THE NEBRASKA 100

Many recognize Omaha Tech's 1963 basketball team as one of the greatest in Nebraska history.

However, few would have predicted that the undersized bundle of energy who came off the bench would be the one to go on to professional stardom.

Ron Boone, a 5-foot-8 junior on that 1963 Tech team, was often overshadowed by high school All-Americans Fred Hare and Joe Williams. But he learned the nuances of the game there, and with the help of a late growth spurt, went on to eventually become a four-time American Basketball Assocation all-star.

"I look back on the progress I made as a player, and it all started there at Tech,'' he said.

Boone estimates he was 5-11 when he played one year at Iowa Western in Clarinda. By the time he made his debut with Idaho State he stood a full 6-2.

Boone developed into a scoring machine. He averaged a career-high 25.2 points in 1975 with the Utah Stars.

"I got taller and stronger and played more of a physical game," he said.

He ranks third on the ABA career scoring list with 12,153 points, behind Louie Dampier and Dan Issel. He's probably best known for his remarkable ABA-NBA record of 1,041 consecutive games. Twice he played with separated shoulders.

When he showed up in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1966 to continue his college career, pro basketball wasn't even on the radar. By the time he finished his career under Claude Rutherford, it was.

"During the first part of my senior year of college, Coach told me, 'You have the tools to make it at the next level,'" he said.

Boone is now a commentator for the Utah Jazz.

-- Kevin White