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- Thread starter Mtowncyclone13
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Scenario 1: Mount Rushmore of basketball accolades for time while at ISU. In this scenario, key considerations include in order of priority: (1) National Player of the Year; (2) National Honor Teams; (3) Conference Player of the Year; (4) Conference Honor Teams; (5) Career Statistical Category Rankings; (5) Single Year Statistical Category Rankings; and (6) Post-season Success.
(1) Gary Thompson (2nd Team All American, Conference POY (over some Wilt Chamberlain dude), 2 time conference 1st team)
(2) Jeff Grayer (2nd and 3rd Team All American Honors, 3 time 1st Team all big 8, top career scorer, 5th career rebounder)
(3) Georges Niang (2nd and 3rd Team All American Honors, Karl Malone Award, 2 time B12 1st team and 1 year B12 2nd Team, B12 Tournament MVP, B12 All Rookie Team, Second Career Scorer, Unprecedented Post-Season Success)
(4) Zaid Abdul-Aziz (3rd Team All American Honors, Big 8 POY)
Honorable Mentions: Jack Flemming and Waldo Wegner (National honors, but too long ago for many to remember), Jamal Tinsley (2nd Team All American), Melvin Ejim (2nd Team All American, B12 POY and 2nd Career Rebounder), DeAndre Kane (3rd Team All American), Monte Morris (Third Team All American, Career Assist Leader and Unprecedented Post Season Success)
NOTES:
(1) I could see good arguments for Ejim or Tinsley replacing Abdul-Aziz, but their jerseys haven't been hung in the rafters yet.
(2) For those blinded by the Hoiberg legend, Fred's college playing accolades (admittedly according to Wikipedia) only include one first team and one second team all conference honor, an honorable mention all american honor (many received this) and is only top 5 in one career statistical category.
Scenario 2: Impact on the Cyclone Brand (i.e., when you think of ISU bball, you think of them).
(1) Johnny Orr
(2) Gary Thompson
(3) Fred Hoiberg
(4) Georges Niang
Honorable Mentions: Prohm (likely to move up if he stays long enough as I think he'll create an Izzo-like program over time) Grayer, Stevens, Hornacek, Fizer, Tinsley, Lafester, and just because they are my favorites of all time, Justice Thigpen and Victor Alexander.
(1) Gary Thompson (2nd Team All American, Conference POY (over some Wilt Chamberlain dude), 2 time conference 1st team)
(2) Jeff Grayer (2nd and 3rd Team All American Honors, 3 time 1st Team all big 8, top career scorer, 5th career rebounder)
(3) Georges Niang (2nd and 3rd Team All American Honors, Karl Malone Award, 2 time B12 1st team and 1 year B12 2nd Team, B12 Tournament MVP, B12 All Rookie Team, Second Career Scorer, Unprecedented Post-Season Success)
(4) Zaid Abdul-Aziz (3rd Team All American Honors, Big 8 POY)
Honorable Mentions: Jack Flemming and Waldo Wegner (National honors, but too long ago for many to remember), Jamal Tinsley (2nd Team All American), Melvin Ejim (2nd Team All American, B12 POY and 2nd Career Rebounder), DeAndre Kane (3rd Team All American), Monte Morris (Third Team All American, Career Assist Leader and Unprecedented Post Season Success)
NOTES:
(1) I could see good arguments for Ejim or Tinsley replacing Abdul-Aziz, but their jerseys haven't been hung in the rafters yet.
(2) For those blinded by the Hoiberg legend, Fred's college playing accolades (admittedly according to Wikipedia) only include one first team and one second team all conference honor, an honorable mention all american honor (many received this) and is only top 5 in one career statistical category.
Scenario 2: Impact on the Cyclone Brand (i.e., when you think of ISU bball, you think of them).
(1) Johnny Orr
(2) Gary Thompson
(3) Fred Hoiberg
(4) Georges Niang
Honorable Mentions: Prohm (likely to move up if he stays long enough as I think he'll create an Izzo-like program over time) Grayer, Stevens, Hornacek, Fizer, Tinsley, Lafester, and just because they are my favorites of all time, Justice Thigpen and Victor Alexander.
Hornacek has to be in the conversation. Played 4 years at ISU, pass master and probably most successful NBA career of ISU guys. I think if you're going to pick a Mt Rushmore it needs to be 4 year guys with the exception Fizer.
Grayer is the best player ever at Iowa State. Gary and Johnny are the most important.
The fourth could be a myriad depending on personal preference.
Good stuff all the way around but under your first scenario I think Fizer probably trumps everybody. 1st team AA, B12 POY, 2x 1st team All Conference, Runner-up NPOTY, B12 scoring champ, B12 tournament MVP. Led ISU to 1st conference title in forever plus a conference tournament title and Elite 8. Granted the career numbers don't line up due to being a 3 year player but by accolades he probably bumps Niang or Abdul-Aziz. It's a damn joke that his jersey isn't hanging.
Gary was first team All American on at least one AA team
as well as AA in baseball.
For the record pictured were Wilt Chamberlain of Kansas, Lennie Rosenbluth of North Carolina (Gary said that they all thought Lennie was an ass), "Hot Rod" Hundley of West Virginia, Thompson, and Chet "The Jet" Forte of Columbia. This picture is them getting together to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show.
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