Kansas State University Athletics
K-State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2006
- Class:
- 1982
The term “student-athlete” could have been coined to describe Kansas State great Ed Nealy.
Nealy came to Manhattan from Bonner Springs, Kan., following a terrific prep career that saw him average 28 points per game as a senior. Still, not much was expected of him as a freshman. Nealy surprised everyone, leading the Wildcats in rebounding with 8.2 rebounds per game. He also averaged double figures in scoring with 10.2 points per game. As a result, the freshman who wasn’t expected to be a factor for the Wildcats ended up starting 30 of the team’s 31 games en route to Big Eight Newcomer of the Year honors.
Nealy found continued success as a sophomore. He snatched an average of 8.8 rebounds a game and dropped an average of 9.8 points per contest. He was also a vital part in helping the Wildcats capture the 1980 Big Eight Tournament Championship and reach the Elite Eight of the 1980 NCAA Tournament.
As an upperclassman, Nealy saw a jump in his numbers, averaging 11 points per contest and 9.1 rebounds per game. He was also instrumental to K-State’s success in the 1981 NCAA Tournament as he helped the Cats reach the West Regional Finals. Through the four-game tournament run, Nealy averaged 10.8 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game.
As a senior and one of two team captains, Nealy’s legend continued to grow. He averaged 11.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and led the Wildcats to their third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wildcat’s season, and Nealy’s collegiate career, ended in the Sweet 16, but not before he earned first team All-Big Eight and honorable mention All-America honors.
For his career, Nealy tallied 1,069 rebounds, tops on the school’s career rebound list. He is also the only Wildcat to have over 1,000 points and rebounds in a career and still holds the Wildcat career record for double-digit rebound games with 45.
In addition to his success on the court, Nealy excelled in the classroom. As a sophomore, he earned first team Academic All-Big Eight honors, sporting a 3.217 grade point average. Just as his scoring and rebounding averages increased as an upperclassman, so did his academic success. During his junior and senior campaigns, Nealy earned second-team academic All-American honors, and two more first team academic All-Big Eight distinctions.
An eighth-round pick by the Kansas City Kings in the 1982 NBA Draft, Nealy went on to play 11 NBA seasons with four different teams and captured two NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in 1991 and 1993.
