Gophers Mourn the Passing of Myer "Whitey" Skoog
4/4/2019 2:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The University of Minnesota joins with the family and friends of Gopher men's basketball legend Myer "Whitey" Skoog, who passed away Thursday at the age of 92.
One of the most accomplished players in program history, Skoog earned All-America honors during his three seasons in Maroon and Gold from 1948-1951. A graduate of Brainerd High School, he scored 986 points in his Gopher career, averaging 15.4 points per game which ranks tied for 15th in school history.
"Whitey Skoog is one of the all-time Gopher greats, and his family is in our thoughts," said Minnesota Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "We are appreciative of his contributions to basketball in Minnesota and to the game as a whole, and saddened by his passing."
Skoog, who was named to the Associated Press All-America second team in 1950, was a third team Associated Press All-American in 1949 and 1951, the latter also earning second team Look and Collier's All-America status. He was named to the All-Big Ten first team in his junior and senior seasons, while selected an All-Big Ten second teamer in 1949.
He was chosen in the first round of the 1951 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers as a territorial pick, where he enjoyed a six-year career averaging 8.2 points per game and winning the NBA championship three times from 1952-1954.
His No. 41 jersey was honored by the Gophers and a commemorative banner hangs in the Williams Arena rafters.
One of the most accomplished players in program history, Skoog earned All-America honors during his three seasons in Maroon and Gold from 1948-1951. A graduate of Brainerd High School, he scored 986 points in his Gopher career, averaging 15.4 points per game which ranks tied for 15th in school history.
"Whitey Skoog is one of the all-time Gopher greats, and his family is in our thoughts," said Minnesota Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "We are appreciative of his contributions to basketball in Minnesota and to the game as a whole, and saddened by his passing."
Skoog, who was named to the Associated Press All-America second team in 1950, was a third team Associated Press All-American in 1949 and 1951, the latter also earning second team Look and Collier's All-America status. He was named to the All-Big Ten first team in his junior and senior seasons, while selected an All-Big Ten second teamer in 1949.
He was chosen in the first round of the 1951 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers as a territorial pick, where he enjoyed a six-year career averaging 8.2 points per game and winning the NBA championship three times from 1952-1954.
His No. 41 jersey was honored by the Gophers and a commemorative banner hangs in the Williams Arena rafters.