ITH Super Happy Fun Time Top 10 List: Walt Bellamy

by Alex Bozich in Commentary | August 14th, 2008

The ballots have been counted and it’s time for Inside the Hall’s countdown of the greatest Indiana players of all-time. Today: No. 4: Walt Bellamy.

Years at Indiana: 1958-1961

The numbers: 1,441 points (20.6 average); 1,088 rebounds (15.5 average)

Career highs: 42 points (February 22, 1960 at Illinois); 33 rebounds (March 11, 1961 vs. Michigan)

Notable achievements: 59 career double-doubles (school record); All-American (1960, 1961); First team All-Big Ten (1960, 1961); Indiana team MVP (1959, 1960, 1961); Indiana Hall of Fame (1982)

The case for Bellamy: The No. 1 pick in the 1961 NBA Draft, Bellamy is second in IU history in rebounds and owns the IU and Big Ten record for rebounds in a game with 33. Bellamy was the team MVP in all three of his seasons in Bloomington and was inducted to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1993.

(Photo credit: Herald Times)

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JerryCT

I assume he is the only #1 NBA pick we have ever had. Maybe DJW or other historians can confirm

Alex

Benson was No. 1 in 1977.

JerryCT

Geez. I must only remember 1/2 of what I read

Millport

This was an interesting time in the Big Ten. OSU had Lucas, Havlicek and Knight. Purdue had Terry Dischinger. Iowa had Don Nelson. I am sure there were others. Bellamy more than held his own against some of the greats. Only one team went to the NCAA. Unfortunately for OSU there was a school in Cincinnati that ruined their chances for three in a row. Bellamy deserves his place on this list.

DJW

MillPort:

I too remember those great matchups with OSU and Purdue where Bellamy's career overlapped with Dichinger and Lucas. I did not remember Nelson playing for Iowa.

I believe my HS team was playing in Indy (Butler Fieldhouse) for the state championship when on that same weekend OSU lost to Cincinati.

It may have been Lucas's last year

JerryCT...you would remember this.

JerryCT

See above. I cannot remember crap

MPmike

If only IU can get a great center like Walt Bellamy to come play. Just think of all the great centers and forwards that came out of Indiana and went to play elsewhere.

Eric Montross- Lawrence North
Sean May- Bloomington North
Tyler Zeller- Washington
Angel Garcia- East Chicago Central
Rick Fox- Warsaw
Shawn Kemp- committed to UK then went to JC in TX but never played a college game.
John Stewart- Lawrence North- May he rest in peace.

This is just several of many that could have helped IU win more championships.

Can anybody name more big men that left the state?

ITH Super Happy Fun Time Top 10 List: Walt Bellamy

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