Dick Nemelka facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1943 Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | September 19, 2020 (aged 76) Salt Lake City, Utah |
| High school | West (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | BYU (1963–1966) |
| NBA Draft | 1966 / Round: 5 / Pick: 44th overall |
| Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
| Career history | |
| 1970–1971 | Utah Stars |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Richard Samuel Nemelka (born October 1, 1943 – died September 19, 2020) was an American basketball player. He played professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA). In college, he was recognized as an All-American while playing for Brigham Young University (BYU).
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Nemelka was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He played basketball at West High School in Utah. There, he was chosen as an all-state player. He also played shortstop on the school's baseball team.
College Basketball Career
Nemelka started his college basketball journey at Brigham Young University (BYU).
Freshman Year at BYU
During his freshman year, Nemelka played in thirteen games. He averaged 16.2 points in each game for the BYU Cougars freshman team.
Sophomore Season Highlights
In his second year, Nemelka started every game for BYU. He averaged 10.8 points per game during this season.
Junior Year Success
For his junior season, Nemelka averaged 15.4 points per game. BYU finished with a strong 21-7 record. They also won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship. Nemelka was named to the All-WAC second team. He was also chosen for the Academic All-WAC team.
Senior Year and All-American Honors
As a senior, Nemelka had an amazing season. He averaged 24.0 points per game. BYU went on to win the 1966 NIT (National Invitation Tournament). Nemelka received top honors that year. He was named a first-team All-American by the USBWA. He was also a third-team All-American by the NABC. Additionally, he made the All-WAC first-team and the Academic All-WAC team again.
Professional Basketball Career
After college, Nemelka was drafted into professional basketball.
NBA Draft and ABA Play
In the 1966 NBA draft, Nemelka was picked by the St. Louis Hawks. This team is now known as the Atlanta Hawks. He was the fourth pick in the fifth round. However, he never played in the NBA.
Nemelka played one season in the ABA for the Utah Stars. He averaged 5.5 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game. He played in nine playoff games for the Stars. This was during the 1971 ABA playoffs. The Utah Stars went on to win the 1971 ABA championship.
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career, Nemelka became an attorney. He worked as a lawyer in Utah. He passed away on September 19, 2020, at the age of 76. He had been battling cancer.
