LARAMIE -- Do you ever see a number on a Wyoming basketball jersey and think of all the great players to wear it?

Yeah, me too.

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In this summer series, I’ll give you my take on which Pokes’ hoopster was the best ever to don each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at UW? What kind of impact did he have on the program?

 

Flynn Robinson, a former Casper College transfer, parlayed his historic collegiate career into becoming the 11th overall pick of the Cincinnati Royals in the 1965 NBA Draft./ UW courtesy photo
Flynn Robinson, a former Casper College transfer, parlayed his historic collegiate career into becoming the 11th overall pick of the Cincinnati Royals in the 1965 NBA Draft./ UW courtesy photo
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No. 30 - FLYNN ROBINSON

Guard, 1962-65, Elgin, Ill.

 

Résumé in Laramie

* 78 games played at UW

* 26.3 points per game (most in UW and WAC history)

* Three-time First-Team All-WAC selection

* Three-time Helm's Foundation All-American

* Three-time Look-U.S. Basketball Writers All-District selection

* Chuck Taylor All-American 1965

* 20th player in college history to surpass 2,000 career points

* One of four UW players to score more than 2,000 career points

* UW All-Century Team

* UW Athletics Hall of Fame inductee 1994

 

Why Robinson?

There are only 10 members of the University of Wyoming All-Century Team.

Two guys who wore the No. 30, deservingly, are on that list -- Charles Bradley, and our ultimate selection for the best to ever wear that jersey, Flynn Robinson.

What put Robinson over the top? Let us count the ways.

Robinson's UW Hall of Fame plaque really says it all: "In three seasons as a Cowboy, Flynn Robinson broke every major Wyoming basketball record except rebounding." Boy, ain't that the truth.

In just 78 games, Robinson became just the 20th player in college basketball history to eclipse the 2,000-point mark. Plenty of his offensive statistics have stood the test of time, too.

* No. 4 scorer in UW history with 2,049 points (Only Fennis Dembo, Brandon Ewing and Justin James have scored more)

* No. 1 in scoring average at 26.3 points per game (Five more points than second place, Tony Windis)

* No. 1 in field goals attempted with 1,770

* No. 1 with 21 field goals made against Arizona State in 1964

* No. 1 with 267 field goals during the 1964-65 season

* No. 1 in points per game average in 1964-65 with 27

* No. 2 in career field goals made with 764

* No. 2 in free-throw percentage at .843 (521-of-618)

* No. 3 in field goals made with 521

No. 3 in single-season points scored with 701

* No. 5 top-scoring games in UW history (Three times he netted 40 in a game)

The list goes on -- seriously.

Robinson, a former Casper College transfer, parlayed his historic collegiate career into becoming the 11th overall pick of the Cincinnati Royals in the 1965 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-1 guard had an eight-year professional basketball career, making stops in Chicago, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Baltimore, San Diego and Indiana.

He was part of a championship team in 1972 while a member of the Lakers. That team featured Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. He was named an NBA All-Star two years prior as a member of the Royals. Robinson averaged 14 points a night in the NBA.

 

Honorable mention

Charles Bradley (1977-81) is still the eighth-leading scorer in UW history with 1,744 career points. When he graduated, he was second behind only Robinson. He also ranked second in assists with 215.

Bradley, known by his nickname "Tub" was a three-time First-Team All-WAC selection. The Maryland native averaged 15.9 points per night and helped lead the Pokes to a WAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 1981. It was the program's first trip to the Big Dance in more than 15 years.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. He played three NBA seasons for the Celtics and the Seattle SuperSonics before moving on to the CBA where he suited up for the Albuquerque Silvers and the Wyoming Wildcatters.

In 1986, Bradley returned to Laramie as an assistant coach under Jim Brandenburg. That first season was a special one. Wyoming won the conference and knocked off Virginia and No. 15 UCLA to advance to the Sweet 16.

Bradley was inducted into the UW Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.

 

Who else wore No. 30

John Bertolero (50's), Fred Gish (60's), Ev Martindale (60's), Steve Popovich (60's), Denny Mountz (70's), Vern May (70's), Rich Bozner (70's), Quein Higgins (80's), Rob Watsabaugh (10's)

 

Look who wore the No. 25 best right HERE.

Check out our "Who Wore it Best" football series right HERE.

* All available rosters provided by the University of Wyoming Athletics Department. If we missed a player who wore this number, please email cody@7220sports.com

* A number of players wore different jersey numbers during their careers. From the 1930's through the 50's, players were issued a home and an away jersey.

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