blueandgray
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Post by blueandgray on Jun 17, 2020 14:47:57 GMT -5
As a slight variation to the “Favorite Hoyas of the Past” thread.....there have been so many guys that for whatever reason have flown under the radar in terms of recognition, however are deserving of more Hoya-love than they get. They may be an ideal complimentary player Who played alongside a team of studs or a star player who just played on an underperforming team. Would love to hear your thoughts....along with one or two stats that may highlight their contribution to the team. I have one in mind but will save it for later in the discussion.
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Jun 17, 2020 16:11:01 GMT -5
The first name that leaps to mind is Eric Smith.
Hard to call him under appreciated but he was just so good at so many things.
The moment which sums him up best, painful as it may be is that he chased Worthy down and fouled him after Fred’s pass. He never lost his head and while Sleepy’s desperation heave was short but for Smith we never even get that shot off.
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Post by tribeninerhoya on Jun 17, 2020 16:23:19 GMT -5
Honestly? I feel like Govan might belong here. Not that he was a HOFer, but I’m not sure he was appreciated for being as good as he was/is.
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vv83
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Post by vv83 on Jun 17, 2020 17:10:54 GMT -5
The first name that leaps to mind is Eric Smith. Hard to call him under appreciated but he was just so good at so many things. The moment which sums him up best, painful as it may be is that he chased Worthy down and fouled him after Fred’s pass. He never lost his head and while Sleepy’s desperation heave was short but for Smith we never even get that shot off. Smith is the first person I thought of as well. Probably my favorite Hoya who was not a "star" type player. And he played a mean shortstop on the 3rd New South intramural softball team with me and my buddies our freshman year! Eddie Spriggs was our first baseman. They played with us every spring for 3 years, until they graduated. Great guys. I loved having big Ed at 1B - he said "just throw it high", as he was not interested in getting down low to dig throws out of the dirt. One of my favorite Hoya memories. That's the kind of stuff that binds a fan to a basketball program for life! |
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Bigs"R"Us
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Post by Bigs"R"Us on Jun 17, 2020 18:06:27 GMT -5
Broadnax, Tillman, Sweetney, Braswell and DSR. Govan was a good pick.
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Post by iheartdurenbros on Jun 17, 2020 18:09:58 GMT -5
Julian Vaughn
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Post by Healy on Jun 17, 2020 18:16:25 GMT -5
The first name that leaps to mind is Eric Smith. Hard to call him under appreciated but he was just so good at so many things. The moment which sums him up best, painful as it may be is that he chased Worthy down and fouled him after Fred’s pass. He never lost his head and while Sleepy’s desperation heave was short but for Smith we never even get that shot off. Smith is the first person I thought of as well. Probably my favorite Hoya who was not a "star" type player. And he played a mean shortstop on the 3rd New South intramural softball team with me and my buddies our freshman year! Eddie Spriggs was our first baseman. They played with us every spring for 3 years, until they graduated. Great guys. I loved having big Ed at 1B - he said "just throw it high", as he was not interested in getting down low to dig throws out of the dirt. One of my favorite Hoya memories. That's the kind of stuff that binds a fan to a basketball program for life! Softball sidetrack - I remember playing against Ed Spriggs in intramural softball at Georgetown, so it may have been your team. We won that game, but Ed hit a line drive home run that cleared the bleachers in left field without ever getting far off the ground - a vicious line drive. Ed ran the bases quickly, taking what seemed just a few strides between each base. Players on both teams stopped to admire the scene. Hoya Saxa. |
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SSHoya
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Post by SSHoya on Jun 17, 2020 18:16:29 GMT -5
The Sarge - Ronnie Highsmith
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blueandgray
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Post by blueandgray on Jun 17, 2020 19:56:18 GMT -5
For me...it’s Ashanti Cook. As a sophomore, he played almost 33 minutes a game...led the team in assists, and at 6’2” was 2nd on the team in rebounds. He got better with each year including his senior year where he went for 18 when we beat #1 Duke. He did everything well and yet no one really talks about him.
