Who Is Boise State's All-Time Center?

One position remains on Boise State's All-Time Basketball Team. Who will join Chris Childs, Roberto Bergersen, Arnell Jones and Jason Ellis? Read about the accomplishments of Boise State's top centers and then cast your vote on the Taco Bell Arena Board.

Tanoka Beard (1989-1993)

This great Bronco is the only player in school history to score over 500 points in three different seasons.  He poured in 566 his senior year, 524 his junior season and 514 his sophomore year.  He bested Bronco superstar Steve Connor by 17 points to capture the all-time record in 1993 and averaged 17.7 points a game (3^rd behind Ron Austin and Connor).

Beard also ranks 5^th all-time in rebounds with 670 and 7^th in average with a 6.1 average for his career.  Tanoka is second in field goals (676), fourth in attempts (1,151) and fifth in field goal percentage (58.7%).  He shattered school records with 592 career free throws, beating 2^nd place Connor by 207, and free throw attempts with 833, 347 more than Connor.

Beard also holds the record for blocked shots with 160 and is 10^th in games played (110) and 5^th in games started (106).

Beard is third all-time in scoring for a single season with a 21.0 average in 1992-1993.  He is fifth for field goals (199) that same season.  He is the only player in Boise State history to rank in the top ten for free throws in three different seasons.  His sophomore year, he made 148, improved that to 166 the following year and then 168 his senior season.  Tanoka is 3-4-5 in that category.  Beard also dominates the free throw attempts section with 231 in 1991-92 (2^nd), 209 the next year (4^th), 205 his sophomore year (5^th) and 188 his freshman season (7^th).

Under the tutelage of Head Coach Bobby Dye, Beard became a good defensive player.  He blocked 50 shots in 1990-91, then 41 the next year and 38 his senior year.  Beard ranks 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th in that category. 

Beard holds the all-time record for free throws and free-throw attempts in a game with a 20-25 performance against George Mason on December 29, 1992. 

Beard led Boise State in scoring all four seasons of his career, the only player ever to do that.  He averaged 13.6 points a game his freshman year, then hit 17.7 as a sophomore, 18.1 as a junior and hit 21.0 his senior year.  Tanoka also led the Broncos in rebounding his final three years, averaging 5.0, 7.0 and 7.7 respectively.  Keep in mind that he was originally supposed to redshirt but began playing after the season started.

Beard also is the only Bronco to lead his team in blocked shots all four years, rejecting 1.2 per game his first year, 1.7 as a sophomore and 1.4 per game in each of his last two years.

His leadership did not stop there.  He paced his team in field goal percentage in 1989-90 (115-198 for 58.1%) and again his senior year (199-339 for 58.7%).  A center doesn’t often lead his team in free throw shooting but that’s exactly what he did in 1991-92, canning 166 of 231 attempts for 71.9%.

Beard still ranks fourth in Big Sky Conference history in points and fifth in blocked shots, 14 years after he took to the Pavilion for the final time.

Beard’s leadership on and off the court led to him winning the Jeff Foster Memorial Award his last two seasons, one of only three players to win it multiple times.  He was tabbed as Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 1990 and is Boise State’s only three-time all-conference player, chosen to the team in each of his last three seasons.  Beard was selected to the Big Sky All-Tournament Team in 1993 and voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Beard’s senior team won 21 games, tied for fifth best all-time.  They made 511 free throws, fifth in the record book.  Thanks to the presence of Tanoka, three of his Bronco teams rank in the top six in blocked shots.  They are 2^nd with 119 in 1991-92, tied for third with 109 his senior year and 6^th with 106 in 1990-91.

Defensively, Beard and the Broncos hold the school record by holding opponents to 1,222 attempts in 1989-90.  Beard’s freshman team ranks 4^th by holding opponents to 1,683 points and fifth by limiting the opposition to 588 field goals. 

