Happy Birthday to Steve Scheffler!
Scheffler starred at Forest Hills Northern during the mid-1980’s and made the All-State team in both basketball, as a center, and football, as a defensive tackle.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Scheffler was recruited in both sports, including interest from Michigan’s Bo Schembechler. Despite not playing much during his first two years at Purdue, Scheffler’s determination and grit led to his rise as a Boilermaker. After making the Sweet Sixteen as a sophomore, Purdue went 15-16 during Scheffler’s junior season, one that coach Gene Keady leaned heavily on the center. Senior season stats of 16.8 points and 6.1 rebounds, Purdue made it to the NCAA Tournament, losing in the second round to Texas.
Scheffler was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2nd round (39th overall) in the 1990 NBA Draft. He spent one season with Charlotte before the parties split ways. Scheffler would have stints with both the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings before finding a home in Seattle.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5601200-tales-for-boilermaker-country
Joining the Supersonics for the 1992-92 season, Scheffler was on board for the Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp years. The Sonics lost to in the Western Conference Finals that year to the Phoenix Suns, but would stay afloat in the title chase for the next 4 seasons.
Scheffler made 4 appearances during the 1996 NBA Finals against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won the series 4-2.
For the Sonics’ 35th anniversary, a poll conducted found that Scheffler was their favorite 12th man.
Scheffler now owns and operates his own marketing business in Grand Rapids, MI.