), 1996 SPX (#24), 1999 Legends (#2, #73)
GREG KELSER - 6'-7" forward, 1975-79 left MSU as all-time career scoring leader (2014 points) - now #4 led the team in scoring three consecutive years current all-time MSU rebounding leader (1092, four seasons) All-American (1979) first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1979 Cards: Star 1983 (#126)
RON CHARLES - 6'-8" forward, 1976-80 current all-time career field goal percentage leader (.639) tied for #29 on MSU career scoring list (913 points, 8.3 ppg) fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1980 Cards: none
JAY VINCENT - 6'-8" forward/center, 1977-81 #5 on MSU career scoring list (1914, 16.8 ppg) #10 on MSU career rebounding list (709, 6.2 rpg) 1980 (22.1ppg) and 1981 (24.1ppg) Big Ten scoring champion second-round pick of the Dallas Mavericks in 1981 played nine years for the Mavs, Bullets, and Spurs Cards: Fleer 1986 (#118), 1988 (#38); NBA Hoops 1989 (#191, #345), 1990 (#161); Star 1983 (#59), 1984 (#10, #260), 1985 (#165); Wild Card 1991 (#70)
MIKE BRKOVICH - 6'-4" guard/forward, 1977-81 #45 on MSU career scoring list (730, 6.6 ppg) #8 on MSU career free throw percentage list (206 attempts, .805) eighth-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1981 Cards: none
KEVIN SMITH - 6'-2" guard, 1979-82 #26 on MSU career scoring list (1028, 12.5 ppg) #6 on MSU career assist list (349, 4.2 apg) made 19 of 19 free throws against Indiana on Jan 7, 1982, tops in MSU history ninth-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1982 Cards: none
DEREK PERRY - 6'-6" forward, 1979-83 #43 on MSU career scoring list (754, 7.5 ppg) sixth-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1983 Cards: none
KEVIN WILLIS - 7'-0" center, 1980-84 tied for #38 on MSU career scoring list (798, 10.1 ppg) drafted #1 (11th overall) by the Atlanta Hawks in 1984 played for the Hawks (1984-95), Heat (1995), Warriors (1996), Rockets ('96-'98), and Raptors ('99-00) has scored more than 15,000 points in 14 seasons traded in January 2000 NBA Player File Regular Cards: Fleer 1986 (#126), 1987 (#124), 1988 (#6), 1990 (#7), 1991 (#7), 1992 (#9), 1993 (#8), 1994 (#9, #315), 1995 (#99), 1996 (#38, #195), 1997 (#99); NBA Hoops 1989 (#98), 1990 (#37), 1991 (#8, #450), 1992 (#9, #304), 1993 (#8), 1994 (#7, #345), 1995 (#88), 1997 (#63), 1998 (#55); Skybox 1990 (#12), 1991 (#11), 1992 (#9), 1993 (#29), 1994 (#7, #251), 1995 (#68); Star 1985 (#137); Topps 1992 (#109, #266), 1993 (#81), 1994 (#41, #42), 1995 (#137), 1997 (#85), 1999 (#228); Upper Deck 1991 (#278, #462), 1992 (#41, #144, #350, #397), 1993 (#117, #424), 1994 (#61, #272), 1995 (#58), 1996 (#227), 1997 (#47), 1999 (#117)
SAM VINCENT - 6'-2" guard, 1981-85 #6 on MSU career scoring list (1851 points, 16.8 ppg) #9 on MSU career assist list (306, 2.8 apg) All-American (1985) 1985 Big Ten scoring champion (23.7 ppg) first-round pick of the Boston Celtics in 1985 played five years for the Celtics, Supersonics, Bulls, and Orlando Magic Cards: Fleer 1990 (#137), 1991 (#333); NBA Hoops 1989 (#149, #328), 1990 (#223), 1991 (#154), 1992 (#167); Skybox 1990 (#209), 1991 (#209), 1992 (#176); Upper Deck 1991 (#232)
KEN JOHNSON - 6'-8" forward/center, 1983-85 holds MSU single-season record for blocks with 72 (1985) second-round pick of the Portland Trailblazers in 1985 played for the Trailblazers (1985-96) Cards: Star 1985 (#6)
SCOTT SKILES - 6'-1" guard, 1982-86 left MSU as all-time career scoring leader (2145 points) - now #3 current MSU season scoring leader (850 points, 1985-86) First Team All-America selection (1986) 1986 Big Ten scoring champion named Big Ten MVP (1986) first-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1986 averaged 13.0 points and 7.6 assists per game in eleven year career played for Bucks, Pacers, Magic, Bullets and 76ers retired after 1995-96 season - now coaching the Utah Jazz Regular Cards: Fleer 1989 (#110), 1991 (#148, #390), 1992 (#164), 1993 (#152), 1994 (#163), 1995 (#196); NBA Hoops 1989 (#249, #318), 1990 (#220), 1991 (#152, #486, #521), 1992 (#165), 1993 (#158), 1994 (#155, #380), 1995 (#169); Skybox 1990 (#205), 1991 (#206, #310), 1992 (#174), 1993 (#136), 1994 (#121, #295); Topps 1992 (#42, #224), 1993 (#267), 1994 (#274); Upper Deck 1991 (#226), 1992 (#149), 1993 (#17), 1994 (#275), 1995 (#62)
