Pokes Post
Fansided

Oklahoma State Basketball: Top five players to ever play for the Cowboys

By Andrew Miller

Dec 30, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys mascot Pistol Pete motions to the crowd during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gallagher-Iba Arena. WVU won 92-75. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys mascot Pistol Pete motions to the crowd during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gallagher-Iba Arena. WVU won 92-75. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 9
Next

1. Bob Kurland

Position: Center

Years: 1942-1946

Robert “Bob” Kurland played for OK State back when they were known as the Oklahoma A&M Aggies. He also played for the U.S. Olympic basketball team twice that won the Gold Medal. Kurland was coached by the legendary OK State had coach Henry Iba, who half of the basketball arena is named after (Gallagher-Iba Arena).

Kurland also led the Aggies to two, their only two, national titles. Furthermore, Kurland was the entire reason that the goaltending foul in basketball is even a thing. He used to jump above the rim and grab opponents’ shots before they went through the basket.

In 1945-46, Kurland’s last year at Oklahoma A&M, he was named the Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year. Moreover, both times the Aggies won the NCAA title, Kurland won the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Next: An ode to Vincent Taylor and all he did for Oklahoma State

Most famously for Kurland was his regular dunking. He was the first college basketball player to really introduce was became known as the “slam dunk”. Kurland was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961. He later died in 2013 at the age of 88.

Home/Basketball