Dick Knostman
Encyclopedia
Richard W. Knostman is an American former professional basketball
player.
He attended Wamego High School in Wamego, Kansas
. A 6' 6" center, Knostman played at Kansas State University
. He was a third-team All-American in 1951-52 and a second team All-American in 1952-53. He was also All-Conference in the Big 7 Conference in 1952 and 1953.
Knostman was a three-year lettermen for head coach Jack Gardner
from 1950-53. He helped guide the Wildcats to a 61-13 (.824) record, including three consecutive final top-10 finishes and a runner-up finish at the 1951 NCAA Final Four
.
Knostman is one of just 12 players in Kansas State history to be named a first team All-American. He earned this recognition from the Helms Foundation, Look magazine and the Newspaper Enterprises Association as a senior in 1953 after averaging 22.7 points in helping the Wildcats to a 17-4 overall record and a final ranking of number 9 in the UPI and number 12 in the AP polls. Knostman was also recognized as a second team All-American by The Associated Press, United Press International, Colliers and International News Service.
Knostman first earned All-America accolades as a junior when he led Kansas State to a 19-5 overall record and a final ranking of number 3 in the AP and number 6 in the UPI polls. He averaged 16.3 points in 24 games en route to collecting second team All-American honors from the Converse Yearbook and third team accolades from The Associated Press. He was also twice selected first team All-Big Seven.
Knostman averaged 7.5 points in 29 games as a sophomore in 1950-51 in helping Kansas State advance to their first and only NCAA Championship game, where the Wildcats lost to Kentucky
.
Despite having played over 50 years ago, Knostman still ranks among the top 5 in 17 single-game, season and/or career statistical categories in school history, including tops in most free throws attempted in a game (26 vs. Oklahoma on Feb. 14, 1953). He also ranks in the top 5 in several career categories, including second in free throws attempted (541), third in free throws made (349) and fifth in rebounding (774) and rebounding average (10.5 rpg.). Knostman also places second in single-season scoring average (22.7 ppg.; 1953) and third in rebounding average (13.3 rpg.; 1952). He is one of just 19 players in school history to top 1,000 points, while he ranks 13th on the all-time scoring list with 1,083 points and 14th in career scoring average (14.6 ppg.). Knostman remains one of the few Wildcats to average a double-double for his career with 14.6 points and 10.5 rebounds in 74 games.
Knostman became the second Kansas State player ever drafted when the Syracuse Nationals
took him in the second round (16th overall) in the 1953 NBA Draft
. His career lasted five games and he scored a total of 13 points.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
He attended Wamego High School in Wamego, Kansas
Wamego, Kansas
Wamego is a city in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, United States. The population was 4,246 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Manhattan, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Wamego is located at...
. A 6' 6" center, Knostman played at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
. He was a third-team All-American in 1951-52 and a second team All-American in 1952-53. He was also All-Conference in the Big 7 Conference in 1952 and 1953.
Knostman was a three-year lettermen for head coach Jack Gardner
Jack Gardner
Jack Gardner may refer to:*Jack Gardner , 1948 ABA Heavyweight Champion*Jack Gardner , college basketball coach*Jack Gardner , general in the United States Army*Jack Gardner , American jazz musician...
from 1950-53. He helped guide the Wildcats to a 61-13 (.824) record, including three consecutive final top-10 finishes and a runner-up finish at the 1951 NCAA Final Four
1951 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1951 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 20, 1951, and ended with the championship game on March 27 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis,...
.
Knostman is one of just 12 players in Kansas State history to be named a first team All-American. He earned this recognition from the Helms Foundation, Look magazine and the Newspaper Enterprises Association as a senior in 1953 after averaging 22.7 points in helping the Wildcats to a 17-4 overall record and a final ranking of number 9 in the UPI and number 12 in the AP polls. Knostman was also recognized as a second team All-American by The Associated Press, United Press International, Colliers and International News Service.
Knostman first earned All-America accolades as a junior when he led Kansas State to a 19-5 overall record and a final ranking of number 3 in the AP and number 6 in the UPI polls. He averaged 16.3 points in 24 games en route to collecting second team All-American honors from the Converse Yearbook and third team accolades from The Associated Press. He was also twice selected first team All-Big Seven.
Knostman averaged 7.5 points in 29 games as a sophomore in 1950-51 in helping Kansas State advance to their first and only NCAA Championship game, where the Wildcats lost to Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
.
Despite having played over 50 years ago, Knostman still ranks among the top 5 in 17 single-game, season and/or career statistical categories in school history, including tops in most free throws attempted in a game (26 vs. Oklahoma on Feb. 14, 1953). He also ranks in the top 5 in several career categories, including second in free throws attempted (541), third in free throws made (349) and fifth in rebounding (774) and rebounding average (10.5 rpg.). Knostman also places second in single-season scoring average (22.7 ppg.; 1953) and third in rebounding average (13.3 rpg.; 1952). He is one of just 19 players in school history to top 1,000 points, while he ranks 13th on the all-time scoring list with 1,083 points and 14th in career scoring average (14.6 ppg.). Knostman remains one of the few Wildcats to average a double-double for his career with 14.6 points and 10.5 rebounds in 74 games.
Knostman became the second Kansas State player ever drafted when the Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
took him in the second round (16th overall) in the 1953 NBA Draft
1953 NBA Draft
The 1953 NBA Draft was the seventh annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1953 before the 1953–54 season. In this draft, nine remaining NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. In each round, the teams select in reverse...
. His career lasted five games and he scored a total of 13 points.