#elmore smith

[smallcollegebasketball]

Kentucky State Thorobreds - 50 Years Later   As we turn this calendar to 2020, it will mark 50 years since the dominant run of three consecutive National Championships for the Kentucky State Thorobreds.  The Thorobreds won the NAIA Title in 1970, 1971 and 1972.  They were led by Travis Grant (who was a scoring machine during all three title runs) and Elmore Smith (who was a late-blooming big man that was a dominant force during the 1970 and 1971 title runs, before turning pro). Below are a few photos of Travis Grant and Elmore Smith, the legends of Kentucky State basketball. When Travis walked off the court at Municipal  Auditorium in Kansas City after the 1972 National Championship, he was the all-time leading scorer in the history of college basketball with 4,045 points that had led KSU to three-straight National Championships.  50 years later, Grant still holds NAIA Tournament records for scoring in a game, tournament and career.  Elmore Smith became an elite shot-blocker, rebounder and defender in the NBA. After 50 years, the Kentucky State teammates still get together on an annual basis, as the bond formed through basketball has remained for a lifetime.

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Un vintage intimidatorio: Elmore Smith "The Rejector"

Un vintage intimidatorio: Elmore Smith “The Rejector”

Vamos con nuestro vintage de hoy, un vintage intimidatorio en que pensaremos en una acción muy espectacular, el tapón, el gorro, la boina.

fuente: Ballislife.com

Cuando pensamos en tapones y en la NBA nos vienen a todos nombres a la cabeza como el de Mark Eaton, Muresan o Manute Bol, jugadores que gracias a su tamaño eran enormes intimidadores, pero lo curioso es que ninguno de ellos tiene el…

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[smallcollegebasketball]

My Kentucky State Experience

I drove from Kansas City to Frankfort, Kentucky, to visit Kentucky State University on Saturday night.....and then drove back today.

Several weeks ago, Kentucky State Vice President, Rick Smith, called.  He told me that Kentucky State was going to honor two of their legends, Travis Grant and Elmore Smith, for their induction into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame.  He asked me to attend the celebration......and so I got in the car and went.....and I’m sure glad I went.

It was a special night, as I got to spend time with Travis and Elmore.  I’ve known each of them for quite a while now, and they are such genuinely good people.  I mean, these were two of the greatest/most accomplished players in college basketball history, yet they are just so down-to-earth, nice people.  

Additionally, I enjoyed spending time with Rick Smith, Lacy Rice, Randy Williams and Kentucky State President Chris Brown.  I probably spent the most time with SIAC Commissioner, Greg Moore.  I hadn’t met Greg before, but I was highly impressed.  He’s a basketball junkie, and he’s highly knowledgeable.  He’s immensely proud of the SIAC, and the tremendous progress that they’ve made during his nine years as Commissioner.  With the way that we were rolling with our basketball talk, I think that we could still be talking.....

A big kudos to Kentucky State University for the wonderful halftime celebration for Travis and Elmore.....and for a job well done for the whole weekend.  They had a media session, an autograph/photo session, and a social event after the game.  Additionally, Elmore and Travis spoke to the men’s and women’s basketball teams during their visit back to Frankfort. They did a really nice job with the halftime presentation, and included some classy gifts for each of them.  Well done, KSU!

After the game (and, by the way, it was a fantastic atmosphere!), I went to a suite at the hotel, and had the opportunity to spend time with the members of the 1970, 1971 and 1972 NAIA National Championship teams.  What a wonderful group of guys that all came back for the celebration at their Alma Mater.  As a note, this whole group of guys is very close.  They lift each other up, and speak very highly of each other.  After all these years, their bond is incredibly strong.  Truly, they love each other, and it’s a joy to be around these guys.

Two notes in this regard:  One of the players told me stories about some of his health challenges.  Without using a name or telling about his specific health issues, he ended up in a nursing home for about a month.  During that time, he told me that he heard from at least one member of the team every single day.  Every day!  The other note is this:  This group of guys, from the teams that won three consecutive NAIA National Championships, still gets together every year for a reunion.  Each and every year!

I thank the Rick Smith for the invitation, and I thank all of the members of the 1970-72 NAIA National Championship teams from Kentucky State for making me feel like I belonged......truly, a special group of men, and for some reason, they’ve always been very good to me.

As I drove back to Kansas City today, I thought about how fortunate I am.....

[smallcollegebasketball]

I was just sent this photo, and it brings back a wonderful memory.  Here I am, shaking hands with Elmore Smith, with Travis Grant and Coach Don Meyer on stage.  

I’m just smiling, looking at this photo.......growing up as a basketball junkie.....and years later, here I am with two of the greatest college basketball players of all time, and one of the best, most impactful college coaches of all time.....and here I am, on stage with them.  What a thrill!

[smallcollegebasketball]

Even now, nearly 40 years later, Elmore Smith wonders why the Portland Trail Blazers kept tempting fate. "It didn't seem like they were catching on," the former Lakers center says. "They continued...

Kentucky State’s great big man, Elmore Smith, will be inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame on November 2 in Evansville, IN.   Almost 44 years later, Smith still holds the NBA record for blocked shots in a single game, as he had 17 blocks against the Trailblazers on October 28, 1973.   

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