Best true point guard in Big East history

[Deepster]

Was just thinking about this one and looked up some numbers.

Here are the top 20 all time assist leaders (career). Keep in mind, some of these guys were 4 year players who got the numbers because they couldn't go pro.


1 Chris Thomas 833
2 Brandin Knight785
3 Vincent Council 725
4 Taliek Brown 722
5 Kevin Braswell695
6 Tory Jackson 694
7 Peyton Siva 665
8 Andre Barrett 662
9 Gerry McNamara 648
10 Levance Fields645
11 Dominic James632
12 Scoop Jardine 619
13 Travon Woodall 580
14 Eugene Harvey576
15 Carl Krauser 568
16 Terrence Williams 546
17 Jordan Theodore 541
18 Eugene Lawrence 520
19 Deonta Vaughn511
20 Marcus Williams 510

Here are the top 20 all time single season assist leaders.

1 Michael Carter-Williams 289
2 Levance Fields270
3 Jonny Flynn 254
4 Taliek Brown 253
5 Chris Thomas 252
Omar Cook 252
7 Brandin Knight251
8 Marcus Williams 243
9 Chris Thomas 236
10 Vincent Council 231
11 Jordan Theodore 226
12 Allen Griffin 220
13 Vernon Jennings 218
14 Peyton Siva 216
15 Jimmy Dillon 214
16 Peyton Siva 211
17 Brandin Knight209
18 Jason Hart 208
19 Gerry McNamara 207
20 Scoop Jardine 205

From where I sit, I think the discussion comes down to Taliek Brown or Brandon Knight. Does Peyton Siva jump into that discussion with a title this season?

 

[CAHUSKY]

Pearl Wahington isn't on your list? I know we're supposed to hate Cuse but Pearl was my idol in high school.

 

[61cygni]

Just based on numbers provided... Chris Thomas, most overall and then in that large group around the same single season # after MCW and Fields.

 

[Husky999]

Is there a reason Sherman Douglas isn't on this list. He led the country in assists a couple years in a row??

 

[traitor71]

Pearl Wahington isn't on your list? I know we're supposed to hate Cuse but Pearl was my idol in high school.

Syrexcuse or not, his was the first name that popped into my head.

 

[gtcam]

nearly all the career leaders are 4 yr players i think marcus williams only non 4 yr

 

[huskypantz]

I don't think that list is correct. According to the St. John's web site, Mark Jackson has 738 career assists in the BE. He was also a great defensive player and leader. I'd put him in the top 3 easy.

 

[jeff99]

Sherm Douglas had 960 assists

 

[Robertelamin]

How far back does this go? Jason Hart is the oldest name i recognize and he played in the mid to late 90s. I would think Doron would be on at least one of the lists.

 

[gtcam]

I don't think that list is correct. According to the St. John's web site, Mark Jackson has 738 career assists in the BE. He was also a great defensive player and leader. I'd put him in the top 3 easy.

good catch

 

[Deepster]

Pearl Washington actually started the conversation.

I just checked and the list I copied only goes back to 98. So, add Pearl in there as well as Mark Jackson.

 

[Husky999]

Sherman Douglas is the career leader

 

[huskypantz]

Can we get a God Shamgod mention in this thread? Oops, there it goes.

 

[BearJWS]

I can't imagine where this list came from, maybe the last 10 years?? I don't think of any of these guys when I think of the Big East greatest PGs. No Pearl Washington? Sherman Douglas? Mark Jackson? Tate George? Sleep Floyd? Danna Barros? I know I'm missing others, but I'm shocked.

 

[Fairfield 1st]

Without the pearl this list means nothing.

 

[Deepster]

The list doesn't dictate who you can or can't discuss. Pearl, Sherm, Mark Jackson. Don't know if I'd call Sleepy Floyd a true PG.

Pearl averaged about 15 and 7 in his career. Same for Sherm. Jackson averaged 10 and 6. Seems like Pearl is the consensus choice so far?

 

[mauconnfan]

Good call on Mark Jackson and Sherman Douglas.......and Pearl too........Kevin Braswell? Scoop Jardine? Andre Barret? Are they kidding me.......

 

[jeff99]

The original list (since 98) just shows the lack of good point guards that have come though the big east in recent times. None of those players have had any success in the NBA. This conversation (and my point) obviously excludes Kemba.

 

[Matrim55]

Do we consider Kemba to be a "pure" point guard? If Pearl was, then so was he - though neither were as "pass first" as Sherm or Mark Jackson.

In terms of college career, Kemba is clearly the most successful point guard in Big East history, since he's the only one who was the best player on a team that won the national championship. In terms of pure, classic point guard abilities - not to mention pro career - it would have to be Jackson.

Do we get to retcon the likes of Doc Rivers, Rod Strickland and Nick Van Exel into the Big East, btw? Ugh.

 

[Woof 101]

Why would anyone think assists are the only criteria for a great point guard?
I happen to think our present head coach was one of the best as an all around point guard.
Not trying to be critical but how can you have a post looking for the best true point guard and only list assists?
We have won conference / tourney championships along with national championships with point guards that may have done a lot more than lead in assists... Just say'n...

 

[BearJWS]

Why would anyone think assists are the only criteria for a great point guard?
I happen to think our present head coach was one of the best as an all around point guard.
Not trying to be critical but how can you have a post looking for the best true point guard and only list assists?
We have won conference / tourney championships along with national championships with point guards that may have done a lot more than lead in assists... Just say'n...

Bingo! Great PGs lead their teams to victories in big games, it's not all about the assists...

 

[Deepster]

Why would anyone think assists are the only criteria for a great point guard?
I happen to think our present head coach was one of the best as an all around point guard.
Not trying to be critical but how can you have a post looking for the best true point guard and only list assists?
We have won conference / tourney championships along with national championships with point guards that may have done a lot more than lead in assists... Just say'n...

Well, not for nothing, but Taliek had a pretty solid roster to pass to. I'm not sure he was the key to them winning a title, but he sure didn't hurt their chances. Assists are the most basic measue of a true pg.

 

[Oxford Bob]

Pass first PG = Jackson
Score first point = Pearl or Iverson

 

[Hurleyman216]

I think "true" point guards are a bit overrated, especially in college. I'll take a combo guard all day long who can handle the ball, score, pass and make the whole team better. Kemba and Shabazz fit into this mold. When is the last time a team has won the NCAA tourney with a John Stockton-type point guard? In the college game guards win you championships because they are the ones who can make plays for themselves. While it's great to have a PG who can score 10 pts. and dish out 10 assists per game, I'll take the guy who scores 20 and dishes out 5 assists per game because I know come crunch time that guy can win the game with the ball in his hands. Kemba and Shabazz have proved this over and over again.

 

[Bonesbrigade]

No disrespect to Taliek but I'll take KEA over him any day of the week (as we ll as KO, Chris Smith, Kemba, and probably Doron and Ricky Moore as well)