Top 5 Huskies of All Time

[champs99and04]

Who has a better resume at UConn, Lamb or Boatright?

That's an interesting one. If you're compiling a list of greatest postseasons of all-time, Lamb has to be on it. I think people forget just how stupid efficient he was until they go back and look, and it was also the best stretch of defense he played his entire career.

Boat was superb, obviously, in the 2014 tournament, but probably not as good as Lamb was in 2011. Both guys had relatively disappointing seasons, team wise, when they were 'the guy,' Boat in 2015 and Lamb in 2012.

 

[Mr. French]

Ray Allen
Ben Gordon (sorry but if UConn had tryouts Ben would start over Bazz and Kemba)
Emeka
SF Rip
PF Donyell

That's a form of the "most talented players" definition of best.

I don't think my list would have Gordon, but as far as favorite players he's def in my top 5, he may be 3rd ... I LOVED Gordon and his game.

 

[kris1]

My top 5 All-time Huskies:

Ray Allen - My favorite UConn player....period.
Chris Smith - He's the reason I became a UConn fan.
Caron Butler - Toughness, heart, winner.
Khalid El Amin - Pudgy, unathletic looking leader who shocked the world.
Kemba Walker - He was every UConn great in one. He did everything on the court and refused to lose.

Next 5: Emeka, Bazz, Rip, Dove, and Rudy

 

[mauconnfan]

Great news in this thread no one can be wrong - this list could go so many different ways depending on your take of what the "Top 5 Huskies of all time" requirements are right?

All good, let's get this season started

 

[HeyMoe]

Ray
Donyell
Emeka
Kemba
Rip

 

[pnow15]

Calhoun
Ollie
Rip
Shabazz
Kemba

 

[Husky25]

Great news in this thread no one can be wrong - this list could go so many different ways depending on your take of what the "Top 5 Huskies of all time" requirements are right?

All good, let's get this season started

Except, apparently, if one thinks Kemba is a close 6.

 

[geordi]

Not that I don't agree with the names you've all put forward. And clearly, as someone said, it's great being a UConn fan when you have so many to choose from --- sustained excellence. But let's call this what it is. It's not the greatest Huskies of ALL TIME. It's the greatest Huskies SINCE 1980 or 1970 or whenever you young bucks can begin to remember.

Only once above has someone mentioned Wes Bailoskunia. Second in the country in scoring in 67 averaging nearly 29 PPG. Highest career scoring average OF ALL TIME at 23.6. And in a time when he only played 71 games, not 120-140 like today. If he played 130 games his total points would be 3068 -- 900 more than Chris Smith.

Or Walt Dropo averaged 20.7 PPG. He'd have had almost 2700 points --- 600 more than Chris.

Or Toby Kimball would have scored over 2000 points and more than 2300 rebounds. Toby AVERAGED 17.9 rebounds per game. Had a NCAA tournament game with 30 rebounds. Jeff Adrien is the closest modern day player with 1126 rebounds. Toby is second on the list a few hundred MORE than Adrien still.

Or Art Quimby lead the nation in Rebounding. Has 1716 rebounds -- ALL TIME leader some 490 more than Jeff. Averaged 21.5 rebounds per game.

Ya gotta keep the history in mind and it's a longer history than just the last 30 years. I know, different era... but saying ALL TIME is like leaving Babe Ruth out of the equation of greatest baseball players because I never saw him play. I don't know if these guys should be listed among the 5 best of all time, but they at least deserve to be mentioned. At least to pacify some of the dinosaurs on the board like me.

 

[Kenny11]

For as good as Kemba was in 2010-11, he was not consistent through out his 3 years. He came in as Ben Gordon 2.0 as a freshman, but had a definite regression as a sophomore. For that reason, I can't put him in the top 5.

Walter Ray
R. Hamilton
Napier
Okafor
Donyell Marshall

Kemba should be unanimous, regardless of his freshman and sophomore years. His junior year is actually still underrated, historically. The teams he led us by in the big east tournament on consecutive days was amazing. And then of course the NCAA tournament. Nobody should ever wear #15 again.

 

[Husky25]

...The teams he led us by in the big east tournament on consecutive days was amazing. And then of course the NCAA tournament...

Yes.

 

[Poe]

Rip seems to be the least disputed player in the top 5, so by default does that make him the g.h.o.a.t?

 

[Scottzer]

I h

I would agree and say that Kemba had the greatest single season of any Husky with the 2011 NC. It's also true that his first 2 seasons did not reach any level of consistency or greatness. Shabazz is helped by having had a Senior season to cap off a great junior season.

These things always come down to the definitions of whatever you are talking about. If we said it was players by position for single greatest season, who would we have?

