Gene Haldeman

Aberdeen (Central High School). Born Dec. 19, 1919 in Aberdeen. 1938 Aberdeen Central HS grad. 1942 Creighton grad. An All-American and two-time all-Missouri Valley Conference performer, Haldeman was considered one of the best collegiate players in the early 1940s. Helped Creighton to a third-place finish in the 1942 NIT. He also helped Creighton reach the NCAA tourney in 1941, when it was an eight-team field. Though he never averaged in double figures, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard was an outstanding rebounder and defender. Oklahoma A&T's Hank Iba, one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history, once selected Haldeman to his all-opponent team. Played for the college all-stars vs. the pro champs, Oshkosh, on Nov. 27, 1942 in Chicago. In high school, he led Aberdeen Central to the 1938 Class A title.