March 13, 2008

Kropp Inducted into National High School Hall

First Nebraska Native Selected

     Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney co-head men's basketball coach Tom Kropp has been inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Hall of Fame.

      Kropp and 11 others will be honored at a July 7^th banquet in Washington D.C. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and be the closing event of the 89^th NFHS Annual Summer Meetings.

      Kropp, who graduated from Aurora High School, is the first Nebraska selected for this national hall.

      A four sport (baseball, basketball, football and track) standout at Aurora from 1967-71, Kropp was a two-time all-state pick in football and played in 1971 Shrine Bowl. On the court, he averaged 33 points and 23 rebounds as a senior and was named one of the top five basketball players in Nebraska history by the Omaha World Herald.

      Next, he was the winning pitcher in Aurora's state baseball championship and threw a no hitter in the tournament's semifinal round. In track, Kropp was undefeated in the shot put and discus his senior season.

      Subsequently, Kropp was named one of Nebraska's 10 greatest athletes by the World Herald, and he was "Prep Athlete of the Decade for the 1970's", as chosen by the Lincoln Journal Star. Finally, Sports Illustrated named him one of the 50 greatest athletes in Nebraska history.

     After high school, Kropp was an All-American football and basketball player at UNK. He would then be drafted by the NFL, NBA and ABA (American Basketball Association). Playing two years in the NBA with Chicago and Washington, Kropp had a lengthy pro basketball career in Europe.

      The National High School Hall of Fame was started in 1982 by the NFHS to honor high school athletes, coaches, contest officials, administrators, fine arts coaches/directors and other for their achievements and accomplishments in high school sports and activity programs.

      The 2008 class increases the number in the hall to 350 and this year's event will be the 26^th induction ceremony.          

       The 12 individuals chosen after a two-level selection process involving a screening committee comprised of active high school state association administrators, coaches and officials, and a final selection committee composed of coaches, former athletes, state officials, media representatives and educational leaders. Nominations were made through NFHS member associations.

        The NFHS website is: www.nfhs.org.