Illinois Small College Men's Scoring Leaders
(Includes individuals who played for schools that were not NCAA Division 1 during their career.)
The following list was compiled by my father, Bob Quillman, Sr. of Oak Lawn, Illinois. My dad played high school basketball for downstate powerhouse Pinckneyville, and was named to the 1953 IHSA all-state team. He went on to play for Illinois Wesleyan University, and Coach Jack Horenberger, from 1953-1957. After running the Bob Quillman Brokerage Agency in downtown Chicago for many years, he retired in 1996. My mom, Joan, still teaches in the Burbank school district on the south side.
My parents attend numerous small college basketball games every year. Between watching Illinois Wesleyan (my dad's alma mater), St. Xavier (my mom's alma mater), Trinity Christian, and various CCIW games, they easily see over 100 a year. After watching a player by the name of Kevin Koeman at Trinity Christian, my dad began wondering how he compared to other small college scoring greats. Finding no small college scoring statistics of any kind kept, he began this project.
My dad has asked me to thank the following people, who were instrumental in the completion of this list: Joan Quillman, Mike Korcek (S.I.D., Northern Illinois), and Dave Lawrenz of Wheaton, Illinois.
Contact Bob Quillman, Sr at:
9525 S. Tripp
Oak Lawn, Ill. 60453
Player (School) - Points...Years
1. Kevin Koeman (Trinity Christian) - 3007...1998-02
2. Zach Freeman (Olivet Nazarene) - 2767...1998-02
3. Matt Clark (Lincoln Christian) - 2744...1998-02
4. Leon Gobczynski (Millikin) - 2635...1970-74
5. Stan Greenfield (Rockford) - 2565...1967-71
6. Mel Peterson (Wheaton) - 2542...1956-60
7. Mike Walaszek (St. Xavier) - 2517...1974-78
8. Gene Hoyt (McKendree) - 2510...1950-549
9. Dan Dondit (Trinity Intl.) - 2499...1979-83
10. Mickey Johnson (Aurora) - 2453...1970-74
11. Ralph Hodge (Olivet Nazarene) - 2449...1971-75
12. Tom Randall (Judson) - 2382...1972-76
13. Jack Sikma (Illinois Wesleyan) - 2272...1973-77
14. Bob Slater (Trinity Intl.) - 2256...1972-76
15. Bill Warden (North Central) - 2249...1952-56
16. Gary Hickerson (St. Xavier) - 2245...1971-75
17. Jesse Price (Millikin) - 2222...1965-69
18. George Huisman (Trinity Christian) - 2187...1969-73
19. Jim Williamson (Lincoln Christian) - 2168...1984-88
20. Coleman Carrodine (Western Illinios) - 2128...1960-64
21. Scott Steagall (Millikin) - 2127...1947-51
22. Gary Staniec (Northeastern Ill.) - 2121...1972-76
23. Larry Tucker (Lewis) - 2120...1979-83
24. Lee Capista (St. Francis) - 2120...1971-75
25. Troy Tyler (Eureka) - 2119...1990-94
26. Charlie Vaughn (Southern Illinois) - 2088...1958-61
27. Mike Thomas (North Park) - 2085...1977-81
28. Johnny Branch (Greenville) - 2080...1987-91
29. Blaise Bugajski (Illinois Wesleyan) - 2062...1979-84
30. Pete Hughes (Blackburn) - 2047...1954-58
Highest Average Per Game - Leon Gobczynski, Millikin, 28 pts per game.
Single Season Records:
1. Bobby Smith, Robert Morris, 1057 (2001-02)
2. Matt Clark, Lincoln Christian, 991 (2000-01)
3. Leon Gobczynski, Millikin, 967 (1973-74)
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The point? Trinity's Koeman one of the best
Daily Southtown -- March 21, 2002
By Phil Jurik
Sports editor
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In the waning minutes of the Trinity Christian College game and season on Saturday, sports information director Amy Strong whispered to an assistant coach that Kevin Koeman needed five points.
Five points — to set the record for most ever in an Illinois college basketball career. Her idea being: Koeman might not want to pass up shots.
Fat chance, this idea of Koeman taking every available shot. Even if it had been a meaningless game. But here the Trolls of Palos Heights were, fighting for their basketball lives at the National Christian College Athletic Association tournament in Boiling Springs, N.C.
And so Koeman would finish his career with 3,007 points. Hersey Hawkins' Illinois college scoring record of 3,008 points at Bradley would endure.
"We were very conscious of (the record)," Trinity Christian coach Gene Fitzgerald said. "We were also in an absolute dogfight, coming back from 21 down. We were just trying to win the game."
They lost it, 97-94, in overtime to Asbury. It wasn't as though Koeman didn't have a chance to get that one more point. There was the wayward finger roll, with 1:30 left, that most of the time goes for Koeman. There was the late 1-of-2 from the free-throw line by the 80 percent shooter.
