John Mengelt was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin but grew up in Elwood, Indiana. Mengelt was an Indiana basketball star, making the All-Conference list twice, being named an Indiana All-Star, and making the All-State team twice. He also lettered in baseball, track and field, and football in high school. Mengelt would make All-State in football during his senior season.

As point guard, Mengelt led Auburn for three seasons. He would set multiple scoring records for the Tigers, including holding eight of the top ten single-game scoring records. Against rival Alabama in 1970, Mengelt dropped 60 points en route to a 121-78 win. That mark still stands as the most points scored in a game, 12 more than the #2 spot which Mengelt also holds.

The other records Mengelt holds include points per game in a season, free throws made in a season, and career scoring average. He still ranks high in other stats despite only playing three seasons as others on the list played four.

In 1969, Auburn opened Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum with a win over LSU. LSU’s star player Pistol Pete Maravich led the Bayou Bengals with 46 points. Mengelt would only score 13, but assisted in rattling Maravich and lead the Tigers to a 90-71 victory. In the following seasons after Maravich moved on from LSU, many fans and writers alike wanted to bestow Mengelt with the Pistol nickname.

In the 1971 NBA Draft, the Cincinnati Royals (now Sacramento Kings) selected Mengelt 21st overall. Mengelt would play nine seasons in the NBA across four franchises (the Royals/Kings, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and Golden State Warriors). He also spent one season playing in Italy.

Mengelt earned the nickname “Crash” for his hard-nosed style of play and willingness to dive for loose balls.

After his playing days, Mengelt would work in broadcasting calling games for the Pistons, Bulls, and DePaul basketball. He also founded Breckenridge Partners, a Chicago-area executive search firm. Mengelt lives in Chicago where Michael Jordan was a neighbor.