LARRY POLEC - 6'-8" forward, 1982-86 #34 on MSU career scoring list (886 points, 7.5 ppg) #7 on MSU career free throw percentage list (.814) seventh-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1986 Cards: none
VERNON CARR - 6'-6" guard/forward, 1985-87 #36 on MSU career scoring list (613 points, 13.8 ppg) fifth-round pick of the Sacramento Kings in 1987 Cards: none
DARRYL JOHNSON - 6'-2" guard, 1983-87 #9 on MSU career scoring list (1383 points, 12.9 ppg) third-round pick of the Golden State Warriors in 1987 played briefly for Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995-96 after 11 years in CBA, GBA, and Phillipine Basketball League Cards: none
STEVE SMITH - 6'-7" guard, 1987-91; left MSU as all-time career scoring leader (2263 points) - now #2 #6 on MSU career rebounding list (740, 6.1 ppg) named Big Ten MVP (1990) 1991 Big Ten scoring champion two-time All-American (1990 & 1991) first-round pick (#5 overall) of the Miami Heat in 1991 named to All-Rookie Team, averaging 12.0 points and 4.5 assists per game 1998 NBA All-Star played for Atlanta Hawks 1995-99, leading them in scoring in '96-97 and '97-'98 traded to the Portland Trailblazers in August, 1999 played on the USA men's gold medal basketball team in the 2000 Olympics donated $2.5 million to Michigan State for the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, named for his mother endowed four full-ride scholarships for students from his high school to attend Michigan State NBA Player File Regular Cards: Fleer 1991 (#309), 1992 (#123), 1993 (#113), 1994 (#122, #245), 1995 (#7, #205), 1996 (#5, #276), 1997 (#289); NBA Hoops 1991 (#550), 1992 (#124), 1993 (# 118), 1994 (#115, #305), 1995 (#7), 1996 (#6, #175), 1997 (#13), 1998 (#34); Skybox 1991 (#517), 1992 (#131), 1993 (#107), 1994 (#90, #205), 1995 (#4, #127, #277); Topps 1992 (#147), 1993 (#10), 1994 (#83), 1995 (#128), 1996 (#150), 1997 (#79), 1998 (#111), 1999 (#1, #252); Upper Deck 1991 (#4, #447), 1992 (#110), 1993 (#296), 1994 (#37, #173), 1995 (#49), 1996 (#184), 1997 (#1), 1998 (#4), 1999 (#279)
MATT STEIGENGA - 6'-7" forward, 1988-92 #14 on MSU career scoring list (1296 points, 10.4 ppg) #10 on MSU career field goal percentage list (.539, 934 attempts) current all-time career shot blocker for MSU, with 97 second-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1992, but played in CBA or Japan until '96-'97 season, when he played briefly with the '97 NBA champ Bulls NBA Player File Cards: Classic 1992 Draft Picks (#32); Front Row 1992 Draft Picks (#65); Star 1992 Prospects (#26)
MIKE PEPLOWSKI - 6'-10" center, 1989-93 #19 on MSU career scoring list (1185 points, 10.2 ppg) #4 on MSU career rebounding list (906, 7.8 rpg) #2 on MSU career field goal percentage list (.621, 786 attempts) second-round pick of the Sacramento Kings in 1993 started 19 games as a Kings rookie, and led team with .539 field goal percentage also played for Warriors, Bullets, Bucks and Pistons NBA Player File Cards: Classic 1993 Draft Picks (#58), 1993 Futures (#59); Fleer 1993 (#374), 1993 Ultra (#333); Topps 1993 (#314), 1993 Stadium Club (#239); Upper Deck 1993 (#340), 1994 (#149), 1994 Collector's Choice (#117)
ANTHONY "PIG" MILLER - 6'-9" forward/center, 1991-94 #40 on MSU career scoring list (797 points, 8.9 ppg) #3 on MSU career field goal percentage list (.609, 527 attempts) led Big Ten in field goal percentage (.651) as a senior second-round pick of the Golden State Warriors in 1994, then traded to Lakers played in 46 games as a rookie, posting four double-doubles played for Lakers in '94-'96, Hawks in '96-'98 played for Houston Rockets in '98-00, and averaged 13.6 minutes in 35 games (including a career-best 14 starts) in '99-00 NBA Player File Cards: Classic 1994 Draft Picks (#9); Fleer 1994 (#309), 1994 Flair (#242), 1994 Ultra (#274), 1995 Class (#8); NBA Hoops 1994 (#340); Skybox 1994 (#245); Superior 1995 Draft Picks (#51); Ted Williams 1994 (#39), 1994 What's Up (#4); Topps 1994 (#351), 1995 (#187); Upper Deck 1994 (#338), 1994 Collector's Choice (#353), 1995 (#229)
