The RoundHouse | 1/14/2021 4:00:00 PM
Where are they now?
Cameron Ledford – men's basketball (2002-06)
Current status: Ledford is an orthopedic surgeon and an assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. He specializes in adult reconstruction surgery.
Family: Wife, Emily; Conley (11) and Lucy (6)
At Wichita State: Ledford, from Maize High School, earned a Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship and walked on to the basketball team. He played an important role as a leader and teammate during his time as a Shocker, especially on the 2006 Sweet 16 team. Ledford played in 29 games, starting one, during his career.
He majored in chemistry and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wichita State before attending the University of Kansas School of Medicine and Duke University Medical Center.
Sweet 16 memories
The 2005-06 Shockers won the Missouri Valley Conference – their first since 1983 – and earned their first spot in the NCAA Tournament since 1988. The Shockers defeated Seton Hall and Tennessee before losing to George Mason.
"It continues to be special," he said. "The biggest memory was certainly our magical year in 2006, when everything really came together. Being a hometown kid and getting the opportunity to play for a university that is loved and cherished by the town is a big part of that."
The Shockers, coached by Mark Turgeon, went to the NIT in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2003, fans celebrated an NIT bid. By 2005, the frustration of missing out on the NCAA Tournament grew.
Wichita State started the 2005-06 season picked fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference after losing four starters. It started 2-2 in MVC play and then won eight of their next nine games. A 62-61 overtime win over Creighton on Feb. 14 put the Shockers in control of the race and they clinched the title with wins over Drake and Illinois State.
"We were not overly talented, but, man, we were a team," Ledford said. "It probably began that we were all good friends. . . and continue to be good friends. And then we also we drew on some experiences we had in the years prior, where we could be better, in terms of who's leading at what times and understanding what everybody's specific roles were."
Center Paul Miller earned MVC Player of the Year honors. Forward P.J. Couisnard and forward Kyle Wilson were All-MVC honorable mention picks with Couisnard also on the All-Defensive Team. Ryan Martin made the All-Bench Team.
"My biggest role was to be a second pair of eyes, an encourager to make the other guys better," Ledford said. "I understood the X's and O's to get the team prepared, not only from a basketball standpoint, but from a mental standpoint."
The Shockers went 26-9, 14-4 in the MVC.
"What made that team special is they were just so smart," Turgeon told The Wichita Eagle in 2016. "They could follow a scouting report. I was worried about defense. In the end, it was one of our strengths."
In the classroom
Ledford is one of four Shockers to make the Athletic Director's Honor Roll eight semesters.
"The great thing about Wichita State is there are so many different avenues that you can take," he said. "You can use the university to become the person you want to be. I came in wanting to help people. That got fortified through my experiences at Wichita State, both and on and off the court."
His studies at Wichita State led him to medical school. Orthopedic surgery, he said, fit with his athletic background.
"I take care of the older athletes," he said. "I do a lot of joint replacements."
Still on the court
Ledford coaches both of his children when they play basketball. He also plays pickup basketball occasionally.
"The body doesn't move like I think it should," he said. "I play as long as I can keep it in third gear."