A rash of injuries forced Tanoka to play as a true freshman but from the moment he took the floor, he was an instantaneous star and fan favorite.  With players like Chris Childs, Wilson Foster, Doug Usitalo and Arnell Jones gone, it was rebuilding time for Boise State and Coach Dye put hopes on Tanoka’s broad shoulders.  The Broncos had a 12-15 season that first year.  By 1990-91, Beard and the team had greatly matured, and the record surged to 18-11.  The Broncos had victories over Gonzaga, Utah State and Pepperdine to their credit and qualified for the National Invitation Tournament. 

Some close losses the following season (seven by six points or less) led to a disappointing season at 16-13.  But the following year was a banner year for Boise State, capturing the Big Sky Conference Tournament with wins over Weber State and Idaho.  The Broncos traveled to Utah to play Vanderbilt but ran into a sharpshooting opponent and were eliminated in the first round. 

Tanoka chose to play professional ball in Europe, and his performance there has been nothing short of amazing.  During his professional sports career, Tanoka has enjoyed unparalleled success as one of the most powerfully gifted and skilled American players to ever play in Europe.  He has been voted to 12 all-star games in 13 seasons, won five MVP awards and six team championships.  In those 13 seasons, he has averaged 17 points and eight rebounds per game.

Bruce Bolden (1981-1985)

Coach Bobby Dye had the big body he wanted inside in Bolden.  Bruce dominated the boards from 1981-1985.  He nearly broke the school record in rebounds, although Bill Otey’s totals were accumulated in two years.  Bolden grabbed 767 in his four seasons to 805 for Otey in two years.  Jason Ellis then came along and pushed Bolden down to third.  Still, Bolden’s average of 7.0 is tied with Pat Hoke for fifth. 

His rebounding led to numerous easy putbacks and thundering dunks, propelling him to sixth all-time in field goal percentage (358-624 for 57.4%).  He also ranks 4^th in blocked shots with 108 and 4^th in steals with 151.  Beard his tied for 10^th in games played with 110 and is 8^th in starts with 87.

Bolden ranks 4^th in field goal percentage with 65.5% his senior year (114-174) and is 8^th with 60.1% his sophomore year (101-168).  Bruce’s best season in blocked shots came his junior year when he turned back 39, sixth all-time. 

Bolden is one of only two Broncos to lead his team in rebounding each of four years, with Ellis being the other.  Bolden pulled down an average of 6.6 his freshman year, 7.1 the following season, 5.8 as a junior and 8.4 as a senior.  He paced the Broncos in field-goal percentage in his sophomore and senior years, hitting 65.5% in 1982-83 and 65.5% as a senior.

Bruce also led Boise State in blocked shots three of the four years.  He blocked .9 his first season, then 1.4 as a junior and .9 as a senior.  Bolden also led Boise State in steals his senior year with 45.

The Broncos had 480 assists during Bolden’s freshman season to rank fourth all-time.  They held opponents to 1,734 points in his junior year to rank fifth. 

Bolden provided the transition to greatness at Boise State.  In his first two years, the Broncos were 11-15 and 10-17 under Dave Leach.  Then, Bobby Dye came in and things immediately improved, with Boise State going 15-13 and 16-13 in Bruce’s final two years.  Those records don’t tell the entire story, however, as 10 of the losses in 1983-84 were by five points or less and six of them were two points or less.  Another five losses the following year were also by five points or less.  In other words, not only was the team winning more, but nearly all of the games were competitive, something the Broncos couldn’t say before Coach Dye came in.

In fact, Boise State gave a hint of things to come when they sent shock waves through the Big Sky Tournament in 1985, beating future NBA player Larry Krystkowiak and #1 seed Montana 67-54 before losing to a tough Nevada squad in the semifinal.

Greg Bunn (1970-1973)

Bunn was not only a force inside but a great scorer as well, hitting 1,032 points in his three-year career for 15^th all-time.  Bunn’s moves inside led to 443 free-throw attempts, third all-time, making 346 of them for fourth in the record book.  His shooting from the charity stripe made him the only center that played more than a season to rank in the top ten in free-throw percentage.  Bunn is 10^th with 78.1% shooting.

Bunn is seventh all-time with his 8.8 rebounds per game average as a junior.  He also ranks second in free throws with 171 and third in attempts with 216 that same year.

