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 Ed Ware
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Position:
Men's Basketball |
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Experience:
1948-51 |
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Year Inducted:
1999 |
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Vintage era hardwood jumping jack with uncanny eye for open man. A versatile 6-foot-2, 180-pound forward with (1) "coil springs for legs" according to the 1950-51 Northern Illinois men's basketball press kit and (2) nationally prominent numbers in both rebounds and assists. Produced best single-season Huskie rebound average until 6-foot-10 All-America, National Basketball Association draft pick, and NIU Hall of Famer Jim Bradley (17.8 rbpg. in 1972-73). Led country most of the winter and finished No. 2 among NCAA College Division playmakers with 5.9 assists-per-game average (113 in 19 games) as senior. Wound up No. 4 among nation's elite NCAA College Division boardman with 16.9 rbpg. (322 rebounds) for head coach Gil Hertz (1950-51). Named recipient of Charlie Lantz Award as Most Valuable Player in Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and beat Tom Milliken (Southern Illinois) by seven votes in the process (1950-51). Selected First-Team All-IIAC, plus Northern Illinois team captain and MVP with classic point-rebound "double double" average (13.8 ppg. and 16.9 rbpg.) on 12-7 Huskie quintet that tied for second place in IIAC as senior. Played for College All-Stars in 80-77 exhibition triumph over Big Ten Conference All-Stars in NIU's Still Gym (March 9, 1951). Voted Honorable Mention All-IIAC and ranked 12th in league scoring (10.3 ppg.) as junior (1949-50). Three-year cage letter-winner. Transferred from Illinois. Three-sport (football, basketball, and track) standout at Hillsboro High School.
