Former Kansas great Walt Wesley dies at age 79

One of the best players in Kansas basketball history has died. According to Gary Bedore of the Kansas City Star, Kansas announced that Walt Wesley has died at age 79.

Wesley played at Kansas from 1963-66, emerging as one of the top players in the game.

He averaged 23.5 points per game during his second season with the Jayhawks, while averaging a career 19.3 points over the course of his three seasons.

Wesley was a consensus second-team All-American during his final year in school. He has his No. 13 jersey retired by the Jayhawks in 2004 at Allen Fieldhouse, where he loved playing.

“I don’t think there’s any place in the country that can top playing at Allen Fieldhouse,” Walt Wesley said in a recent interview. “You walk in there for a basketball game you get hyped up.”

The talented 6-foot-11 center then went on to the NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Cincinnati Royals with the No. 6 overall pick in 1966. He was a first-round selection.

Wesley suited up for eight different NBA franchises during a nine-year career in the professional ranks. He had his best year with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970-71, putting up an average 17.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, both career highs.

Following his playing days, Wesley then got into coaching. He was an assistant coach at Kansas, Western Michigan and Army.

“Walt Wesley is one of the finest men I’ve ever known,” said former Kansas coach Ted Owens. “He was so loved by his teammates and his coaches. He was just an extraordinary man.”