Kleggie Hermsen

Who was Kleggie Hermsen?

Clarence Henry "Kleggie" Hermsen was an American professional basketball player.

A 6-foot-9 center from the University of Minnesota, Hermsen began his professional career with the Sheboygan Red Skins of the National Basketball League in 1943-44 and 1945-46. He scored 11 points in 12 games during his rookie campaign, but played a greater role in his second season, scoring 55 points in 21 games. Both Red Skins teams advanced to the NBL championship series — losses to the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and Rochester Royals.

Hermsen then played six seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Cleveland Rebels, Toronto Huskies, Baltimore Bullets, Washington Capitols, Chicago Stags, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Boston Celtics, and Indianapolis Olympians. He averaged 9.3 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game in his career and won a league championship with the Bullets in 1948.