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hoyajinx
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Post by hoyajinx on Jun 17, 2020 19:59:38 GMT -5
Boubacar Aw
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daveg023
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Post by daveg023 on Jun 17, 2020 20:10:20 GMT -5
Jahidi White
Jesse Sapp
Jason Clark
LJ Peak
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3xhoya
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Post by 3xhoya on Jun 18, 2020 6:16:59 GMT -5
For me...it’s Ashanti Cook. As a sophomore, he played almost 33 minutes a game...led the team in assists, and at 6’2” was 2nd on the team in rebounds. He got better with each year including his senior year where he went for 18 when we beat #1 Duke. He did everything well and yet no one really talks about him. Completely agree blueandgray. I loved watching him play and he was the first person I thought of. |
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Jun 18, 2020 6:40:39 GMT -5
Don Reid, Boubacar Aw, Victor "Shomnick" Samnick, Ashanti Cook, DJ Owens, Jason Clark, and many others.
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zxhoya
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Post by zxhoya on Jun 18, 2020 8:39:45 GMT -5
For me, it's unquestionably Perry McDonald. Undersized at 6-3 or 6-4, he was a ferocious competitor with the kind of heart that defined being a Hoya. Great defender who backed down from no one and had a knack for scoring over taller defenders and he was a great rebounder regardless of size. And of course he was a Golden Gloves boxing champ (I believe he was a champion) in Louisiana, he was a real enforcer at 6-3 and when tested he proved it. Give me more players like Perry.  |
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zxhoya
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Post by zxhoya on Jun 18, 2020 8:56:27 GMT -5
Many remember this, good times.
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guru
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Post by guru on Jun 18, 2020 9:27:31 GMT -5
Many remember this, good times. My goodness, what an atmosphere. Those were the days. Does anyone see a path back to there? Sadly, I don't. |
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guru
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Post by guru on Jun 18, 2020 9:28:34 GMT -5
For me, it's unquestionably Perry McDonald. Undersized at 6-3 or 6-4, he was a ferocious competitor with the kind of heart that defined being a Hoya. Great defender who backed down from no one and had a knack for scoring over taller defenders and he was a great rebounder regardless of size. And of course he was a Golden Gloves boxing champ (I believe he was a champion) in Louisiana, he was a real enforcer at 6-3 and when tested he proved it. Give me more players like Perry. View AttachmentTotally agree with this - except that for anyone who followed the Hoyas back then, Perry was anything but underappreciated. He was miraculous that season, especially against Rony Seikaly, whom he simply owned. |
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zxhoya
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Post by zxhoya on Jun 18, 2020 9:37:32 GMT -5
Many remember this, good times. My goodness, what an atmosphere. Those were the days. Does anyone see a path back to there? Sadly, I don't? I'm an eternal optimist so I do. I love the incoming freshman class although it may take another year or so and coach Ewing has shown the same tenacity as a recruiter as he was a player, it's his learning curve as a X's and O's coach that is to be determined. |
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hoya73
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Post by hoya73 on Jun 18, 2020 10:10:18 GMT -5
George Butler, who, the year before AI, led us to a first round NCAA upset over Illinois. too bad George didn't do school and didn't finish his senior year as Iverson's backcourt partner.
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Post by BeantownHoya on Jun 18, 2020 10:52:37 GMT -5
For me...it’s Ashanti Cook. As a sophomore, he played almost 33 minutes a game...led the team in assists, and at 6’2” was 2nd on the team in rebounds. He got better with each year including his senior year where he went for 18 when we beat #1 Duke. He did everything well and yet no one really talks about him. Completely agree blueandgray. I loved watching him play and he was the first person I thought of. Ashanti would have been my first pick as well but I also feel Markel Starks was better than most remember or give him credit. I would take a player like him on my team 10 out of 10 times. |
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