Kokomo’s Bidunga named Mr. Basketball

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Kokomo forward Flory Bidunga was named the Indiana Mr. Basketball at the IndyStar Indiana Sports Awards program at Butler University’s Clowes Memorial Hall Tuesday.

The 6-9 Bidunga will wear the No. 1 jersey when the Indiana All-Stars play their annual two-game series against Kentucky June 7-8.

Bindunga, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a Kansas recruit, averaged 19 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4.4 blocks per game for the 25-4 Wildkats, who won the Class 4A, Sectional 7 title.

He finished his high school career with 1,609 career points, 1,132 rebounds and 402 blocks.

Bidunga is the third Mr. Basketball from Kokomo joining Tom Schwartz in 1945 and Jim Rayl in 1959.

Bidunga received 198 first-place votes. Runner-up Jack Benter of Brownstown Central received 122 votes. No other player received more than 15 votes.

Voting occurred electronically between March 13-April 1. RTC sports editor Val Tsoutsouris voted for Bidunga first and Benter second.

The first Mr. Basketball was awarded in 1939. The first Miss Basketball was awarded in 1976. Bedford North Lawrence’s Chloe Spreen was voted Miss Basketball last month.