Greg led the Broncos in scoring his junior year with a nice 16.7 average and in rebounding his senior season with 7.6 caroms per game.  He also paced the Broncos in free-throw shooting each year, connecting on 74 of 95 his junior year for 79.8% and 74 of 95 the following season for 79.8%. 

Bunn’s Bronco teams performed well offensively.  They rank 3^rd all-time in scoring his sophomore season with a 79.6 average, and his junior team ranks fifth in that department with 78.5 points per game.  His junior team is second in field goal attempts with 1,919.  Greg’s junior team holds the school record for free throw attempts with 797 and is second in free throws with 550.  His sophomore team is fourth in both categories, hitting 526-746. 

Bunn also helped the Broncos on the boards as the team averaged 40 rebounds in 1971-72 (3^rd all-time) and 38.3 the following year (5^th).  His junior team turned in one of the only great statistics pre-Dye by holding opponents to 44% shooting to rank fifth all-time.

Boise State was 10-16 in Greg’s first year, improving slightly to 14-12 before falling to 11-15 in 1972-73.

Keith Burke (1968-1970)

Though not as prolific as teammates Ron Austin, Wendell Hart and Bill Otey, Keith Burke was a significant factor in the Broncos’ junior college success and transition to four-year ball.  He paced Boise State in field goal percentage in 1968-69 nailing 139 of 282 for 49.1%.  His 74.4% free-throw shooting that year led the team as well. 

Burke helped the Broncos set a school record for scoring with an astounding 83.3 points per game in Boise State’s first year as a four-year school.  The Broncos scored 2,249 points that year, a mark that ranks fifth all-time.  Keith and the Broncos also set records for field goals (956), field goal attempts (2,146) rebounds (1,545) and rebounding average (a whopping 57.2 per game) that same year.  They were a thrill to watch.  With all that, they still set an all-time defensive record by holding opponents to a meager 38.8% shooting from the field, a record that may never be broken. 

Boise State was 19-8 in their first year as a four-year school and 20-8 the following year.  They qualified for the NAIA Tournament in 1968-69 and the Division II Tournament in Keith’s senior year.  The true story of these early Broncos cannot be told without mentioning their success as a junior college.  Burke and Boise State was 26-9 his freshman year and 26-5 the following year.  In Keith’s four years, Boise State went 91-30.

John Coker (1991-1995)

Coker is the #11 scorer in Boise State history, pushed out of the top ten by Coby Karl last year.  He averaged 13.4 points a game and scored 1,126 points.  John also ranks 9^th in field goals (439) and 10^th in field goal percentage, hitting 439 of 797 for 55.1%.  Coker ranks 2^nd in blocked shots with 156 to Tanoka Beard’s 160. 

In the 1993-94 season, Coker blocked an amazing 77 shots, the all-time record by 24.  Coker averaged 17.4 points per game that same season, tied for 13^th all-time.  The following year, he blocked 49, good for fourth in Bronco history. 

He led the Broncos in scoring in his junior and senior years, averaging 17.4 and 15.9 respectively.  Coker also topped the team in rebounds those two years by averaging 6.8 in 1993-94 and 7.3 the following season and in field goal percentage (57.3% and 52.9% respectively).  He was easily the team leader in blocked shots those two years as well by averaging 2.6 and 2.3 rejections.

Coker’s hard work was rewarded by Coach Bobby Dye in being named the recipient of the Jeff Foster Memorial Award his senior year.  John also made the Big Sky Conference team each of his last two seasons and the All-Tournament team in 1994.

Coker’s sophomore team is tied for fifth in wins with 21 and ranks fifth in both free throws with 511 and free throw attempts (712).  They are also tied for third in blocked shots with 109.  John was the main reason his junior team holds the school record in blocked shots with 143.  They also made 848 field goals, tied for fourth all-time and rank second in assists with 520, fourth in rebounds with 1,099 and fifth in steals with 267.  Coker’s freshman team is second in blocked shots with 119.

