Top Five NBA Players from Central Michigan University

The Central Michigan University Chippewas men's basketball team is a member of the MAC Conference of NCAA Division I. Highlights from the program's history include seven 20-win seasons since 1966, four NCAA Tournament invites since 1975, and 16 players selected in the NBA Draft. The best NBA players from Central Michigan include All-Stars Dan Roundfield and Thunder Dan Majerle.

Dan Majerle:

One of the best NBA players from Central Michigan University was Dan Majerle, a great shooter and defensive player in the 1990s. Majerle scored 2,055 points for the Chippewas to fall just 16 points shy of the program's all-time leading scorer. He was a first round pick by the Suns in 1988 and he became a three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive guard with the team. He led the NBA in three point baskets in back-to-back seasons in 1993 and 1994 and his 1,360 career treys rank 18th all-time. Majerle played 14 seasons and totaled 10,925 points, 4,265 rebounds, and 1,194 steals.

Dan Roundfield:

Three-time All-Star forward Dan Roundfield was a great NBA player from Central Michigan University. While averaging 16.7 points and 13.1 rebounds for the Chippewas, Roundfield led the school to its first ever NCAA Tournament in 1975. He began his career with the Pacers with an uneventful season in the ABA, but he blossomed when the team moved to the NBA in 1976. Roundfield averaged a double-double for six straight seasons from 1977 to 1983 and was named to five consecutive All-Defensive teams in the 1980s. He averaged 15.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 11 NBA seasons with the Pacers, Hawks, Pistons, and Bullets.

Chris Kaman:

The top active NBA player from Central Michigan University is center Chris Kaman. After leading the Chippewas to their latest NCAA Tournament in 2003, Kaman was chosen sixth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Clippers. He steadily improved his game until 2007-08 when he had one of the best statistical seasons of all centers with 15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and the third-highest block average in the NBA with 2.8 per game. Kaman made his first All-Star team in 2010 as he boasts career averages of 11.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks through seven seasons.

Ben Poquette:

Big man Ben Poquette was one of the best NBA players from Central Michigan University. Poquette was a member of two of Central Michigan's four NCAA Tournament teams before entering the NBA in 1977. A great shot-blocker, Poquette spent ten seasons in the NBA with the Pistons, Jazz, Cavs, and Bulls. In four years with the Jazz, Poquette was a frequent starter and he enjoyed his best seasons with the team. From 1979 to 1983, he averaged 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks for Utah.

Jim McElroy:

Jim McElroy was a point guard for the New Orleans Jazz and a top NBA player from Central Michigan University. Another member of the Chippewas 1975 NCAA Tourney team, McElroy played seven seasons in the NBA from 1975 to 1982. He had his career year in the 1978-79 campaign when he led the Jazz in three main categories with 1,337 points, 453 assists, and 148 steals. McElroy maintained career averages of 9.9 points and 3.5 assists in 418 NBA games.

References:

NBA & ABA Players Who Attended Central Michigan University. Basketball-Reference.com