The RoundHouse | 8/30/2022 2:48:00 PM

Geographic pipelines emerged throughout the years of Wichita State men's basketball.
 
Kansans, of course, are prominent on the list of 1,000-point scorers. Texans such as Dave Stallworth, Jason Perez and Randy Burns are high on the list. Pennsylvania produced many Shocker basketball and football players during the 1950s and 1960s.
 
In the 1970s, Shocker basketball hit the state of New York for some of its biggest names. Guard Cal Bruton, along with teammates such as Cheese Johnson, Robert Elmore and Bob Trogele carried the 1976 Shockers to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Bruton, from Springfield Gardens High School in New York, scored 1,184 points in his Shocker career and ranks No. 28 on the career scoring list. After leaving Wichita State, he played professionally in Australia and is a member of the country's National Basketball League Hall of Fame. He won NBL titles as a player (1985, Brisbane) and coach (1990, Perth).
 
At Wichita State: Nicknamed "Super Cal," Bruton played from 1972-76 and averaged 11.6 points. His 404 career assists rank fifth. He earned honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 1973 and second-team All-MVC recognition in 1976. Bruton scored 29 points in a 75-69 win at Drake that clinched the 1976 MVC title and sent the Shockers to their first NCAA Tournament since 1965.
 

Update us on your current location and life status:
I live in Canberra, Australia. I've been living here since December 1999. I'm a father of six children and five grandchildren and I'm still working as a Master Coach with AFL SportsReady Education and Employment.
I am founder of the Bruton Basketball Foundation which provides opportunities for our disadvantaged youth. https://brutonbasketballfoundation.com.au/

What was your major at Wichita State
My major at Wichita State was communications, as I was interested in radio broadcasting and television. 

Besides the sport you played as a Shocker, what was your favorite sport?
My favorite sport to play was football and baseball, which I played throughout my high school years. I was an MVP quarterback in the Pop Warner Football League, and I was drafted to the New York Mets as a shortstop/3rd baseman.
 
Who was your favorite professor at Wichita State?
While I can't remember my favorite professor's name, she taught my communication class in 1974-75. She encouraged me to follow my dreams to be a broadcaster, which I have had some opportunities to pursue.

Which teammate helped your adjustment to college life?
Virgil Tucker from South Carolina was my roommate at Fairmount Towers, and he was a great mentor to me both on and off the court.

What are your favorite memories from college athletics?
My favorite memory in college was playing on the West Coast against UCLA and legendary coach, the late John Wooden, who personally complimented me after our game. Winning the Missouri Valley Conference championship in 1976 and playing in the NCAA Tournament. Representing the MVC in a tour of Brazil in 1973 and being recognized as the MVP of the tour.

What advice would you give to a person starting their athletics career in college?
The advice I would give to a person starting their college career would be to make sure they concentrate on being a student-athlete with subjects they are passionate about so they can have a career to fall back on after playing sports.

What book you would recommend to current college students?
The book I would recommend is my own autobiography: "The Black Pearl No Regrets." It's a great story about a journey of a fatherless New Yorker, the challenges, the rewards and a life in Australian basketball.  

Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. "Catching up" is a regular feature highlighting former Shockers. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.