Defensively, Coker and the Broncos are fourth in field goal percentage-defense by limiting opponents to 43.6% shooting his junior year.  

Boise State was 16-13 in Coker’s first season with nice wins over St. Mary’s, San Jose State and Air Force.  They captured tournament championships each of the next two seasons, going 21-8 in 1992-93 and 17-13 the following year.  Coker helped the Broncos advance to the NCAA Tournament, not faring well against Vanderbilt but putting a real scare into perennial power Louisville his junior year.  Boise State finished 17-10 in John’s senior year.

Coker played for the Idaho Stampede briefly and was with three different teams in the National Basketball Association:  Phoenix, Washington and Golden State.  He scored 134 points and had 95 rebounds in brief action for the three teams.

  
Greg Dodd (1986-1988)

Dodd was the center on Boise State’s best teams, and led the 1987-88 group with .8 blocked shots per game. 

It was no coincidence that Dodd’s two years at Boise State resulted in two of the best years in school history.  Coach Bobby Dye had the outside shooters and a pretty good forward by the name of Arnell Jones.  What he didn’t have was a tall presence inside, and he found that in Dodd.  The Broncos won 22 games his junior year (tied for fourth all-time) and a record 24 games his senior year.

The 1986-87 season was a prelude to the next year. The Broncos set the school record for steals with 344, scored 2,196 points (6^th all-time), hit 49.7% of their shots (fourth) and rank third in free throws (544) and second in free-throw attempts (792).  

Greg’s senior team thrived on defense.  They stole 308 balls in 1987-88, 2^nd best in school history.  They allowed just 56.3 points a game, a school record, and set another Boise State mark by allowing just 29.1 rebounds per game.  That team ranks 3^rd in points allowed (1,680), 4^th in field goals allowed (580), 4^th in three-pointers allowed (75), 4^th in three-point shots attempted (231) and 5^th in rebounds allowed (874). 

Dodd made his presence known immediately, helping Boise State to a 22-8 record; they were just 12-16 the year before.  The Broncos qualified for their first National Invitation Tournament, where they shocked Utah 62-61 and almost did the same on the road to Washington before falling 73-68.

Dodd and Boise State ran out to a 16-1 record to start the 1987-88 season and were ranked 23^rd in the nation.  It is the only time in school history that the Broncos have been one of the top 25 programs in the country.  In reality, that team was much better, playing three games against top ten teams that could have gone either way.  In the end, Boise State won the Big Sky regular season with a 13-3 mark and captured the Big Sky Tournament in enemy territory.  They drew a tough Michigan team in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament and took the Wolverines down to the wire before falling 63-58.  The vast majority of that Michigan team went on to win the National Championship the following year, and seven players from the Michigan team that played Boise State played in the NBA, led by Glen Rice.

Pat Hoke (1972-1976)

Hoke was a scoring force inside for the Broncos, ranking ninth in school history with 1,165 points (          13.5 average).  He also is positioned at #5 in career rebound average with 7.0 and sixth in rebounds with 603.  He is the only player ever to play for Boise State that is ranked in the top ten in scoring and top five in rebounding.

Hoke also ranks 8^th in field goals (445), ninth in field goal attempts (917), ninth in free throws (275) and 11^th in free throw attempts (363).

Pat posted the sixth best average in the record book with a 19.2 points per game performance in 1974-75.  The following year, he hit 17.1 points a game to rank 19^th.  He averaged 8.75 rebounds his junior year, ninth all-time.  He got his points form muscling inside, as evidenced by his 169 free-throw attempts his senior year, 10^th in school history.  Of those, Hoke canned 127, good for ninth all-time.

Hoke led his teams in scoring the last two years and paced the Broncos in field goal percentage his junior year by hitting 185 of 373 attempts for 49.5%. 

Hoke and the Broncos grabbed 1,120 rebounds his junior year, sixth all-time and 1,069 his senior season to rank eighth.  The rebound average of 43.1 in 1974-75 ranks second, while his sophomore year, Boise State ranks fifth with a 38.3 average.  Hoke’s senior team set school records with 540 assists and 559 free throws and ranks second in free-throw percentage (72.8%), second in field goals (867), third in both points scored (2,293) and free-throw attempts (768), fourth in scoring average (79.1 points a game) and fifth in field goal attempts (1,809); his sophomore team is tied for fifth in assists with 475 and is sixth in field goal attempts with 1,795.  Pat’s junior team is second in scoring (82.0 points a game) and fifth in field goals with 847.  Hoke and the Broncos are second all-time in field goal attempts during his freshman year when they attempted 1,919. 

Hoke was named to the All-Big Sky Conference team in 1975 and the All-Tournament Team in ’76.  Pat was a second-team All-Big Sky choice in 1976. 

Boise State was 11-15 in Pat’s first year as a Bronco.  They went 12-14 the following year and 13-13 in Hoke’s junior year before showcasing their talent in an 18-11 Big Sky Conference championship season.  Boise State played their first-ever NCAA Tournament game against one of UNLV’s best teams and lost 103-78.

J.D. Huleen (1993-1997)

Huleen set the unusual mark of 89 career three-pointers in his career, far and away the record for centers.   Huleen is 13^th in that department and 12^th in attempts with 276. 

He actually led Boise State in three-point shooting his junior year, hitting 34 of 95 for 35.8%.  J.D. also paced the Broncos in rebounding, blocked shots and steals his senior year.  He grabbed 4.7 rebounds, blocked .6 shots per game and was credited with 1.4 steals per contest.  

Huleen and the Boise State defense set an all-time record by allowing just 1,678 points his senior year.  That averaged out to 62.1 points a game, good for fifth all-time.  That same team set records for fewest field goals allowed (566) and fewest blocked shots allowed (44) and ranks second with 1,236 field goal attempts allowed, tied for second by allowing just 283 assists and tied for third by giving up 871 rebounds to the opposition.  His junior team allowed just 56 shots to be blocked by the opposition (fourth all-time) and only 1,296 field goal attempts, fifth in the record book.  In 1994-95, Huleen and the Broncos did such a great job taking care of the ball that they allowed only 161 steals by opponents, the third best performance in school history.  In his freshman year, the Broncos held opponents to 43.6% shooting to rank fourth there. 

Huleen helped Boise State to a 17-13 record his freshman year and the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship.  Down to Louisville by double digits in the NCAA Tournament, the Broncos closed to within three before losing 67-58.  The Broncos were 17-10 the following year under Coach Bobby Dye, but slipped to 15-13 and 14-13 under new coach Rod Jensen.

Jeff Kelley (1983-1987)

Kelly ranks ninth in Bronco history for field goal percentage.  He hit 305 of 551 shots in his career for a 55.4% shooting percentage.    Kelly is also seventh all-time in blocked shots with 69.

His best year shooting the ball was his senior year when he connected on 144 of 241 shots for 59.8%.  Kelley led the Broncos in blocked shots each of his last two seasons with 22 blocks each year.

The 1986-87 Broncos set a school record with 344 steals.  They won 22 games, fourth all-time and scored 2,196 points (6^th all-time).  They attempted 792 free throws (second), hit 544 of them (third all-time) and shot 49.7% from the field, fourth all-time.

In Jeff’s freshman year, the Broncos set a record by allowing just 147 steals by opponents.  Boise State held opponents to just 854 rebounds to rank second for an average of 30.5 rebounds a game (third), held them to 61.9 points a game to rank fourth in the record book and allowed 1,734 points (fifth). 

Kelly contributed as a freshman for new Coach Bobby Dye and he literally saw the program transform.  They had finished 10-17 the previous year under Coach Dave Leach, but improved to 15-13 in Jeff’s first year.  Another winning season resulted in Jeff’s sophomore season (16-13).  The Broncos were in the process of rebuilding the next year (12-16), proven by Boise State’s 22-8 record in Kelley’s senior year.  Boise State was 12-2 at one point with wins over Cal Irvine, San Diego and Portland.  The Broncos were selected to their first National Invitation Tournament, beating Utah 62-61 and losing to Washington 73-68.