SHAWN RESPERT - 6'-3" guard, 1990-95 current all-time MSU scoring leader (2531 points, four seasons), and only one of four players in school history to score 2000 points current all-time MSU free-throw percentage leader (.857, 546 attempts) 1996 Big Ten scoring champion MSU and Big Ten MVP in senior season two-time All-American (1994 & 1995) named Player of the Year by Sporting News and NABC first-round pick (#8 overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers in 1995, then immediately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks struggled as a "tweener" (a shooting guard the size of a point guard) in stints with the Bucks, Raptors, Mavericks, and Suns, averaging 13.7 minutes in 172 games (5 starts) NBA Player File Regular Cards: Fleer 1995 (#306), 1997 (#298); NBA Hoops 1995 (#270), 1996 (#90); Press Pass 1995 (#8); Skybox 1995 (#232); Topps 1995 (#218), 1996 (#73); Upper Deck 1995 (#131), 1996 (#71), 1997 (#122)
ERIC SNOW - 6'-3" guard, 1991-95 currently #3 on MSU career assist list (599) led Big Ten in assists his junior and senior seasons Big Ten defensive player of the year (1995) second-round pick (#43 overall) of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1995 logged most playing time (389 min) for Supersonic rookie since Gary Payton, but traded to 76ers during the '97-'98 season starting point guard for the 76ers in '98-'99, finishing second in voting for NBA Most Improved Player Award and Sportsmanship Award signed a seven-year contract--worth a reported $29 million--with the Sixers in August, 1999 NBA Player File Cards:
JAMIE FEICK - 6'-8" center/forward, 1992-96 #47 on MSU career scoring list (700 points, 6.6 ppg) posted seventh-best single season rebound total (303 in 1995-96) second-round pick (#48 overall) of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 played briefly for Hornets and Spurs in '96-'97, the Bucks in '97 and '99, and the Suns in '98, sandwiched around stints in the CBA and Spain got an opportunity to play regularly with the New Jersey Nets in '99 due to an injury to Jayson Williams, and made the most of it (6.3 ppg and 10.3 rbg in 28 games, including 16 starts) signed a six-year contract--worth a reported $15 million--with the Nets in August, 1999 played in 81 games (including 17 starts) for the Nets in '99-00, averaging 27.7 minutes, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.7 points NBA Player File Cards: Classic 1996 Autographed (#31), 1996 Rookies (#30); Collectors Edge 1996 (#12); Topps 1999 (#143); Upper Deck 1999 (#256), 2000 SP (#52)
MATEEN CLEAVES - 6'-2" guard, 1997-2000 led the Spartans to a 32-7 record and the NCAA Championship as a senior three-time All-American (1998-2000) two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (1998-99) and three-time first team All-Big Ten (1998-2000) closed out his career #10 in MSU career scoring (1541 points), #1 in assists (816), and #1 in steals list (195) first-round pick (14th overall) of the Detroit Pistons in 2000, and worked his way into the starting lineup by midseason NBA Player File Cards:
MORRIS PETERSON - 6'-6" forward, 1997-2000 was First Team All-Big Ten as a sixth man his junior year named Big Ten Player of the Year, first team All-Big Ten, and All-American for MSU's 2000 national championship season closed out his career #9 in MSU career scoring (1588 points), #5 in 3-point goals made (146), and #1 in games played (137) first-round pick (21st overall) of the Toronto Raptors in 2000, and worked his way into the starting linup by midseason NBA Player File Cards: