wilbur kirkland (born 1947) is an american former professional basketball player. after a college career at cheyney university of pennsylvania, kirkland played in two games for the pittsburgh pipers in the american basketball association. he was then drafted into the united states army and, after serving for 18 months in the armed forces, he returned to basketball. kirkland spent the next eight years playing for teams in greece, italy, and switzerland, retiring from professional basketball in 1978.