Sean McKenna (1975-1979)

Former Capital High School star McKenna is 11^th in the Bronco record book with 467 rebounds.  He also scored high-percentage shots around the basket in ringing up a 56.67% shooting percentage (276-487), eighth all-time. 

He paced Boise State with a 15.7 scoring average and 58.7% field goal percentage (162-276) his senior year. 

The ’75-76 Broncos set a school record by hitting 559 free throws and rank second by hitting 72.8% of them.  They also set the school standard with 540 assists.  Boise State scored 2,293 points Sean’s freshman year, second all-time.  That team attempted 768 (third) and averaged 79.1 points a game, which ranks fourth.  That same year, the Broncos made 867 field goals (second), attempted 1,809, which is fifth all-time, and pulled down 1,069 rebounds (also fifth).  In 1978-79, Sean helped the Broncos hit 51.2% from the field, second in Boise State history.

In McKenna’s senior year, the Broncos averaged 37.5 rebounds, sixth all-time.  McKenna was honored as a second team All-Big Sky Conference selection that season.

McKenna was part of the Big Sky Championship team his freshman year with an 18-11 record and trip to the NCAA’s.  The Broncos went 10-16, 13-14 and 11-15 in Sean’s last three seasons.

Larry McKinney (1979-1981)

McKinney played at Boise State two years, but he ranks eighth all-time with 62 blocked shots.  McKinney’s 15.2 average ranks ninth in the record book. 

McKinney ranks 20^th among all Broncos with his 17.0 average his senior year.  He is also 11^th in rebounding with an 8.3 average attained during his junior year. 

He paced the Broncos both seasons in rebounding, pulling down 8.3 per game his junior year and 7.3 his senior season.  He also led the team in field goal percentage his senior year by hitting 181 of 346 for 52.3%. 

Boise State was 10-16 in Larry’s first year and 7-19 the following season when Coach Dave Leach took over.

McKinney was chosen for the All-Big Sky Conference second team in 1981.  He was selected in the seventh round of the National Basketball Association Draft by the Indiana Pacers.

Dave Richardson (1977-1980)

Richardson excelled defensively around the basket, rejecting 86 shots in his three years at Boise State to rank fifth.  Offensively, he was a high-percentage shooter, hitting 56.69% (254-448) during his career to rank seventh all-time.  He pulled down an average of 6.0 rebounds per game in his Bronco career, ninth in school history. 

Richardson’s place in history was secured when he blocked 53 shots in 1978-79, second only to John Coker’s 77.  He also hit 60.2% from the field in 1979-80 (127-211), seventh best in the record book. 

Dave led Boise State in blocked shots in each of his last two seasons with 53 his junior year and 33 the following campaign.

Richardson helped Boise State to a team field goal percentage of 51.2% his junior year, second all-time.  That same team grabbed an average of 37.5 rebounds, sixth all-time.  In his sophomore year, Richardson and the Broncos also dished out 489 assists to rank third.

Richardson and the Broncos were 13-14, 11-15 and 10-16 in his three years.

Phil Rodman (1993-1996)

Rodman did not take a lot of shots, but he made them count.  Phil ranks second to only Billy Fikes in career field goal percentage, hitting 210 of 330 for 63.6%.  He stands fifth in school history for single season field goal percentage, connecting on 109 of 172 attempts for a sizzling 63.4%. 

Rodman helped the Broncos score 848 field goals his sophomore year, the fifth best total in school history.  The Broncos set an all-time record that year for blocked shots with 143.  Defensively, that team held opponents to 43.6% shooting, fourth all-time.  Boise State allowed just 1,296 field goal attempts in Phil’s senior year to rank fifth in that department. 

Rodman helped Boise State win the Big Sky Tournament in 1993-94, and then take Louisville to the wire in the NCAA Tournament.  The Broncos were 17-10 the following year with wins over Utah State, St. Mary’s, Nevada and Pepperdine but fell to 15-13 in Phil’s senior year under new Head Coach Rod Jensen.

