A Hopeful Hoosier reflection, inspired by a recent memory shared on the Indiana Basketball Memories Facebook page.
Every so often, a name from Indiana basketball’s past surfaces online and reminds us that the legacy of the program runs far deeper than banners, points, or highlight reels. This week, a post on the Indiana Basketball Memories Facebook page mentioned former Hoosier Mike LaFave — and it brought back the story of a man whose impact was never captured in stat sheets, but whose life remains a testament to character, loyalty, and family.
LaFave was part of Indiana’s 1981 national championship team — a 6’11’’ reserve center from Indianapolis Scecina, known in high school for performances that bordered on folklore. But if you measure his life only by what happened on the court, you’d miss the point entirely.
For LaFave, basketball was a chapter. What came after was the story.
From Jolly Green Giant to Hoosier Champion
As a kid, LaFave grew fast — five feet tall in kindergarten, towering over classmates before he reached junior high. In Indianapolis, that meant one destiny: basketball. At Scecina Memorial, he became a force. One legendary night, he scored 51 points and grabbed 30 rebounds, the kind of stat line that would turn heads in any era.
Recruiters noticed. Bob Knight wanted him. So did Mike Krzyzewski.
LaFave chose Indiana.
He didn’t become a star in Bloomington, but he became something less visible and sometimes more valuable — a teammate who worked, supported, and lived the grind. He played limited minutes during IU’s 1981 title run, practicing daily against future pros and playing his role without complaint.
After two years, he transferred to Ball State, driven more by academics and a desire for balance than frustration. He earned his degree, carrying with him lifelong friendships forged at IU — including the loyalty he showed to teammate Landon Turner after Turner’s devastating car accident. Turner never forgot it.
When Basketball Ended, Responsibility Began
Here’s where LaFave’s story becomes uniquely powerful.
Shortly after college, his father was diagnosed with cancer. LaFave returned home and began learning the metal fabrication business his dad founded: B&B Welding. When his father passed away, Mike — just 23 — took over.
There was no break. No victory lap. No chance to chase overseas basketball dreams.
Life called, and he answered.
He arrived at work well before dawn. He grew the business. He provided for his family. His proudest projects were not trophies but conveyor belts built for Ford and railings crafted for Hoosier Park. He built a 6,000-square-foot log home filled with character — Packers memorabilia, moose decorations, and a custom bar he crafted himself.
More impressive still, he shared that home with humor, love, and the kind of small-town generosity that doesn’t make headlines — like delivering Christmas hams to dozens of friends and business associates every year.
He was a teammate on the court.
He became a leader off it.
A Life Interrupted, Twice
LaFave’s father died young. Tragically, Mike did as well — passing away unexpectedly in 2009 at age 46. His oldest daughter, Tara, took over the business at the same age Mike once had: 23. His sons Jeff and Joe carried forward his passions — woodworking, sports, and the outdoors.
Those who spoke at his visitation remembered the same things:
- his loyalty
- his humor
- his quiet humility
- his devotion to his children
- and his knack for showing kindness when no one was watching
He didn’t talk much about being an NCAA champion. He was more proud of being a husband and father.
The Thumb
One story reveals the heart of the man.
When renovating his log home bar, LaFave saved a small wooden peg from the original structure — a towel hook his wife had gripped during childbirth. He mounted it on the wall and said:
“This is for when I’m gone… you’ll always have a part of me.”
After Mike’s passing, his son found a note taped to the back:
“For when I’m not here.”
It’s the kind of detail that tells you everything you need to know.
Why His Story Matters Now
In a sport obsessed with rankings and recruiting, we can forget that the program’s legacy is built as much by lives lived quietly and honorably as by names hanging from the rafters.
LaFave wasn’t a starter. He wasn’t a stat leader. He wasn’t a star.
He was the kind of man Indiana basketball likes to claim: humble, hardworking, committed to family and community, shaped by the lessons of the program even after he left the court.
When Hoosier fans remember players like Mike LaFave — and share their names decades later — it reminds us what the tradition really stands for.
Banners don’t tell the whole story. People do.
And LaFave’s story is one worth remembering.
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