SALT LAKE CITY — Dick Nemelka, a former BYU All-American basketball player and member of the Utah Stars ABA championship team in 1971, has died at the age of 76.
Nemelka, who was an all-state standout at West High School before his All-American career at BYU, has been battling stage 4 cancer for the past several months.
He was a three-time all-WAC performer for BYU from 1963-66 and helped lead the Cougars to the NIT championship under coach Stan Watts in 1966. He ranks No. 10 on the BYU all-time scoring list for average points per season.
Following a church mission, he came back to play for the 1970-71 Utah Stars team that defeated the Kentucky Colonels in the championship series.
He is survived by his four children and five grandchildren. A private celebration of his life will be held for close friends and family.