John Kilzer was my 1101 English teacher freshman year at Memphis State. He was a great guy. Had some wild wild stories about Dennis Isbell. Said he was by far the best athlete he’d ever seen. One of the few guys who was taller than his listed height of 6-7 and could touch his nose on the rim.

RIP John and Dennis.

(01-01-2022 05:16 PM)tigergg Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 04:55 PM)450bench Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 02:49 PM)Hernando Hills Tiger Wrote:  He could jump.

No doubt. Used to have the school record for blocks at 61 until Keith Lee came along. Helluva athlete.

Dude was a jumping bean.. He was a really good player..

As I remember, he was the state high jump champion in high school. Really enjoyed watching him play.

(01-01-2022 03:30 PM)Virginia Tiger Wrote:  I have fond memories of him and the years he played. Did he have a nickname? Seems like Big Jack gave all those guys cool nicknames. RIP and prayers for the family.

Didn't Big Jack go with Hammering Hank and Dunking Dennis a few times?

(01-02-2022 05:41 AM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 11:00 PM)450bench Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 06:19 PM)Hernando Hills Tiger Wrote:  His girlfriend he brought to Memphis with him from Blytheville was a JAP and WELL endowed.

Absolutely

Not factual without pictures.

Oh it is factual. Her name was Shelly. Me and a buddy sat behind them at a Doobie Brothers concert at the Coliseum. Dennis introduced himself to us, gave us his address and invited us to come by sometime, which we did. He was rooming with Hank McDowell at the time.

I'm sorry to hear this. He was a great guy and a very good player. Was drafted by the Clippers in 1981.

Prayers to his family.

(01-02-2022 11:09 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 03:30 PM)Virginia Tiger Wrote:  I have fond memories of him and the years he played. Did he have a nickname? Seems like Big Jack gave all those guys cool nicknames. RIP and prayers for the family.

Didn't Big Jack go with Hammering Hank and Dunking Dennis a few times?

(01-02-2022 10:07 PM)450bench Wrote:  John Kilzer was my 1101 English teacher freshman year at Memphis State. He was a great guy. Had some wild wild stories about Dennis Isbell. Said he was by far the best athlete he’d ever seen. One of the few guys who was taller than his listed height of 6-7 and could touch his nose on the rim.

RIP John and Dennis.

2nd... RIP Dennis and John. I know John passed away a few years ago, but I always love listening to his music.


He did just about everything... basketball, professor, rocker and pastor.

(01-02-2022 11:09 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 03:30 PM)Virginia Tiger Wrote:  I have fond memories of him and the years he played. Did he have a nickname? Seems like Big Jack gave all those guys cool nicknames. RIP and prayers for the family.

Didn't Big Jack go with Hammering Hank and Dunking Dennis a few times?

I thought BIG JACK also called Dennis something like kangaroo ---jumping jack ---then again my memory is bad ---I could be wrong --I once was in 09

Isbell and Hank were playing for the Tigers when I moved to Memphis and those were the first games I went to. Hard to find a ticket.

(01-01-2022 06:19 PM)Hernando Hills Tiger Wrote:  His girlfriend he brought to Memphis with him from Blytheville was a JAP and WELL endowed.

She was naturally endowed.

I'm pretty sure she married Gary Belz. Maybe her name was Shelley.

(01-01-2022 06:19 PM)Hernando Hills Tiger Wrote:  His girlfriend he brought to Memphis with him from Blytheville was a JAP and WELL endowed.

Shelly Bass married Gary Belz in 1985 at the Hotel Peabody.

That's her. Shelly was best friends with Bill Cook's girlfriend.