KU Connections

to Wyandotte High School Basketball Teams

In the proud history of the University of Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball program, there has been a remarkable connection with the Wyandotte Bulldog basketball program and its state championship teams.

There have been 19 Bulldogs that have played in the Jayhawks program over its storied history. Of those 19 Bulldogs, 16 have been members of Wyandotte’s state championship teams.

Ironically, one of the 3 Bulldogs that played for the Jayhawks, yet didn’t win a state basketball title for Wyandotte was Ray Evans, Class of 1940, who was one of the Jayhawks’ most decorated athletes.

Six Bulldogs played for Jayhawk Final Four teams. Included in that group are the three Bulldogs that played on the Wilt-Chamberlain-led KU team that fell to North Carolina in the 1957 National Championship game that was held at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Graduating Wyandotte Class Years & Players Who Played At KU.

Class of 1923 – Herbert Proudfit
Class of 1923 – Harold Zuber
Class of 1923 – Harold Schmidt
Class of 1930 – Paul Harrington
Class of 1933 – Roy Holliday
Class of 1940 – Ray Evans
Class of 1943 – Owen Peck
Class of 1953 – Harry Jett … *1957 Final Four
Class of 1955 – Monte Johnson … *1957 Final Four
Class of 1956 – Al Donaghue … *1957 Final Four
Class of 1959 – Nolen Ellison
Class of 1960 – Harry Gibson
Class of 1961 – Wayne Loving
Class of 1961 – Ron Shanks
Class of 1962 – Steve Renko
Class of 1964 – George Yarnevich
Class of 1967 – Pierre Russell … *1971 Final Four
Class of 1968 – David Nichols (Football)
Class of 1970 – Glenn Russell … *1971 Final Four
Class of 1982 – Calvin Thompson … *1986 Final Four
Class of 1985 – Willie Vaughn (Football)