Larry Sengstock
July 23, 2020
Leroy Combs
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 1/01/61
- Place of Birth: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (USA)
- Position: PF
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 95
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Oklahoma State University (1979-1983)
- NBL DEBUT: 30/03/90
- AGE AT DEBUT: 29
- LAST NBL GAME: 21/09/90
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 29
- NBL History: Gold Coast 1990
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Leroy Combs was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Leroy Combs made his NBL debut with the Gold Coast Cougars at 29 years of age. He scored 27 points in his first game.
1990 saw Gold Coast Cougars enter the NBL, playing home games out of Carrara Indoor Stadium. Tom Wiseman was named the team’s first-ever head coach, and his first move was filling his roster with a number of players from state rival club Brisbane. In their inaugural season, Gold Coast boasted four ex-Bullets, veterans Larry Sengstock and Ron Radliff, as well as 1989 Bullets rookie Rodger Smith and early 1980s bench player Mark Kitching.
The team would be led by its imports Leroy Combs (23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.3 blocks) and Brian Kellybrew (14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists) as well as US born Eric Bailey (17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), who after playing a number of seasons in both the NBL and the state league, had become a naturalised Australian.
Australian Boomers big man Paul Kuiper (15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds), who had been playing for the St Kilda Saints, was also added to the roster.
Radliff (13.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals) and team captain Sengstock (11.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) provided the veteran leadership while rookie big man Andrew Goodwin (9.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) also impressed during his first year in the league.
Overall, the team struggled to deliver wins over the league’s more successful team’s and replaced Wiseman with rookie coach Brian Lester mid-way through the season. The Cougars then finished their first NBL season with a record of 9 wins, 17 losses with Combs being named the team’s MVP.
Leroy Combs played one season in the NBL. He averaged 23.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 26 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 13rd in blocks per game.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 29 | Gold Coast | 9-17 (11) | 26 | 1,021 | 604 | 213 | 102 | 70 | 143 | 44 | 61 | 89 | 69 | 257 | 464 | 55% | 5 | 14 | 36% | 85 | 118 | 72% | 58% | 56% | 40 | Totals | 26 | 1021 | 604 | 213 | 102 | 70 | 143 | 44 | 61 | 89 | 69 | 257 | 464 | 55.4% | 5 | 14 | 35.7% | 85 | 118 | 72.0% | 59% | 56% | 40 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 29 | Gold Coast | 9-17 (11) | 26 | 39.3 | 23.2 | 8.2 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 9.9 | 17.8 | 55% | 0.2 | 0.5 | 36% | 3.3 | 4.5 | 72% | 58% | 56% | 40 | Total | 26 | 39.3 | 23.2 | 8.2 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 9.9 | 17.8 | 55.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.7% | 0.2 | 0.5 | 72.0% | 59% | 56% | 40 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 40 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Leroy Combs was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with pick #26 in the 1983 NBA Draft.
Combs played 48 games in the NBA. He averaged 4.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 28, 1983: Drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the 2nd round (26th pick) of the 1983 NBA Draft.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 97% | 94% | 96% | 99% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 40 | 10 | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Total | 257 | 464 | 55.4% | 5 | 14 | 35.7% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-84 | 23 | Indiana | SF | 48 | 0 | 446 | 218 | 56 | 38 | 19 | 37 | 23 | 18 | 46 | 49 | 81 | 163 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 91 | 54% | 50% | Total | 48 | 0 | 446 | 218 | 56 | 38 | 19 | 37 | 23 | 18 | 46 | 49 | 81 | 163 | 50% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 56 | 91 | 62% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-84 | 23 | Indiana | SF | 48 | 0 | 9.3 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 54% | 50% | Total | 48 | 0 | 9.3 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 50% | 0.1 | 0% | 1.2 | 1.9 | 62% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Venezuela - Trotamundos de Carabobo (1986–1989)
Combs joined Trotamundos de Carabobo for the 1986 Liga Especial de Baloncesto season in Venezuela.
