Swede Halbrook played high school basketball at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon where he also starred in track as a high jumper and hurdler. Lincoln won the state tournament in Halbrook\'s senior year. In one tournament game he scored 50 points and had 34 rebounds.\n', '

When Halbrook joined the Oregon State Beavers, Life magazine declared him the "World\'s Tallest Basketball Player" in their Jan. 18, 1954 issue. Under legendary head coach Slats Gill, he instantly turned the team into a national title contender, earning All-American status in 1955 and All-Pacific Coast Conference first team and All-Northern Division first team honors in 1954 and 1955, the only two seasons he played. As of 2006, he still holds the top 3 spots on Oregon State\'s single game rebound records, his top performance of 36 being tied for 15th in NCAA history. He also holds the Oregon State record for free throws attempted at 28.\n', '

Halbrook signed with the Wichita Vickers in 1956, where he played five seasons and led the team to the national AAU title in 1959. The next year, he was selected to play for the Syracuse Nationals. He played in 79 games for them in the 1960–61 season, with his team making it to the NBA playoffs and finishing the season in third place. Halbrook was a key presence in many of the Nationals\' victories, including a 3-game series sweep over Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia Warriors. Syracuse coach Alex Hannum told an Oregonian reporter that "Wilt was really concerned with Swede...Wilt never had to look anyone in the eye and he would get more involved in trying to outplay Swede than he would in trying to win the game."\n', '

Return to Swede Halbrook Autograph Profile