Walt Wesley

Walter Ivory Wesley (January 25, 1945 – March 28, 2024) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He grew up in Fort Myers, Florida, the son of Leroy and Josie Wesley, and attended Dunbar High School in Fort Myers.

At a time when the top university programs were not yet recruiting African-American players, Wesley was recruited by several schools in the Midwest. The 6-foot-11-inch center chose the University of Kansas and went on to become a two-time unanimous All-American for the Jayhawks. As a sophomore in his first varsity season of 1963–64, he averaged 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. In his junior year he developed into a dominant center, posting a career-best 23.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game for a Kansas team that finished 17–8. He continued in the program through his senior season of 1965–66 before turning professional in the NBA.