Demons in the Pros

Shown (l-r) are Demons whose jersey numbers have been retired: Vernon Wilson, Dr. Charles “Red” Thomas, and Johnny McConathy CHARLES “RED” THOMAS

Northwestern State’s first All-America basketball player, winning that honor in 1941. He later became head basketball coach at NSU and guided the Demons to an outstanding 129-76 (.629) record in seven years at the helm, never experiencing a losing season during his entire tenure. Also an excellent trackman, Thomas was enshrined into the Northwestern State Graduate “N” Club Hall of Fame in 1971.

JOHNNY MCCONATHY

Northwestern State’s second All-America selection, the father of Demon baskeball coach Mike McConathy earned that distinction for his play during the 1951 season. McConathy set a school record for most points scored in a single season with 562 and a 21.6 average. He was invited to play in the College All-Star Game in Chicago and was the fifth pick in the first round of the 1951 NBA Draft by Syracuse. McConathy, who also participated in track at NSU, was a member of the 1973 class that was enshrined into the Graduate “N” Club Hall of Fame.

VERNON WILSON

Named as an All-America in 1973, Wilson remains NSU’s all-time leader in scoring average with a career figure of 20.6 ppg, scoring 1,548 points in just 75 games. Wilson led the Demons in scoring during each of the 1971, ’72 and ’73 seasons, earning team MVP honors for those three years. Named the 1971 Gulf States Conference Rookie of the Year, first team all-Louisiana in ’72 and ’73, he was chosen to the first team of the NAIA District 30 squad that toured Israel while playing against that country’s Olympic team.

ALL-CONFERENCE DEMONS

All-SIAA or All-LIAA (1913-48) Southern/Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Josh Briley John Elkins Tandy Jackson Frank Lampkin Ray Miller Leroy Miller Howard Moorman Ocie Richie Ted Roberts Vernon Roberts Cara Lee Starnes Claude Stoutamire Charles Thomas Ed Tullos

ALL-GULF STATES CONFERENCE

1949 - Claude Stoutamire, Bernard Waggoner 1950 - Claude Stoutamire 1951 - Johnny McConathy 1953 - Ken Shaw 1954 - Bill Collingsworth 1956 - Dick Brown, George McConathy 1957 - Dick Brown 1958 - Jimmy Leach, Mickey Crnkovic 1959 - Jimmy Leach 1960 - Larry Skinner, Gene Wright 1961 - Truitt Weldon 1962 - Truitt Weldon, Sam Watts 1963 - Tommy Mathis, Sam Watts 1964 - Tommy Mathis 1965 - David Clark 1966 - David Clark, James Wyatt 1967 - David Clark 1968 - James Wyatt, Pete Gray 1969 - James Wyatt, Charles Bloodworth 1970 - Charles Bloodworth 1971 - Vernon Wilson 1972 - Vernon Wilson

ALL-GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE

1974 - Reggie Grace 1975 - Billy Reynolds

ALL-SOUTH INDEPENDENT, NCAA DIVISION I

1977 - Billy Reynolds

ALL-TRANS AMERICA CONFERENCE

1981 - Wayne Waggoner 1982 - Wayne Waggoner 1983 - Kenny Hale, Johnny Martin All-Gulf Star Conference 1985 - George Jones 1986 - George Jones, Victor Willis, Dwight Moody 1987 - George Jones, Victor Willis

ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE

1988 - Terrence “Bo” Rayford 1989 - Terrence “Bo” Rayford, Pernell Smith 1990 - Roman Banks 1991 - Dexter Grimsley, Jay Scherer 1993 - Eric Kubel 1994 - Eric Kubel (Player of the Year), Larry Terry 1995 - Tarius Brown 1997 - Charles Duncan 1998 - Seth LeGrand 2001 - Chris Thompson, Michael Byars-Dawson 2002 - Michael Byars-Dawson 2004 - Jermaine Wallace, Clifton Lee 2005 - Jermaine Wallace, Jermaine Spencer 2006 - Clifton Lee, Tyronn Mitchell, Jermaine Wallace, Byron Allen 2008- Trey Gilder 2011- Will Pratt, William Mosley 2012- Will Mosley, Shamir Davis 2013- DeQuan Hicks, Jalan West, Shamir Davis, James Hulbin 2014- Jalan West, DeQuan Hicks, Zeek Woodley 2015- Jalan West, Zeek Woodley 2016- Zeek Woodley 2019- Ishmael Lane 2020- Chudier Bile 2021- Trenton Massner 2022- Kendal Coleman

DEMONS IN THE PROS

NBA

2009 Trey Gilder, Memphis, Utah 1994-95 Larry Terry, New Jersey, Boston 1982 Wayne Waggoner, Dallas 1977 Billy Reynolds, Seattle 1952 Johnny McConathy, Syracuse Charles “Red” Thomas, Scout, New York

NBDL/G-League

2017-18 Zeek Woodley, Iowa 2011 Will Pratt, Sioux City 2008-09, '12 Trey Gilder 2006 Clifton Lee 2006 D’or Fisher

ABA

1970 Charles Bloodworth, Virginia 1969 James Wyatt, New Orleans 1967 David Clark, New Orleans

USBL

2002-03 Ryan Duplessis, St. Louis

UPBL

2003 Jerrold McRae, Louisville

CBA

1995-2002 Eric Kubel, Connecticut, Gary 1990 Terrance Rayford, Sioux Falls 1986 Dwight Moody, Cedar Rapids

Overseas

2021-now Jamaure Gregg, Lux., Czech Rep. 2019-now Ishmael Lane, Japan, Mexico 2016-17 Zeek Woodley, Iceland 2014-16 Shamir Davis, Spain 2014-16 James Hulbin, Germany 2014-16 Brison White, Czech Republic 2014-15 DeQuan Hicks, Iraq 2012-now Will Mosley, Italy, Serbia, others 2010-17 Aramie Brooks, Argentina 2010-now Trey Gilder, Japan, Puerto Rico 2009 Tim Van, Mexico 2008-09 Colby Bargeman, England 2008-15 Clifton Lee, Japan, Australia, etc. 2006-13 Tyrone Mitchell, Romania

2006-20 D’or Fisher, Germany, Poland, Israel 2003-08 Melvin Roberts, Australia, Portugal, etc. 2002-05 Michael Byars-Dawson, France (2) 2002-05 Chris Lynch, Australia 2002-03 Chris Thompson, Ireland 2002-03 Kory Wilson, Mexico 2001 Josh Hancock, China 2001 Alann Polk, China 1997-2007 Stephen Barnes, Europe (Portugal) Turkey (past and current), Venezuela, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Ukraine 1992 Dwight Moody, Europe 1991-01 Terrance Rayford, Europe (Portugal) 1990 Pernell Smith, Greece 1983 Johnny Martin, Europe 1981-97 Frederick Piper, Europe (France)