Joe Stevens is the 28th men's basketball player to be inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame. Stevens was a three-time All-Valley selection (1956 second team, 1957 first team, 1958 second team) and finished his career as the second-leading scorer in history to Cleo Littleton.
Many people have made cases for Joe Stevens to be inducted over the years because of his tenacity on the court. Stevens was more surprised than anyone to learn he would be in the 2014 class of inductees.
“It came out of left field, Stevens said. “I was shocked, surprised and pleased. I had to sit down.”
The Wichita, Kan. native led North High School to a state basketball title in 1954 and was also recruited by Kansas State. Stevens decided to stay in Wichita, racking up accolades in just three years of play. Freshmen were not allowed to play varsity basketball so the fact that his points (1,295) ranks him in the top 20 all-time at Wichita State and his career points per game average (16.6) is still in the top 20 of all-time Wichita State scorers is pretty impressive.
“My accomplishments were done in three years – we couldn't play four years back then – so it makes me very proud to be in the standings where I'm at in point average and total points,” Stevens said. “I only wish that we had the three-point basket back in my day, but being part of the Wichita State Shocker legends is a big thrill and will be with me until I pass away.”
Three memorable people from Stevens' years at Wichita State were also inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame: Cleo Littleton (1980), head coach Ralph Miller (1980) and the most recent, Bob Hodgson (2002). Stevens says the honor speaks highly on the team he played for in the 50s.
“We were mostly a bunch of Kansas boys,” Stevens said. “We didn't have a lot of guys from around the country, so we were playing against colleges that were recruiting players from California, Michigan, Texas, etc. but most of our squad were Kansas boys. The fact that we did as good as we did, I think speaks very highly.”
The differences between where Wichita State basketball was in the 1940s and 1950s to where the team has grown doesn't go unnoticed by Stevens. As a kid, he grew up watching players like John Friedersdorf and Rex McMurray at the Forum, which was the former downtown home of the Shockers. Stevens' team opened the WU Field House (now Charles Koch Arena) in 1955 and played against basketball greats such as San Francisco's Bill Russell and Cincinnati's Oscar Robertson.
Stevens still remembers the thrill of defeating Saint Louis (at Saint Louis) 109-103 in double overtime, beating them for the first time in years. Memories like these are ones Stevens won't forget and he notices the difference between his playing days to the Shockers that made a Final Four run just a year ago.
“From where we were in the 1940s to where we are now is such a huge difference,” Stevens said. “There is a huge difference between how the game is played, the guys we had back in the 40's and 50's…they weren't the greatest athletes but they were out there giving their heart and soul for the game. I was a kid watching them and we were kind of the doormats for a lot of teams we played back in those days. However, going from almost nothing to national competitors is a tremendous gap that has been closed.”
Playing sports for a university is special for every student-athlete and Stevens is no exception. Many memories and friendships were made and life lessons were taught on and off the court, which Stevens says is what he misses most about Wichita State.
“I miss the comradeship,” Stevens said. “The competitiveness, the joy of winning and the sting of defeat. Playing at Wichita State gave me a great education for the rest of my life.”
Joe Stevens finished his career with 1,295 points, which currently ranks 20th overall and 13th for a three-year career at WSU. He averaged 16.7, 18.1 and 15.0 points per game in his three respective years at the University of Wichita, while his career free throw percentage (.808) and total free throws (361) ranked No. 1 at the end of his career. The 18.1 points per game as a junior is still the sixth-best for a season at WSU.
Stevens was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and now joins the exclusive club of Wichita State athletes. As a former Shocker, Stevens wanted the current team to remember one thing.
“I know that the team has been told to play angry,” Stevens said. “If that's true then play hungry – which is the same way of saying it – no matter what you do, whether it's sports, basketball or life, do it with passion and play hungry.”
-WICHITA STATE-
