Mythical Mr. Basketball 1950s

1950 Charles “Buzz” Bennett, Duluth Central
Pete Castle, Anoka
Don Dale, Robbinsdale
Ron Dreas, Winona Cotter
Irwin St. John, Bemidjji

1951 Gene Auck, St. Paul Monroe
Burdette “Burdie” Halldorson, Austin
John Horan, St. Thomas Academy
Bill Simonovich, Gilbert
Jim Smith, Brainerd

What a class! The 6-10 Simonovich outscored Halldorson 35-4 in the state tournament and went on to play at the U. Halldorson played for Colorado and had a productive post-college career. Horan played for Dayton U and the Minneapolis Lakers.

1952 Jim Akason, Halstad
Vern Bagenstoss, Albany
Maynard Meyers, Mountain Lake
Ervin Mickelson, Canby
Don and Doyle Rasmussen, Austin

1953 Jerry Dreier, St. Paul Marshall
Leroy German, Madelia
Omar Larson, Granite Falls
Bernie Raetz, Red Wing
Dave Tschimperle, Hopkins

1954 Bob Anderstrom, Willmar
Warren Jeppeson, St. Louis Park
Art Johnson, Thief River Falls
Rod Skoog, Brainerd
Norris Stenson, Starbuck

1955 Charles Benson, Roseau
Harold Bergstedt, Esko
Jim Colosimo, Eveleth
Jerry Olson, Austin
Dick Peterson, Ortonville

1956 Larry Exel, Mpls. Roosevelt
Lee Hopfenspirger, Morgan
Ron Johnson, New Prague
Jerry Olson, Glenwood
Virgil Sonju, Kennedy

1957 Dick Erickson, Anoka
Jon Hagen, Belview
Paul Lehman, DeLaSalle
Tom Nordland, Mpls. Roosevelt
Cal Sabatini, Hibbing

Another super class but now its the jump shooters and guards. Hagen broke Ron Johnson's record for career points. Lehman played at the U. Nordland was widely regarded as the best jumper shooter ever.

1958 Ray Cronk, Bemidji
Norm Grow, Foley
Orris Jirele, Austin Pacelli
Steve Malmar, Red Wing
Bill Mattson, Virginia

Grow finished up as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Minnesota. Cronk and Grow played at the U, Jirele was point guard for St. Bonaventure when the Bonnies were rated as high as #3 in the nation in 1961. Malmar was more of a football QB, Mattson played hoops at UMD.

1959 David Erickson, Duluth Cathedral
Tom Kezar, Austin
Dick Longworth, Mora
Dick Peik, Brownton
Dick Reidberger, Hawley