With Trotamundos, Combs was listed among the club’s import players alongside Alfonso “Al” Smith and Sam Shepherd, playing on teams that also included Venezuelan national-team players such as Rostyn González, Luis Jiménez, Iván Olivares, and Alexander Nelcha.
Across the 1986–1989 Liga Especial de Baloncesto seasons, Trotamundos won four consecutive championships, and Combs was repeatedly identified as one of the team’s imports during that title run.
COLLEGE
Leroy Combs played his full NCAA career at Oklahoma State University from 1979-80 through 1982-83, starting as a freshman on a Cowboys team that finished 10-17 overall (4-10 Big Eight) and scored 2,084 points across 27 games (77.2 per game) while allowing 2,044 (75.7 per game).
In 1979-80, Combs appeared in 14 games and made 8 starts, logging 294 minutes (21.0 per game) and scoring 128 points (9.1 per game) on 49-for-88 shooting (55.7%) while going 30-of-47 at the free throw line (63.8%).
Across those 14 games as a freshman, he totaled 77 rebounds (5.5 per game) with 35 offensive rebounds and 42 defensive rebounds, plus 3 assists, 5 steals, 24 blocks, 12 turnovers, and 25 personal fouls, with Oklahoma State going 836-for-1,760 from the field as a team (47.5%) and 412-for-596 at the line (69.1%).
Combs’ role expanded in 1980-81 as Oklahoma State improved to an 18-9 overall record (8-6 Big Eight) and produced 2,160 points in 27 games (80.0 per game), with Combs starting 25 of 27 games and playing 834 minutes (30.9 per game).
In 1980-81, he scored 443 points (16.4 per game) while shooting 167-for-303 from the field (55.1%) and 109-for-151 on free throws (72.2%), and he added 221 rebounds (8.2 per game) with 98 offensive and 123 defensive rebounds, along with 13 assists, 25 steals, 43 blocks, 58 turnovers, and 76 personal fouls.
One notable box score from that season came in Oklahoma State’s 81-75 home win over Iowa State on January 24, 1981, when Combs posted 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting with 12 rebounds (7 offensive), 3 blocks, and 36 minutes played.
As a junior in 1981-82, Combs again started 25 of 27 games for a Cowboys team that finished 15-12 overall (7-7 Big Eight), and he recorded 328 points (12.1 per game) on 129-for-249 shooting (51.8%) and 70-for-112 free throws (62.5%) in 758 minutes (28.1 per game).
During 1981-82 he totaled 195 rebounds (7.2 per game) with 89 offensive and 106 defensive, plus 16 assists, 30 steals, 42 blocks, 60 turnovers, and 72 personal fouls as Oklahoma State scored 2,023 points across 27 games (74.9 per game) while allowing 2,017 (74.7 per game).
Combs closed his Oklahoma State career in 1982-83 as a full-time starter on a 24-7 team (9-5 Big Eight) that won the Big Eight Tournament and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament West Region before losing 56-53 to No. 12 seed Princeton in the West First Round.
In 1982-83, Combs started all 31 games and played 1,142 minutes (36.8 per game), leading the Cowboys in scoring at 535 points (17.3 per game) while shooting 207-for-357 from the field (58.0%) and 121-for-183 at the line (66.1%).
Across that senior season, he produced 270 rebounds (8.7 per game) with 120 offensive and 150 defensive rebounds, plus 48 assists, 43 steals, 58 blocks, 80 turnovers, and 84 personal fouls, with Oklahoma State outscoring opponents 2,367 to 2,119 on the year and holding foes to 68.4 points per game.
Over his four Oklahoma State seasons (1979-83), Combs played 99 games with 81 starts, totaling 1,434 points and 763 rebounds while shooting 552-for-997 from the field (55.4%) and 330-for-493 on free throws (66.9%), and he finished with 80 assists, 103 steals, and 167 blocks across 3,028 minutes played.
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