Here are a collection of short stories and fun facts about Minnesota basketball that will have you well-equipped for your next trivia contest. Did you know?
Chisholm’s Hall of Fame coach Bob McDonald referred to the conditioning drill of lines or killers as “Garmakers” in honor of his former junior college teammate, Minnesota basketball legend Dick Garmaker.
The Mikan Drill, a classic basketball exercise designed to build ambidexterity and touch around the basket is named after NBA Hall of Famer and legendary Minneapolis Laker big man, George Mikan.
Since the Minnesota Boys State Basketball Tournament moved to a multi-class format in 1971, there have only been five true “outstate” programs that have captured a large school state championship and the last was nearly 40 years ago. Owatonna won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990 led by future Gopher, Chad Kolander; Rocori went undefeated and captured the crown in 1988; Duluth Central led by the dynamic duo of Como Pontliana and Larry Potter won in 1971 and again in 1979 when their star was co-Mr. Basketball Greg Downing (he shared the award with Lake City’s Randy Breuer); Little Falls won in 1975 behind dominant post play from Frank Wachlarowicz; and Bemidji led by Steve Vogel and Don Hubbbell won in 1974.
Sean Sweeney, the new head coach of the Orlando Magic, was part of a 3-guard tandem at Cretin-Derham Hall that led the Raiders to the state tournament in 2001. The second member of that high scoring backcourt was the state’s premier shooter, Steve Sir, who set a school record with 149 made 3s and went on to play collegiately at San Diego State and Northern Arizona. He ranks second in NCAA history (behind Tony Bennett of UW Green Bay) for career 3-point accuracy at nearly 47%. Following a successful overseas professional career, he became the head coach and player development director for Mongolia’s 3×3 national basketball program. Last year he was awarded the “Friendship” Medal by Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, in recognition of his role in guiding the Mongolian women’s 3×3 team to a historic World Cup silver medal. The last of the backcourt trio has not had the successful basketball careers that Sweeney and Sir have had but he certainly carved out a pretty good niche of his own as a Hall of Fame catcher for the Minnesota Twins, none other than Joe Mauer. He is arguably the greatest high school athlete in Minnesota history. Mauer was widely considered the best baseball player in the nation (he was selected by the Twins with the first overall pick in the 2001 MLB draft), the best high school football player in the country (he was offered a scholarship to play QB at Florida State), and he averaged more than 20 ppg and earned all-state honors in basketball.
Former Minneapolis Roosevelt standout Akbar Abdul-Ahad overcame a challenging childhood to earn all-state honors, play D1 basketball at Idaho St. and later transitioned into an acting and entertainment career. He is best known for his role in Season 5 of the VH1 reality series: “Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood.” He also has acting credits for “Dallas” and “The Unit.”
Laurie Decker of Rochester Lourdes is the only underclassman to win the Minnesota Miss Basketball award. She was selected as the Class A recipient in both 1986 and 1987. Since then it became an award given exclusively to a senior player.
The only sisters to win Minnesota’s Miss Basketball Award are Rochester Mayo’s Coco and Kelly Miller (1997) and the Shudlick sisters of Apple Valley. Carol Ann won in 1990 and Linda did the same in 1995.
Briana Scurry was an all-state basketball player at Anoka High School before becoming famous as the star goalie on the U.S Women’s Soccer team that captured Gold at the 1996 and 2004 Olympics and won the FIFA World Cup in 1999. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017, becoming the first black woman to receive this honor. Scurry also appeared as herself in the 2000 movie Air Bud: World Pup.
Timberwolves & Lynx Fan Relations legend Jeff Munneke was an outstanding hooper in his own right, and his Huron (SD) College team qualified to play in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City in 1986. The Tribe won their first game before losing in the second round to a Southeastern Oklahoma State team led by 31 points and 20 rebounds from future NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman.
Moorhead State coaching great, Dave Schellhase, was a consensus All-American at Purdue and led the nation in scoring in 1966 at 32.5 ppg. He went on to become the first draft pick in Chicago Bulls history. Schellhase was also an outstanding baseball player and was teammates with Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese on a Colt League team from Evansville, Indiana that advanced to the World Series. If you are looking for a book to add to your summer reading list, might I suggest his recently published autobiography “Rise, Fall, Redemption: The Story of Purdue Legend Dave Schellhase.”
Augsburg’s Devean George is the only D3 player to ever be drafted in the 1st round of the NBA draft being selected 23rd overall by the Lakers in 1999. He went on to help the Lakers win 3 championships.
Terrell Battle, Senior Director – Timberwolves and Lynx Basketball Academy as well as the father of former Gopher stars Amaya and Jamison, was college basketball teammates at Winston-Salem State University with the one and only Stephen A. Smith of ESPN. Now that’s a First Take.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have only retired one jersey in the organization’s 35 plus year history. Malik Sealy’s #2 jersey was raised to the rafters on November 24, 2000, in memory of a great person, player and teammate. He was tragically killed in a car accident in May of that year.
Former Timberwolves player Joe Smith (he of the infamous under the table contract violations) played Connie Hawkins in the film, “Rebound.”
Minnesota Lynx Hall of Famer Maya Moore was the first female basketball player to sign with Air Jordan brand. She also recreated the legendary “Wings” poster that MJ made famous.
The Timberwolves have had seven former #1 overall NBA draft picks play for the organization during their careers: Joe Smith, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, Derrick Rose, and Michael Olowokandi. The Lynx have had five former #1 picks play for them: Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Angel McCoughtry, Lindsey Harding, and Janel McCarville.
Former Viking legend Randy Moss was an outstanding basketball player at DuPont High School in West Virginia where he was teammates with future NBA star, Jason “White Chocolate” Williams. Williams was West Virginia’s Mr. Basketball in 1994, and Moss earned the honor the following season (to no one’s surprise he was also named Mr. Football). He was also invited to the Nike All-American Camp where he was matched up with a prodigy from Chicago named Kevin Garnett. Basketball runs in the Moss family, Randy’s daughter, Sydney played collegiately at Thomas More and holds the D3 women’s single game scoring record with 63 points and led the nation in scoring in both 2014 and 2015. As her father might say, “she was straight cash homey.”
Former Twins pitcher Pat Mahomes who also happens to be the father of the Chiefs’ 3-time Super Bowl Champion QB, Patrick Mahomes, was an outstanding basketball player. In high school he averaged 30 ppg and before signing with the Twins he was considering playing both baseball and basketball at the University of Arkansas. During Major League baseball’s strike in 1994, Mahomes suited up for a rec team in St. Paul’s Wilder Basketball League. This league made up of former high school and college stars had no answer for Mahomes. He posted several 40 plus point games and dazzled the competition with his elite athleticism and deep shooting range.
About the Author
As Hoop Habits’ media contributor, Roger Johnson brings decades of basketball expertise to his articles. Having served as a marketing executive at Wells Fargo & Company and a content writer for Ultimate Hoops, Roger’s true passion has always been basketball. With experience as a collegiate player at Moorhead State University, coach, and parent of successful players, Roger offers unique insights into the game. His dedication shows through his Minnesota Timberwolves season tickets, University of Minnesota basketball support, and attendance at over 3,000 basketball games throughout his lifetime.