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Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee Tim Jankovich cherishes ties to Wildcats, Jayhawks
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Tim Jankovich will enter the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 induction class with a unique perspective.
Many members of the hall entered representing either Kansas State University or the University of Kansas, beloved by one fan base, reviled by the other.
Jankovich is unique in that much of his resume – compiled over a playing and coaching career that spanned more than 50 years – is split between the state’s two major universities.
Former Kansas State star guard Tim Jankovich will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 2 at Washburn University. [Submitted photo/Kansas Sports Hall of Fame]
A native of Manhattan, Jankovich fulfilled his childhood dream when he played three seasons for the Wildcats – 1979-1982. Little did he suspect at the time that he would wind up on the KU bench for four seasons – 2003-2007 – as an assistant to Bill Self.
“How lucky does a person have to be to get to experience those two things?” Jankovich remarked. “Growing up, I loved Kansas State with all my heart. I was fortunate to get to play there. At the time, Ahearn Field House had to be one of the two or three toughest places in America to play. But then, years later, to go to the rival school and get to coach in Allen Fieldhouse, one of the other toughest places in America to play. That’s beyond what you could hope for.
“This will sound like a political statement, but I was one of the few people I knew growing up who didn’t hate KU. When we played, I wanted to beat them, but I didn’t have that hatred that a lot of my friends had. It was incredible to get to coach there, part of arguably the greatest college basketball program in history. To be in both of those arenas was one of the great experiences of my life.”
Jankovich is one of 10 individuals who will be inducted into the hall of fame in a ceremony at Washburn University on August 2. Although Jankovich spent a good portion of his career coaching in other states, being recognized in Kansas is particularly meaningful.
“Kansas is my home. I’ve always been really proud to be from there,” Jankovich said. “So, to be recognized back home is so special. It’s made me reflect on a whole lifetime in basketball starting as a little kid. It’s been wonderful to really rehash a lot of great times. And then to look at the people who’ve been inducted and the list of people going in this year, it doubled down on the impact that it had on me. It’s an incredible honor to be listed on the same page as them.
“You get honors and awards along the way and they’re great, but they do fade quickly. Then you’re on to the next one. This one is going to stay with me. It’s the most meaningful.”
Tickets for the Aug. 2 ceremony and lunch, which begin at 10 a.m., are available online at kshof.org.
The event is at the Washburn University Union Ballroom at 1700 SW College Ave.
Jankovich earned a name for himself even before high school. He was recognized in Manhattan as the kid who dribbled blindfolded, shot thousands of shots and developed his skills anywhere a court was available. When he wasn’t practicing, he could be found working as a ballboy for K-State games.
“That Kansas work ethic – it felt like it was injected into me,'' Jankovich said. "When you grow up from third grade on going to Ahearn, serving as a ball boy for the visiting team, being in the huddles and going out on the court in Ahearn, to feel the power of those crowds, I couldn’t help but grow up incredibly motivated.
“So, I lived in the gym. One of the great benefits was that I had a great gym at Manhattan High and a great gym at Kansas State that I could practice in.”
Jankovich confessed his obsession for practice may have gone a little too far.
“Hopefully the statute of limitations has run out so that I can confess that I did, at an early age, learn how to break into the high school gym and the K-State gym. And I can promise you I put it to full use. I was never happier than when I was in the gym, and I was there almost all the time.”
A two-time All-State selection at Manhattan High, Jankovich led the Indians to the state tournament as a senior in 1977. By beating Liberal and FL Schlagle, the team advanced to the championship game, one of only two times the Indians have played for a title. Those hopes were dashed in a 67-66 loss to Highland Park.
“That loss will never go away,” Jankovich said. “One thing I’ve learned from reflecting recently is that it’s so much easier to remember the heartaches from your career – the tough losses and the bad games – those stay with you a lot longer than the great things. The recognition from the hall of fame is helping make those rough times seem not quite so rough.”
The most significant moment of Jankovich’s playing career stands out as an equally significant moment in the history of Kansas State basketball. He was the starting point guard on teams that reached the NCAA tournament three consecutive years. As such, he was credited with the assist on perhaps the biggest shot in Wildcat history – Rolondo Blackman’s buzzer-beater to defeat second-ranked Oregon State, which sent K-State to the Elite Eight in 1981.
Phil Frost rallies from two strokes down to claim TGA City Stroke Play crown
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Last month former Shawnee Heights and Washburn University standout Phil Frost was the top qualifier and went wire to wire in the tournament to win his first Topeka Golf Association City Match Play championship.
Phil Frost captured his first TGA City Stroke Play championship Monday at Topeka Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
After winning the TGA City Match Play title last month, Phil Frost added the City Stroke Play championship on Monday at Topeka Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
On Monday at Topeka Country Club, Frost proved he could also come from behind, rallying from a two-stroke deficit at the start of the day to win his first TGA City Stroke Play title by a single stroke over first and second-round leader Jeremiah Nelson and 2024 champion Myles Alonzo with a 213 54-hole score.
Jeremiah Nelson tied for second place in the 2025 TGA City Stroke Play tournament with a 54-hole score of 214. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former Topeka West star Myles Alonzo used a final-round 73 to tie for second place in the 2025 TGA City Stroke Play tournament with a 54-hole score of 214. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Frost carded a final-round 76 while Nelson, also a Washburn golf alum, shot a 79 and finished in a tie for second with 2024 City Stroke Play champ Myles Alonzo, a former Topeka West star, who shot a final-round 73.
Frost took the lead on the seventh hole when he holed a 117-yard approach shot but his victory was not secure until Nelton narrowly missed a birdie putt on the final hole that could have forced a sudden death playoff.
"I was able to finish it off, but it was a struggle'' Frost said. "The back nine was a challenge. After I holed out on seven I told myself, 'Just stay calm and keep playing, don't let this get you out of your rhythm.' Then it became a challenge afterwards, but I was able to hold on.
"That (No. 7) got me the lead and that got me to 1-under-par. Then we both (Frost and Nelson) went back and forth on the way in. I was able to make a putt when I needed to make a putt.''
Washburn Rural and Washburn University alum Hayden Beck shot a tournament-low 72 Monday in the final round of the TGA City Stroke Play championship at Topeka Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural and Washburn University alum Hayden Beck carded a tournament-low 72 on Monday to finish at 216 and tie for fourth place with Adam Head and Brian Walker.
Tyler Baumchen, Blake Buessing and Jason Buessing all tied for seventh at 218 while Zach Vandervoort rounded out the top 10 at 220.
Darting Basketball Academy's international program makes big strides in second year
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kerry Darting was very pleased with how the international element of the Darting Basketball Academy fared in its debut last summer.
And Year 2 has gone even better.
"I think last year was just really important to get started and the experience was just great,'' Darting said. "The community around here was very supportive, the experience for the kids was great. Last year we had 22 kids and 16 of them are all in the states now, going to American universities, so last year was really important just to get it off the ground and running.
"It was very successful and I think the experience is better this year just from going through everything and kind of learning what needs to get better. We made those adjustments and it's going really well this year.''
The program numbers have more than doubled this summer while also including female athletes for the first time.
The program, which is made up of high school-aged players with college basketball aspirations, includes 44 boys and eight girls representing 13 different countries, including Australia, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Serbia, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Norway and Sweden.
The players, competing as College Stars International under the DBA umbrella, will play in three tournaments -- two in Kansas City and one in Chicago -- before returning to their home countries later this month.
