How an NCAA Superstar Quit Basketball After Playing a High Schooler Who Would Become a Legend

B.H. Born seemed destined for a long career in the NBA. But after his decorated college career, he played a one-on-one game with a future NBA legend who was still in high school at the time. And that changed everything.

B.H. Born was born in Osawatomie, Kansas, before moving to Medicine Lodge, where he made a name for himself as one of the best high school basketball players in the country.

“I lived right across the street from the gym and I went to the Methodist church, which was right by the school,” Born said of his early days. “I had a job at the store, which was half a block from my house. My scope wasn’t too wide for quite a while.”

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id=”RTK_K67O” mobile_id=”RTK_5yk0″]

As a senior at Medicine Lodge High School in 1950, Born scored 111 points over four state tournament games, a record, and he drew the attention of Phog Allen (pictured), head coach at the University of Kansas.

“In effect, he semi-kidnapped me,” Born joked in 2002 of his recruitment to KU. “But I can’t imagine enjoying a college career more anywhere else.”

Back then, freshmen were ineligible to play. As a sophomore in 1952, Born backed up future Basketball Hall of Fame center Clyde Lovellette (pictured), who carried the Jayhawks to a national title.

“Clyde and I averaged 30 points a game,” Born said. “The problem was, he’d have 28 1/2 and I’d have 1 1/2.”

Lovellette graduated after the Jayhawks’ 1952 title, and Born took the legend’s place as the team’s star center. As a junior, the Medicine Lodge native averaged 19 points and 11.

2 rebounds per game, leading the Jayhawks to the national championship game against Indiana.