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Top Montana basketball players

Mslacat

Mslacat

Well-known member
Ran across this site that rated the top 5 Montana high school basketballs in the state of Montana, Five Teams to Watch, as well as Famous Basketball Alumni of the Montana high school ranks. I found it quite interesting plus one MAJOR error, and one major Omission (all in famous Alumni). Comments? What is your lists?

http://fivestarbasketball.com/articles/10-16-2011-50-states-in-50-days-montana" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
The big problem I have with a list like this is that they always seem to ignore Montana's great legacy of Native American or Reservation basketball. Ask any true aficionado of Montana preps basketball who the greatest basketball players were and they are going to include players like Elvis Old Bull, Dan Wetzel Jonathan Takes Enemy, the list goes on. But not many of these athletes went on to play college ball or if they did not for very long. A lot of these kids could compete talent wise with the Mike Lewis and Larry Krystowiak's, but they just never moved past the high school level. The Lists put together by 5starbasketball, I think is ranking them on what impact Montana athletes had on the national level so I understand where the list is coming from.

Still my old coach and math teacher Eric Hays is from Oregon NOT Montana, and how can you put any list of Famous Montana prep basketball Alumni with out including Wayne Estes from Anaconda who was leading the Nation in scoring for Utah State when he was killed.
 
Ray Kuka was my Sociology teacher while I was a sophomore in high School; or was I a junior then? Too far back to remember these days.
 
PeauxRouge said:
Am I wrong in thinking the Larry K. was out of Shelby, not Big Sky? Or did he transfer?
Click to expand...

I believe he played two years at Shelby, then transferred to Missoula.
 
Larry K did move from Shelby to Missoula, but I am fairly sure that he did so between 8th-9th grade and he played all his high school ball at Big Sky. KC McGowan transferred from Alberton to Big Sky for his junior and senior year.
 
Famous Basketball Alumni:

Larry Krystowiak (Big Sky)
Brock Osweiler (Flathead)
Eric Hays (Junction City)
Michael J. Lewis (Missoula)
Ray Kuka (Havre)
Ed Kalafat (Anaconda)
Click to expand...

Uhhm, where is Wayne Estes ?

Wayne_bw.gif


March 22-25, 2012 in Anaconda, Montana:
The 28th Anniversary
Wayne Estes
Basketball Tournament
Click to expand...

I think Eric Hays is from Oregon, right? I know that Eric Hays had a great career at UM, then coaching in Missoula. Just my opinion, I know that Osweiler is a very talented kid but I favor the three Zanon boys and Jeff Epperly and Brent Wilson's performances.
 
pyroguy said:
What about Gary Kane from Butte?
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me??? I like Gary and played a bit of ball with him back in the day, but there is no way he's in the top 20 of the best players in Montana basketball history.

Besides the players named already the following would have had better careers:
Schann Ferch
Kral Ferch
Darren Engalendt
Doug Selvig
Mick Durham
Craig Finberg
Jack Gilespie
 
Mslacat said:
The big problem I have with a list like this is that they always seem to ignore Montana's great legacy of Native American or Reservation basketball. Ask any true aficionado of Montana preps basketball who the greatest basketball players were and they are going to include players like Elvis Old Bull, Dan Wetzel Jonathan Takes Enemy, the list goes on. But not many of these athletes went on to play college ball or if they did not for very long. A lot of these kids could compete talent wise with the Mike Lewis and Larry Krystowiak's, but they just never moved past the high school level. The Lists put together by 5starbasketball, I think is ranking them on what impact Montana athletes had on the national level so I understand where the list is coming from.

Still my old coach and math teacher Eric Hays is from Oregon NOT Montana, and how can you put any list of Famous Montana prep basketball Alumni with out including Wayne Estes from Anaconda who was leading the Nation in scoring for Utah State when he was killed.
Click to expand...


Agreed 100%. That list does go on. I remember when we played Browning my Jr year in HS they had a kid that hit from anywhere. When the divisional tourney rolled around, we played them again and we were cheering for him as he took shots from the Butte Civic Center circle on the floor. Anyone familiar knows thats a bomb! Never saw a straight up shooter like him...the name will come to me sometime today.
 
Proud Griz Man said:
Famous Basketball Alumni:

Larry Krystowiak (Big Sky)
Brock Osweiler (Flathead)
Eric Hays (Junction City)
Michael J. Lewis (Missoula)
Ray Kuka (Havre)
Ed Kalafat (Anaconda)
Click to expand...

Uhhm, where is Wayne Estes ?

Wayne_bw.gif


March 22-25, 2012 in Anaconda, Montana:
The 28th Anniversary
Wayne Estes
Basketball Tournament
Click to expand...

I think Eric Hays is from Oregon, right? I know that Eric Hays had a great career at UM, then coaching in Missoula. Just my opinion, I know that Osweiler is a very talented kid but I favor the three Zanon boys and Jeff Epperly and Brent Wilson's performances.
Click to expand...

Eric is from Junction City, OR
 
grizindabox said:
Larry K did move from Shelby to Missoula, but I am fairly sure that he did so between 8th-9th grade and he played all his high school ball at Big Sky. KC McGowan transferred from Alberton to Big Sky for his junior and senior year.
Click to expand...


EverettGriz was correct. Krysko went to Shelby HS for 2 years, Big Sky for his junior and senior years.

Also, the article said there have been 4 Montanans in the NBA:Krysko, Kuka, Kalafat and who????? Mike Lewis played in the ABA as did Jack Gillespie, who wasn't mentioned because he isn't listed on basketballreference.com. as going to Great Falls HS. Pathetic research by this guy. Eric Hays? what a complete joke. No Wayne Estes? Seriously? He must have whipped this thing out in 5 minutes.

I can think of 3 other NBA players who were born in Montana but moved by the time they were in high-school:Phil Jackson, Keith Tower and Adam Morrison
 
also Jim Creighton, Koby Karl and Brad Holland were born in Montana but played hs elsewhere. Had to use basketballreference.com to find that out. Kalafat and Gillespie's birthplaces are not listed, but I believe they were born in MT. That would make 11 Montana-born ABA or NBA players, only 5 that played HS in MT.
 
Ed Kalafat
Edward L. Kalafat (Ed)
Position: C
Height: 6' 6'' Weight: 245
Born: 10/13/1932,
High School: Anaconda Senior, in Anaconda, MT
College: University of Minnesota
 
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