University of Minnesota Athletics
Jersey of Gopher Great Garmaker Retired
2/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
In today's world of 24/7 recruiting attention, it's hard to imagine a future NBA All-Star going without a single college scholarship offer, but that was the reality for Gopher great Dick Garmaker as a high school senior in 1951.
Just a "mediocre" player at the time by his own admission, Garmaker played at Hibbing High school in northern Minnesota where his team failed to qualify for the state tournament his senior season. So, without a scholarship invitation on the table upon graduation, the 6-3, 200-pound forward chose to stay in his home town and enroll at Hibbing Community College. The decision would pay off.
While at Hibbing, Garmaker burst on to the national scene, finally catching the eyes of college coaches around the country. In leading his team to the Junior College Championship game while averaging more than 30 points per contest, he drew scholarship offers from a handful of top programs. Yet the Minnesota native didn’t think twice about where he would play his college ball.
"I had other offers but I always knew Minnesota was for me. Coach (Ozzie) Cowles put the icing on the cake and I told him when he came to visit, that if he wanted me, I was coming."
After a couple years in junior college, Garmaker had only two seasons of eligibility left with the Gophers and he wasted no time making them count.
During his first season of 1953-54 in the Twin Cities, Garmaker led the team in scoring while helping the Maroon and Gold to a 17-5 record and a third place finish in the Big Ten. In addition to averaging 21.6 points and 7.0 rebounds for the year, he also set the school records for free throws in a season with 137 and free throw attempts at 183 which still stand today. Named First Team All-Big Ten and NABC All-District for his performance, Garmaker was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in the eighth round of 1954 NBA Draft but declined to accept the offer in favor of playing his senior season as Gopher. Another decision that would pay off.
Now in the national spotlight alongside star guard Charley Mencel, the former JUCO standout posted a then-school record 24.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as the Gophers finished 15-7 and runners up for the 1955 Big Ten title. For his record breaking season, Garmaker was a consensus selection for First Team All-America and NABC Honors as well as First Team All-Big Ten and NABC All-District. Joining him on the prestigious All-American team were future NBA hall of famers Bill Russell of San Francisco and Tom Gola of LaSalle.
By the end of his two-year Gopher career, Garmaker was third on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,008 points despite playing in only 44 career games. And although 31 Gophers have since scored more points in their careers, his 22.9 career points and 24.8 points per contest in Big Ten play are still program records. "It astounds me today that those records are still standing but I have to give the credit to my great teammates" Garmaker said. "I had a great point guard in Charley Mencel and my (teammates ) made all the difference."
Upon graduation with a degree in history and a business minor , Garmaker was once again selected by the Minneapolis Lakers, this time with the sixth overall selection in the 1955 NBA Draft. After agreeing to a contract with the hometown team soon after, the same player who received no scholarship offers out of high school was now a member of a professional basketball team. Garmaker went on to a highly successful NBA career where he earned All-Star honors in four of his eight seasons between the Lakers (1955-60) and New York Knicks (1960-61), finishing with 5,597 career points.
Following his professional career, Garmaker worked in the real estate development business in Minneapolis before relocating to Naples, Florida in 1979 to continue his business in hotels and condominiums. Finally, in 1990, the Gopher great moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be closer to his two sons where he still loves today with his wife, Darlene.
From a college basketball afterthought to an NBA All-Star, Dick Garmaker has been a testament to the power of hard work and persistence his entire career. And although he only spent two years as Gopher, perhaps no player has had a greater impact on university in a shorter period time than number 53.
feature by Mike Hellinger
Just a "mediocre" player at the time by his own admission, Garmaker played at Hibbing High school in northern Minnesota where his team failed to qualify for the state tournament his senior season. So, without a scholarship invitation on the table upon graduation, the 6-3, 200-pound forward chose to stay in his home town and enroll at Hibbing Community College. The decision would pay off.
While at Hibbing, Garmaker burst on to the national scene, finally catching the eyes of college coaches around the country. In leading his team to the Junior College Championship game while averaging more than 30 points per contest, he drew scholarship offers from a handful of top programs. Yet the Minnesota native didn’t think twice about where he would play his college ball.
"I had other offers but I always knew Minnesota was for me. Coach (Ozzie) Cowles put the icing on the cake and I told him when he came to visit, that if he wanted me, I was coming."
After a couple years in junior college, Garmaker had only two seasons of eligibility left with the Gophers and he wasted no time making them count.
During his first season of 1953-54 in the Twin Cities, Garmaker led the team in scoring while helping the Maroon and Gold to a 17-5 record and a third place finish in the Big Ten. In addition to averaging 21.6 points and 7.0 rebounds for the year, he also set the school records for free throws in a season with 137 and free throw attempts at 183 which still stand today. Named First Team All-Big Ten and NABC All-District for his performance, Garmaker was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in the eighth round of 1954 NBA Draft but declined to accept the offer in favor of playing his senior season as Gopher. Another decision that would pay off.
Now in the national spotlight alongside star guard Charley Mencel, the former JUCO standout posted a then-school record 24.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as the Gophers finished 15-7 and runners up for the 1955 Big Ten title. For his record breaking season, Garmaker was a consensus selection for First Team All-America and NABC Honors as well as First Team All-Big Ten and NABC All-District. Joining him on the prestigious All-American team were future NBA hall of famers Bill Russell of San Francisco and Tom Gola of LaSalle.
By the end of his two-year Gopher career, Garmaker was third on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,008 points despite playing in only 44 career games. And although 31 Gophers have since scored more points in their careers, his 22.9 career points and 24.8 points per contest in Big Ten play are still program records. "It astounds me today that those records are still standing but I have to give the credit to my great teammates" Garmaker said. "I had a great point guard in Charley Mencel and my (teammates ) made all the difference."
Upon graduation with a degree in history and a business minor , Garmaker was once again selected by the Minneapolis Lakers, this time with the sixth overall selection in the 1955 NBA Draft. After agreeing to a contract with the hometown team soon after, the same player who received no scholarship offers out of high school was now a member of a professional basketball team. Garmaker went on to a highly successful NBA career where he earned All-Star honors in four of his eight seasons between the Lakers (1955-60) and New York Knicks (1960-61), finishing with 5,597 career points.
Following his professional career, Garmaker worked in the real estate development business in Minneapolis before relocating to Naples, Florida in 1979 to continue his business in hotels and condominiums. Finally, in 1990, the Gopher great moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be closer to his two sons where he still loves today with his wife, Darlene.
From a college basketball afterthought to an NBA All-Star, Dick Garmaker has been a testament to the power of hard work and persistence his entire career. And although he only spent two years as Gopher, perhaps no player has had a greater impact on university in a shorter period time than number 53.
feature by Mike Hellinger
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