Is Kemba the most important player to come through UCONN and go to the NBA?

[UConnSwag11]

Given the last 5 years, what he did in 2011 and what he's doing now can't be appreciated enough. He's killing it in the league. He is constantly trending on twitter and when he is, there are usually highlights from his iconic stepback attached.

 

[Fishy]

That would still be Ray Allen.

 

[UCLJ0211]

That would still be Ray Allen.

For now I agree. When Kemba’s career is over he may very well be.

 

[RichZ]

He's going to need a couple rings to get on Ray's level.

 

[coloradohusky]

Came here to say Ray Ray too. Not only did he crush it, but imo he started the whole elite thing UConn had/has going on. Yeah, we had some before him, but I feel like he really put UConn on the map. Plus I love that dude, and I'm not ashamed to type that.

 

[UConnSwag11]

He's going to need a couple rings to get on Ray's level.

I’m not saying most successful right now, but most important to UCONN as of now

 

[QuickDraw]

As we have all learned lately, the future is not certain & as it stands The Candyman still holds that honor until over taken and not a moment before. I love Kemba and he may well become the one who exceeds Ray's accomplishments but he has a ways to go IMO not even including Olympic Gold. Kemba does have the great resume stuffer from the spring of 2011 which is just legendary.

 

[Fishy]

I’m not saying most successful right now, but most important to UCONN as of now

He sure as hell ain’t hurting the cause at the moment.

 

[wheelerdog]

Not disagreeing with Ray being most important, but I think Donyell often gets overlooked when this topic is discussed. KEA also.

 

[Fishy]

Not disagreeing with Ray being most important, but I think Donyell often gets overlooked when this topic is discussed. KEA also.

I don’t think they are really in the conversation. You would have to skip over Cliff and Rip to get to them.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Allen, being in the HOF, is clearly #1. Multi time NBA Champ and All star. If Kemba can lead the C's to a title, then he's a clear #2 and could challenge for #1.
You can also make a case for Cliff Robinson. Tremendous career and he showed you can get to the NBA from that agricultural school in Connecticut.

 

[gtcam]

I have to say that in history to date, yes Ray is the man
Currently to those who are under 30 its probably Kemba
To me, any UConn player who plays in the league is important to the program

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I don’t think they are really in the conversation. You would have to skip over Cliff and Rip to get to them.

I liked the "early stretch 4," and "protypical 3-and-D" shout outs Cliff got tagged with in memorial posts, along with him being noted in a 'group of 3' with Nowitzki & Wallace as the only ones with 1,000 each on blocks, steals, and 3-pointers.

 

[MDHuskFan]

It’s a good question, Ray is the best pro we’ve had. He was/is literally considered the/top 3 shooters of all time up till the 3 point revolution.

That being said, it seems that when Kemba does some kind of out of this world play, there’s usually a reference to UConn or his college days. Ex. The step back game 1

 

[Palatine]

You could make a case for Richard Hamilton. His decision to come back for his senior junior season resulted in UConn's elevation to national championship status. He then added an NBA ring as a Detroit Piston. If his Olympic team had collected a gold instead of a silver, he would be in rarified air as a champion. Even so, Ray's HOF status cements his place at the top of the pyramid.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Kemba is doing it now which unfortunately in the era of short memories magnifies his achievements.
To stay relevant it’s necessary to have a contemporary carry your banner.

 

[Mister P]

You could make a case for Richard Hamilton. His decision to come back for his senior season resulted in UConn's elevation to national championship status. He then added an NBA ring as a Detroit Piston. If his Olympic team had collected a gold instead of a silver, he would be in rarified air as a champion. Even so, Ray's HOF status cements his place at the top of the pyramid.

Rip left after his junior year.

 

[Waquoit]

That would still be Ray Allen.

True, but Ray was a complimentary player on his most successful teams. But Kemba is "the man" for his team. And it's Rip over Donyell all day long for NBA success.

 

[Lefty2one]

Ray is the answer but I don't think Donyell should be short-changed. Our first lottery pick, our first Top 5 pick, though he had a relatively disappointing pro career.

Ray is the clear #1, Rip is probably still #2 though Kemba might overtake that.

 

[Lefty2one]

True, but Ray was a complimentary player on his most successful teams. But Kemba is "the man" for his team. And it's Rip over Donyell all day long for NBA success.

Pretty easy to say Kemba is more an equal piece of a 3-headed group of 1B's with Tatum and Brown. He's not "The Man" for Boston; they don't have one.

 

[Waquoit]

Pretty easy to say Kemba is more an equal piece of a 3-headed group of 1B's with Tatum and Brown. He's not "The Man" for Boston; they don't have one.

The guy with ball in his hands at the end of the game is the man, isn't he?

 

[fatlucy]

Ray is the answer but I don't think Donyell should be short-changed. Our first lottery pick, our first Top 5 pick, though he had a relatively disappointing pro career.

Ray is the clear #1, Rip is probably still #2 though Kemba might overtake that.

Ray was no complimentary player. He was the focal point. No ifs ands or buts.

 

[superjohn]

Rip is somehow almost always forgotten.

 

[Lefty2one]

The guy with ball in his hands at the end of the game is the man, isn't he?

Not really. Plenty of teams who don't have a true #1 still have to have the ball in someone's hands at the end of the game. Kemba is still a much better playmaker than Tatum or Brown, obviously.

 

[superjohn]

The guy with ball in his hands at the end of the game is the man, isn't he?

As great and as clutch as Kemba is Tatum is the man on that team.

 

[Palatine]

Rip left after his junior year.

I know, I thought I typed that. My bad. But his coming back for that junior year was one of the most important decision in the history of UConn basketball.

 

[Waquoit]

Ray was no complimentary player. He was the focal point. No ifs ands or buts.

Not on the teams that won rings, he wasn't.

 

[Captbluefin]

If someone doesn’t say Ray... They are to young to know better.

 

[UconnFanDC]

Depending on your age and when you started liking and following Uconn matters. I would say its between Chris Smith/Cliff Robinson. This is when the consistency started from getting to the NIT in 80's and the Elite 8 in early 90's.

 

[UConnSwag11]

I said as now. Recruits probably don’t know who Donyell is and Rip has been away for awhile. You could argue for Ray. He is also in movies and got lebron a ring. But as of right now for UCONN, Kemba is the guy.

we could have dion waiters or MCW....