No. 13 suits Wesley
Former standout has jersey retired
Cold chills shot down Walt Wesley’s spine when he was assigned jersey No. 13 his sophomore season at Kansas University.
“You don’t want to mess with that,” the 59-year-old former KU center said with a grin, aware it would be difficult to follow in the footsteps of 7-footer Wilt Chamberlain.
Yet Wesley accepted the number back in 1964 — he wore 44 for KU’s freshman team — and Saturday night watched proudly as banner No. 13 was hung in the south rafters of Allen Fieldhouse in the same vicinity as Chamberlain’s identical No. 13.
“Without a doubt, it’s one of my greatest thrills. As an athlete, this is the type of thing you dream about,” added the 22nd leading scorer in KU history.
Wesley was able to make a name for himself at KU, though comparisons with Chamberlain were inevitable.
His coach, Ted Owens, who stood with his arm around Wesley during a session with the media before the KU-South Carolina game, remembers the times when Wesley really emerged.
“Walter wasn’t nearly as developed as Wilt when he came here,” said Owens, who directed the Wesley-led Jayhawks to a Big Eight title and 23-4 overall mark in 1965-66, Wesley’s senior year.
“He was an enormous worker who grew and grew. At K-State his sophomore year, he scored 28. His junior year, he had the big game against Loyola (42 points, eighth-best mark in KU history). He played against St. John’s and scored 38 in Manhattan, and the New York papers called him, ‘The New Wilt.”’
6Sports video: KU survives scare
Hear Bill, players: South Carolina postgame comments
Photo Gallery: KU vs. South Carolina
Scorecard: Grade KU’s performance against South Carolina