PG: Kemba
SG: Ray
SF: Rip
PF: Donyell
C: Emeka

If you go best BBall IQ:
PG: Khalid (Shabazz close second)
SG: Rip
SF: Caron
PF: Nadav
C: Emeka

Toughest Player by position:
PG: Kemba
SG: Ricky Moore (although the PG position was sort of shared, when the game was on the line, Khalid had the ball)
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Kevin Freeman
C: Emeka/Jake

I agree with your list of top 5 by position - 100 percent. Kemba was the most clutch player we'll ever see - hell, if you look at his battery of tests, the only college player comparable who I've seen, is probably Laettner. JC called him the best player in college basketball that season, and he was right.

We don't expect to ever have a better 2 guard than Ray Ray. And, although he didn't pull off a title in college, his NBA exploits speak for themselves. JC called him the best player in college basketball, but - that season it really was Iverson.

Rip - I'd heard him called "the poor man's Ray Allen." Yet, he won an NBA title before Ray, and, was the superstar to title #1. I always loved that Piston's team. They played defense. They didn't have superstars, but out it all together. I know a lot of people like to criticize Larry Brown, and, there are reasons for it. But that team winning a title is why I respect him.

Donyell - our first top 10 recruit (#8, out of Reading, PA). After the dream season, I remember following his recruitment. And wow, he lived up to expectations. Despite being thin, he rebounded well and swatted balls like he was 7'1". Guy could jump, drive, and do it all.

Emeka - another one JC called the best player in college basketball, and he was right. And damn, fouling out 3 Duke bigs in something like 8 minutes, in the final four? Apart from leading our insane stretch of leading the nation in blocks, we all knew Emeka was intelligent and humorous. I forgot which game it was, (an important one- maybe the Duke game), but he said something like "I saw this big orange thing floating and it said 'grab me."

 

[mauconnfan]

Kemba should be unanimous, regardless of his freshman and sophomore years. His junior year is actually still underrated, historically. The teams he led us by in the big east tournament on consecutive days was amazing. And then of course the NCAA tournament. Nobody should ever wear #15 again.

He was sensational one year - fact is he played 3. Sorry can't throw stuff out. He's in the conversation but think he's unanimous is "thinking very young". Not sure there's unanimous not even Ray or Yell.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

He was sensational one year - fact is he played 3. Sorry can't throw stuff out. He's in the conversation but think he's unanimous is "thinking very young". Not sure there's unanimous not even Ray or Yell.

It's all in the definition of "best what?": Best season or best career of all time? Bazz nudges Kemba in my mind for that definition for PG.

Most clutch? Damn, how do you pick?

PG: Kemba by a hair over Shabazz.
SG: Chris Smith (hard choice here, Ray was great against UCLA, but not so great a crunch time as others. Chris Smith was a 2G, IMHO, and was such a tough, focused kid who took the big shots and made a ton of them. What could have been but for a bobbled ball.
SF: Rip
PF: Perhaps a weird choice, but Kevin Freeman. Not a clutch scorer too often, but he did what needed doing and he was so strong, athletic, quick and determined. I think that he was an extremely smart player. Tough as nails too. He came through when it counted, like in the BET the championship year (wasn't it?), and how he played all through the tourney in '99.
C: Emeka, duh.

 

[Mr. French]

Rip seems to be the least disputed player in the top 5, so by default does that make him the g.h.o.a.t?

That's interesting, and I think because he checked off all the boxes (individual accomplishments, championship, clutch, NBA success, etc) but to me it's ironic in that it encapsulates this entire argument: The definition of "best" is so vital, Rip is almost universally accepted but to me he's the least "outstanding" or I don't know, "spectacular" or simply, he'd NEVER be considered #1 by any standard, but he's top 5 by almost any standard.

He was sensational one year - fact is he played 3. Sorry can't throw stuff out. He's in the conversation but think he's unanimous is "thinking very young". Not sure there's unanimous not even Ray or Yell.

I don't think that's fair...he wasn't bad for 2 years then have one good 6 games, which you didn't SAY but sort of imply.

And bottom line, this is the argument of "best" definition, because you use 2 guys you feel should be obviously unanimous, yet Kemba destroys them in team accomplishments. He has 2 , 1 ring, 1 MOP, etc they both have nothing.

Not trying to rip them, obv, Ray is probably my favorite player, but your reasoning and player analogies are really unfair to Kemba's career.

 

[mauconnfan]

That's interesting, and I think because he checked off all the boxes (individual accomplishments, championship, clutch, NBA success, etc) but to me it's ironic in that it encapsulates this entire argument: The definition of "best" is so vital, Rip is almost universally accepted but to me he's the least "outstanding" or I don't know, "spectacular" or simply, he'd NEVER be considered #1 by any standard, but he's top 5 by almost any standard.



I don't think that's fair...he wasn't bad for 2 years then have one good 6 games, which you didn't SAY but sort of imply.

And bottom line, this is the argument of "best" definition, because you use 2 guys you feel should be obviously unanimous, yet Kemba destroys them in team accomplishments. He has 2 , 1 ring, 1 MOP, etc they both have nothing.

