Welcome to BasketBuffs History Week here on AllBuffs. Thanks to an off-season that seems to never be ending, and a quest to do what the CU Athletic Department seems hesitant to do, we're going to spend this week discussing some of the all-time greats in CU Buffs history. Everyone knows how great Chauncey is, but for all the attention that he gets (and it's all deserved) can you name any of the other All-Americans in CU history? Does anyone know who the only two time All-American at the University of Colorado is? Who has won two Olympic gold medals representing the United States in basketball? Who owns the all-time school points per game record? Hopefully this week will help everyone realize that while we're not North Carolina, CU basketball has nothing to be ashamed of and has a storied history.
This week we're going to discuss the players who have been All-Americans or Honorable Mention All-Americans while at CU, along with the greatest men's basketball coach in school history in Russell "Sox" Walseth. There are a few other things planned for upcoming weeks to help kill the time until we tip off (#IsItNovemberYet?), including the AllBuffs All-Time Men's Basketball Team.
So with that, I give you the first installment going over the All-Americans and HM AA's that CU has had. For the most part, the list is in chronological order, so you're going to wait a bit to see the names that are commonly mentioned among all time greats like Chauncey and Alec Burks, but I hope you'll enjoy learning about some of the greats that laid the groundwork for them in the meantime. In fact, today's group contains two of the members of the University of Colorado Hall of Fame Class of 2012 that was announced last Thursday.
JACK HARVEY
* 1938-39 All-American
* 1939-40 All-American
* Member of CU Hall of Fame
If you were to ask the average CU fan who the only two-time All-American in school history is, most of the guesses would be for Cliff Meely, Chauncey Billups or Birdie Haldorson. However, the correct answer is forward Jack Harvey who represented the Buffs on the team in both 1939 and 1940. Those two years Harvey led the Buffs to two conference championships and a trip to NCAA Tournament. A big man who led the team with his tough defense and outstanding ball-handling skills, Harvey was the key to the CU fast break at the time.
Harvey was a three-time All-Big 7 Conference pick as well as being a two-time All-American. Unfortunately, due to the era, no record of Harvey’s scoring or rebounding totals has ever been found.
After his time at Colorado, Harvey played for the Denver American Legion of the AAU and led them to a national championship in 1942. Harvey was voted to the CU Hall of Fame in 2012.
JIM WILLCOXON
* 1939-40 All-American
A talented defender, Jim Willcoxon was named both All-Big Seven and All-American as a senior in 1939. Willcoxon’s defense was a big reason that the Buffs were able to win back-to-back Big Seven championships in 1938 and 1939, and his performance on East Coast road trips lead the team to national prominence previously unseen.
Like his teammate Jack Harvey, records of stats were not kept during Willcoxon’s time with the Buffaloes.
LEASON MCCLOUD
* 1941-42 All-American
* Member of CU Hall of Fame
Considered the “go-to guy” for Coach Frosty Cox, Leason McCloud was the leading scorer for the 1942 Big Seven champion Buffs. Known for his all-around game, McCloud was also a great passer and rebounder and he helped lead the team to their semifinal win over Kansas. McCloud started to get national attention when he joined fellow Buff Bob Doll on Look, Pic and Time magazines’ All-American teams. He also was a unanimous All-Big Seven selection.
A two time All-Conference performer, McCloud also lead the league in scoring for his junior season as well.
McCloud was voted to the CU Hall of Fame in 2012.
This week we're going to discuss the players who have been All-Americans or Honorable Mention All-Americans while at CU, along with the greatest men's basketball coach in school history in Russell "Sox" Walseth. There are a few other things planned for upcoming weeks to help kill the time until we tip off (#IsItNovemberYet?), including the AllBuffs All-Time Men's Basketball Team.
So with that, I give you the first installment going over the All-Americans and HM AA's that CU has had. For the most part, the list is in chronological order, so you're going to wait a bit to see the names that are commonly mentioned among all time greats like Chauncey and Alec Burks, but I hope you'll enjoy learning about some of the greats that laid the groundwork for them in the meantime. In fact, today's group contains two of the members of the University of Colorado Hall of Fame Class of 2012 that was announced last Thursday.
JACK HARVEY
* 1938-39 All-American
* 1939-40 All-American
* Member of CU Hall of Fame
If you were to ask the average CU fan who the only two-time All-American in school history is, most of the guesses would be for Cliff Meely, Chauncey Billups or Birdie Haldorson. However, the correct answer is forward Jack Harvey who represented the Buffs on the team in both 1939 and 1940. Those two years Harvey led the Buffs to two conference championships and a trip to NCAA Tournament. A big man who led the team with his tough defense and outstanding ball-handling skills, Harvey was the key to the CU fast break at the time.
Harvey was a three-time All-Big 7 Conference pick as well as being a two-time All-American. Unfortunately, due to the era, no record of Harvey’s scoring or rebounding totals has ever been found.
After his time at Colorado, Harvey played for the Denver American Legion of the AAU and led them to a national championship in 1942. Harvey was voted to the CU Hall of Fame in 2012.
JIM WILLCOXON
* 1939-40 All-American
A talented defender, Jim Willcoxon was named both All-Big Seven and All-American as a senior in 1939. Willcoxon’s defense was a big reason that the Buffs were able to win back-to-back Big Seven championships in 1938 and 1939, and his performance on East Coast road trips lead the team to national prominence previously unseen.
Like his teammate Jack Harvey, records of stats were not kept during Willcoxon’s time with the Buffaloes.
LEASON MCCLOUD
* 1941-42 All-American
* Member of CU Hall of Fame
Considered the “go-to guy” for Coach Frosty Cox, Leason McCloud was the leading scorer for the 1942 Big Seven champion Buffs. Known for his all-around game, McCloud was also a great passer and rebounder and he helped lead the team to their semifinal win over Kansas. McCloud started to get national attention when he joined fellow Buff Bob Doll on Look, Pic and Time magazines’ All-American teams. He also was a unanimous All-Big Seven selection.
A two time All-Conference performer, McCloud also lead the league in scoring for his junior season as well.
McCloud was voted to the CU Hall of Fame in 2012.
