I was just recently thinking back to one of the best blockers ever for Iowa State, Kelvin Cato. He played 2 years at Iowa State and was dominant, before heading to the NBA. Take a look at his stats and this old video on him. Click here.
Looking Back At One of The Best Blockers: Kelvin Cato
- Thread starter BeastCY
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IMO, he is one of the Top 5 "under-appreciated" Cyclones of all time considering the impact he had on those teams and how much people talk about him. He was a force.
Those two years ('95-96, '96-97) were really, really fun ones with him and the late, great Dedric Willoughby (RIP). Winning the very last Big 8 tournament in 1996 is still, IMO, one of the true magical moments in ISU BB history.
I remember seeing him sitting on the bench in street clothes the year before he played and thought who is that guy? This was before the internet and information was easily accessible, I know hard to believe. He was one of the most raw, athletic big guys we ever had. What a player!
Anybody else think that Tim Floyd looks like Michael J. Fox in that interview?
What I liked about Kato was he didn't shoot 40% at the rim trying to finger roll in a basket. It was usually thunderous two handed dunk.
It was a really fun time at the end of the Big 8 for the clones!
During the Kansas-ISU Big 8 Tournament game, after a block, announcer said, "this was one Kato at the right spot at the right time".
Yep denying Kansas where their fans were bragging before that they were going to be the winner of the last game in the Big 8. Sorry KU.
That definitely was cool.
Iowa State also won its only Big 8 tournament on the final chance. Colorado is the only team that didn't win a conference tourney.
ISU had gotten close a few times, including a loss in title game the previous season, and lost by 2 points in final in both 1985 and 1986.
Cato was ISU’s best shot blocker of all time. He had a triple-double in the first round of the NCAA tournament, with double digit points, rebounds, and BLOCKS. I believe the opponent was Illinois State.
What made him so effective at blocking shot was his ability to remain on his feet until the opponent was in the air and then rise up for the swat.
What made him so effective at blocking shot was his ability to remain on his feet until the opponent was in the air and then rise up for the swat.
Almost triple-double According to this, he was 29-12-8. Splitting hairs, that's still a gooood stat line. And 73% from the field!
Iowa State vs. Illinois State Box Score (Men), March 13, 1997 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Iowa State vs. Illinois State Box Score (Men), March 13, 1997
www.sports-reference.com
Ah, my memory is not was it used to beAlmost triple-double According to this, he was 29-12-8. Splitting hairs, that's still a gooood stat line. And 73% from the field!
Iowa State vs. Illinois State Box Score (Men), March 13, 1997 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Iowa State vs. Illinois State Box Score (Men), March 13, 1997
. For some reason, I recalled him having 10 blocks.Another incredible play that I witnessed Cato make first hand didn’t even involve a blocked shot.
The game was the first round of the Big 8 tournament at Kemper Arena in KC. My brother and I were sitting about five rows up from the floor on the baseline. ISU was playing Nebby. Although ISU was favored by 8-10 points, the game was tight.
The score was knotted with about 35 seconds remaining and ISU had the ball, but they couldn’t hold til the last shot. ISU shot the ball with about 10 seconds remaining and it caromed high off the rim. Cato went up in the pool full of players and slammed the rebound through the rim with one hand. The crowd went crazy, ISU won the game, and I got very drunk that night.
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