Koeman (pronounced Koo-man) still did his part — 33 points, on 11-of-14 shooting from the field.
If he had just been a little more selfish with the ball ...
"There was no chance of that," Fitzgerald said. "He's sort of an interesting person. I have a coaching class, and someone asked today, 'Do you think he didn't get enough shots?' It's not a case of getting him shots. He's not going to throw it up just to get another shot. He comes in with a really good concept of what he can make. He knows exactly.
"The thing that might get lost in this is, he's done it taking less than 14 shots a game for his career."
At the suggestion he could've shot more, Koeman, a career 61 percent shooter, said, "Then I don't think I would've been playing my game.
"The scoring mark, I didn't know I was that close to it. I wouldn't have shot any more (anyway)," he said. "I never dreamed of scoring 3,000. I was very fortunate and blessed to come that close.
"I think what matters to me more is that we lost our last game in overtime. We probably should've won."
Fit for a bigger pond?
Koeman was able to score so many points on a modest amount of shots with an arsenal of inside moves, 3-point shots and free-throw accuracy. There wasn't a lot of off-the-dribble, one-on-one magic.
"There are some limits there," Fitzgerald said. "But how can you say he has limits when he scores 3,000 points?"
Koeman, a 6-foot-4 forward, has a "great, great post-up game," Fitzgerald said. But he didn't claim to know how his star's game would have fared on a larger stage.
"He played against some very good players," Fitzgerald said.
That included a game against Division I Gardner-Webb in the tournament, when Koeman scored 21 points.
In another playoff game, Koeman shot 18-of-20, the only misses being two of his six 3-point attempts. That's brilliant shooting even in your driveway, with no one guarding you. In another game, he hit 11-of-11.
In four years, he failed to score in double figures just once.
Koeman, out of modesty or realism, seems more sure of how he would've fared in the big-time.
"I thought about it a little," he said. "I went to the Jordan camp, and there were a bunch of D-I guys there. They're stronger than I am, faster than I am.
"But it's hard not to think about it, you know."
Not that he has second thoughts about his life's path.
"I've loved Trinity," Koeman said. "I've liked not having the recognition I might have had at other places."
Liked the lack of recognition?
"No offense, but I've liked not having to talk to the newspapers after every game."
With 100-150 fans attending games at an 850-student school, he could go to Orland Square without much fear of being mobbed by autograph seekers.
He relished just being able to play, and his scoring totals "not seeming like a big deal."
Quillman's quest
It started becoming a bigger deal in November. Koeman became Trinity's all-time top scorer, passing George Huisman, whose 6-foot-10 son Keith assisted on many of Koeman's baskets this year.
In January, Koeman became the unofficial Illinois small college scoring leader, passing Leon Gobczynski's 2,635 points at Millikin. It's unofficial because there is no clearinghouse for non-Division I state records.
Fitzgerald said Trinity learned about Koeman's ascent because of Oak Lawn resident Robert Quillman, who played ball at Pinckneyville High and Illinois Wesleyan (1957).
Quillman became curious when Koeman set the Trinity record in the first week of his senior season. ("I figured he was going to break some other guys' records.") So Quillman wrote and/or called every sports information director in the state to compile the list.
"I enjoyed spending the $500 (it cost him)," Quillman said. "I have no complaints, because we think Kevin's the nicest kid in the world."
Quillman describes himself and his wife Joan as basketball junkies. They saw Koeman's first game at Trinity. It was their first game there, too.
Fitzgerald said, "He sort of became a Koeman fan. ... Bob kept us up to date (on the record)."
Quillman says he has no doubt Koeman could have played Division I, that he's a natural scorer who would've figured out a way to get his points. His only complaint: Koeman passed too much.
Koeman said of his fan: "He comes to every game. He's an amazingly nice guy. I don't know exactly why he became a fan. But he and his wife are always there. I say hi to them. Hopefully I bring a smile to his face sometimes."
Spreading the word
Koeman brought plenty of smiles to Fitzgerald's face.
"He's been a great kid to coach; he's a better person than player," Fitzgerald said.
This was reflected in Koeman winning the Christian college association's Pete Maravich Memorial Award, which goes to the outstanding Christian player, on and off the court, in the country.
Koeman's average in the classroom wasn't bad either: a 3.5 GPA.
If he sounds like someone who'd be good for kids, that's where he'll be. Koeman's next stop will be down the street at Chicago Christian. He will teach physical education and health, and coach junior varsity basketball.
Asked what he will tell teens about basketball, Koeman said he will tell them that they can honor God with their good efforts and he will tell them that basketball is not life and death.
"I want them to know it's a game, and they should have fun,'' Koeman said. "And I want to let them know it's a team game, and never will one player make the team good or bad."
If ever a coach walked the walk.