Dean L. Larsen Athlete Profile

#7 Dean L. Larsen

Dean L. Larsen
Position: Forward Height: 6-1 Weight: 172 Roster Years: 1951-1954 Hometown: Mesa, AZ

1978 Hall of Fame Inductee

Dean was one of the first Cougar cagers to use an effective jump shot in competition. It proved to be a valuable technique, and he led the conference in scoring with an 18.4 points per game average in 1954.

The 6’1” athlete’s playing ability earned him the 1954 Ed Stein Award as the most outstanding senior athlete at BYU. Dean’s All-Conference performance also brought opportunities to play in numerous tournaments, including the NIT, Sugar Bowl, Holiday Festival, and Tar Heel Classic.

In 1954 he was invited to play with the College All-Americans, who traveled the country competing against the Harlem Globetrotters in their annual “World Series of Basketball.”

Dean graduated from BYU in 1957 and became head basketball coach at Richfield High School. Later, in the Air Force, he kept his basketball skills sharpened by playing on the Palm Beach Air Force Base team. In 1959 he set a new Military Air Transport Service Tournament record by scoring 45 points.

Personal

  • Graduated from BYU in 1957

Career Highlights

  • His long slender build made him a force to be reckoned with down low
  • Averaged 15.2 points and 5.9 rebounds for his senior season when he was named second team All-America by Helms
  • Earned the 1954 Ed Stein Award as the most outstanding senior athlete at BYU
  • Was invited to play with the 1954 College All-Americans

After BYU

  • Became head basketball coach at Richfield HIgh School
  • Joined the Air Force and played on the Palm Beach Air Force Base Team

Post BYU Societies and Honors

  • Set a new Military Air Transports Service Tournament record in 1959 by scoring 45 points
  • Inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in 1978

Stats

Year    G    FGM   FG%   FTM    FT%   R-AVE     P-AVE
53-54   28   147   40    132    68    166-5.9   426-15.2
52-53   30   77    37    52     60    152-5.0   206-6.8
51-52   20   22    30    18     62    48-2.4    62-3.1
Totals  78   246   36    202    63    366-4.7   694-8.9

1951-1952 | Sophomore Year

  • Played in 20 games
  • Averaged 3.3 ppg and grabbed 48 rebounds for the season

1952-1953 | Junior Year

  • Averaged 6.8 points and 5.0 rebounds his junior year, while showing his defensive prowess
  • Second on team in field goal percentage, hitting 37 percent of his shots

1953-1954 | Senior Year

  • Averaged 15.2 points and 5.9 rebounds during his senior season
  • Named Helms All-America second team