Rodman was named to the All-Big Sky Conference team as a senior.

Brian Sperry (1986-1989)

Sperry was quite possibly the best sixth man ever for the Bronco basketball team.  He provided valuable minutes for starter Greg Dodd—he excelled at defense and rebounding. 

In Sperry’s first season, the Broncos set the school record for steals with 344, scored 2,196 points (6^th all-time), hit 49.7% of their shots (fourth) and rank third in free throws (544) and second in free-throw attempts (792).  

Defense was the name of the game the following year.  Boise State stole 308 balls in 1987-88, 2^nd best in school history.  They allowed just 56.3 points a game, a school record, and set another Boise State mark by allowing just 29.1 rebounds per game.  That team ranks 3^rd in points allowed (1,680), 4^th in field goals allowed (580), 4^th in three-pointers allowed (75), 4^th in three-point shots attempted (231) and 5^th in rebounds allowed (874).

In Brian’s senior year, the Broncos hit 49.6% of their shots, fifth all-time.  Boise State’s sharp passing and superior ball handling resulted in just 158 steals by the opposition all year—the second lowest total ever.  They also sank their free throws (71.9%), tied for third in the record book.  Boise State kept the tenacious defense alive, limiting opponents to only 58.9 points per game, second best in school history.  They also held the opposition to 576 field goals (third) and 1,287 attempts (fourth). 

Sperry’s time at Boise State was the most successful three years in school history.  They were 22-8 in 1986-87 with wins over Cal Irvine and Portland.  The Broncos defeated Utah in the National Invitation Tournament before losing on the road to Washington 73-68.  The next year was the dream season—24-6, 13-3 in the Big Sky, a 16-1 record to start the year and a Big Sky Tournament Championship at Montana State.  The Broncos played three games against Top 10 teams and had a chance to win all of them in the final seconds.  Boise State lost 63-58 to a Michigan team that featured seven future NBA players and a team that would win the national championship the following year.  In Sperry’s senior year, the Broncos won yet another Big Sky Championship with a 23-7 overall record and were rewarded with a return trip to the N.I.T., where they fell to Oklahoma State 69-55.

Trever Tillman (1997-2002)

Tillman set a mark that will be tough to beat—he blocked seven shots in one game (Idaho State on December 10, 1997).  That was definitely his trademark.  Trever finished his career with 126 blocked shots, third to Tanoka Beard’s 160 and John Coker’s 156.

He blocked 38 shots in both his freshman and senior years, tied for eighth all-time.  Tillman led the team in blocks three of the four years, with 32 rejections his senior year being the other time. 

In Tillman’s junior year, the Broncos scored 2,237 points, sixth all-time.  In his freshman year, the Broncos hit 71.9% of their free throws, tied for third.  The following year, they had 277 steals, fourth in the record book, and own the third best scoring average defense mark by holding opponents to 61.7 points a game.  They also held opponents to 30.0 rebounds per game, second in school history, and 871 rebounds, tied for third all-time.

Boise State was 17-13 in Tillman’s first year, and won the East Division of the Big West Conference the following year with a 21-8 overall record.  Along the way, they shocked #17 Washington in the pavilion 69-61.  Although they had defeated Western Division champion New Mexico State twice in the regular season, the Aggies got the best of Boise State in the Big West Tournament championship 79-69.  Despite the 21 wins, Boise State was shunned in the postseason.  In Trever’s last two years, Boise State was 13-17 and 13-16.

Steve Wallace (1970-1972)

Wallace had a great hook shot and presence around the rim.  He ranks third and fourth in the record books for rebounding average with 11.0 his senior year and 9.8 his junior season.

Wallace ranks eighth in Bronco history in rebounds and second in rebounding average.  In two seasons, Steve hauled down 543 rebounds for a superb 10.4 average.

Steve led Boise State’s rebounding efforts in consecutive seasons, averaging 9.8 in 1970-71 and 11.0 the next year.  He also paced the Broncos in field goal shooting (234-289 for 46.4%).

Boise State was 10-16 in Wallace’s first season and 14-12 the following year.