John Kiser

John Kiser was a three-sport athlete at Northwestern High School from 1966 through 1970, excelling in football, basketball and track.

On the gridiron, Kiser was a four-year letterman who earned All-Mid-Indiana Conference honors and served as team captain his senior season. For three seasons, he was a member of the Tigers track and field team. During his senior year, he set school records in the high hurdles and as a member of the one-mile relay team.

But it was on the basketball court where Kiser excelled. During his junior season, he was the team’s leading scorer, rebounder and Most Valuable Player. That season Kiser led Northwestern to the MIC championship with a 7-1 record and an 18-3 record overall. He had 14 double-doubles (scoring and rebounds) and averaged 18.8 points and 15.5 rebounds per game.

Kiser’s senior season was even more productive as he averaged 29.7 points and 18.7 rebounds per game. He scored 30 or more points 10 times and had three games over 40 points that season. In a game against Hamilton Heights, he scored an astonishing 46 points while grabbing 36 rebounds (still a school rebounding record). Northwestern was 14-7 as a team and won the MIC championship that season. Kiser was again all-conference, all-sectional and all-area. He owns the single-season record for points (584) and rebounds (421) and departed with 1,246 points and 1,007 rebounds.

Kiser played college basketball for the University of South Florida and is credited with scoring the first-ever points for the new program. Kiser finished with 920 points, 406 rebounds and 196 assists during his collegiate career.