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- Title:
- Student-Athlete
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- Previous College Sports Played:
- Men's Basketball
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- Graduating Class:
- 1975
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- Induction Class:
- 1987
Bio
A sensational discovery from LeMars Gehlen Catholic High School and Sioux Empire College in Hawarden, Iowa, this lightly recruited gentle giant went on to become one of the best players in the history of Morningside basketball, and the North Central Conference. After playing one season as a prep, and two seasons under the radar at the junior college level, Schlesser became a two-time Most Valuable Player of the NCC (1974-75), and led Morningside to the District 15 championship, and appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
The 6-11 center was selected in the 9th round of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. In two seasons, Schlesser scored 1,070 points, and grabbed 868 rebounds for averages of 20.6 points, and 16.7 rebounds respectively, both school career marks. He holds the NCC record for rebounds in a season (237), and led the league twice in rebounding, and field goal percentage. He helped engineer a dramatic turnaround in Morningside basketball, taking a 0-24 club the year before he arrived on campus to a 17-12 record, national tournament appearance, and runner-up NCC finish two seasons later.