George Mikan's playing career with DePaul University, the Chicago American Gears and the Minneapolis Lakers from 1942 through 1954 left him minus only a few honors that went with being a giant of basketball. Mikan was named the Helms Foundation's College Player of the Year in 1944 and 1945. He led DePaul to the NIT championship in 1945, when the New York City event was more prestigious than ...