Not trying to rip them, obv, Ray is probably my favorite player, but your reasoning and player analogies are really unfair to Kemba's career.

Fair enough. Only thing with Kemba for me is he was very inconsistent as a freshman, took half a year as a soph to become the player we expected but still struggled a bit. Had what was a miraculous Jr year and won a title which will never be forgotten. When you talk about PG's and accomplishments you also can't leave KEA to far out of the equation. I mean we have so many great Huskies not worth arguing over each person's definition of UConn greats. Fact is we should be in the Shabel, Roweand even Dim Porno era with some names too but most here haven't a clue.

All good, your assessment is spot on.

 

[PAHusky]

This thread is blowing my mind. Other schools would have built shrines, cathedrals even for two players like Kemba and Shabazz. I won't argue who the best of all of the huskies was, but I think leaving out two players who led teams no one believed in to titles in spectacular fashion. I think nostalgia and some odd sort of reverse recency bias means we're actually undervaluing how amazing those two championships were in this discussion. Kemba and Bazz should be in the top five for sure. With that said, in no particular order:

Kemba
Bazz
KEA
Rip
Ray

 

[Waquoit]

Bazz seems to be getting the short shrift here but I'm pretty sure the respect for his accomplishments will grow over time. I find myself doing it.

 

[Horatio]

Emeka and Kemba (2011) would start on any of our championship teams and every Uconn mens teams .

Shabazz is debatable only because of Smitty.
Ray is debatable because of Rip.
Donyell may be undatable at his position.
Some might argue that Caron could've replaced Rip or Donyell ,etc , etc , etc.

Our list of elite players is too good for just five guys. It's got to be 7-8 guys

 

[Mr. French]

My own personal "best" top 5 UConn players has to be:
Kemba
Shabazz
Ray
Rip
Emeka

2nd team:
Marshall
Gordon
Butler
El-Amin
Price/Thabeet - - I'm finding it really hard to finish my top 10 and pick a 10th, if I was to cut it off at 10. And Donyell just missing top 5 for me was difficult, but I think that shows the ridiculous level of players we've had over the last 25 years (I don't know much before 1994, admittedly, so this is clearly a subjective list).

I don't think I could number them unless the criteria was more strictly defined, I literally would have a different answer for almost every iteration of "best" in my own mind. But I know that Marshall being outside the top 5 is the toughest one I struggled with.

I take lists like this too seriously (in my mind as far as analyzing) but I find it so satisfying as a fan of a program that we've had so much success, I can have a different, ridiculously great top 5 for so many different categories. Favorites, most accomplished, most pure talent, most impactful, best NBA career, best game lineup, most clutch ... look at the list of players we have to choose from and then compile those top 5s, and sit and recognize how lucky we are as a fanbase.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

It seems like some people are forgetting the magic Kemba brought to this program in 2011. If you don't think Kemba is ATLEAST top 5 in school history I don't know what you have been watching. Best UCONN season by a player I have seen hands down.

 

[UConn990411]

Bazz seems to be getting the short shrift here but I'm pretty sure the respect for his accomplishments will grow over time. I find myself doing it.

He's the only player in UConn's history to have been a major contributor on two National Championship teams (no, I'm not counting Olander).

When you factor in his loyalty to the program after the ban, Calhoun retiring, etc., it's baffling how many people are leaving him outside of the top 5.

 

[mauconnfan]

He's the only player in UConn's history to have been a major contributor on two National Championship teams (no, I'm not counting Olander).

When you factor in his loyalty to the program after the ban, Calhoun retiring, etc., it's baffling how many people are leaving him outside of the top 5.

Would it not be baffling leaving out Caron, Donyell, Ray, Rip, Emeka, Ben or even Hasheem? Nothing is baffling, it's all in how you feel about the "Top 5"...it's opinion.

 

[UConn990411]

Would it not be baffling leaving out Caron, Donyell, Ray, Rip, Emeka, Ben or even Hasheem? Nothing is baffling, it's all in how you feel about the "Top 5"...it's opinion.

I'm well aware that it's opinion, and I respect that everyone has a different definition when coming up with their lists. But for a school with 4 titles and 5 Final Fours, you'd think people would value those things more when trying to decide the best players in school history.

You can make top 5 cases for a long list of people, but there are certain players (namely Kemba) who should be on anyone's list.

 

[mauconnfan]

I'm well aware that it's opinion, and I respect that everyone has a different definition when coming up with their lists. But for a school with 4 titles and 5 Final Fours, you'd think people would value those things more when trying to decide the best players in school history.

You can make top 5 cases for a long list of people, but there are certain players (namely Kemba) who should be on anyone's list.

Mostly agree but there's some players who fell 2-3 games short who did some amazing things for a year or even 3 years too. A bounce here a bounce there, a FT here, no injury there and there could very well be 6 titles and 7 FF's. I get it, both Kemba and Shabazz deserve to be amongst the top players but it's up to those who watched a lot of games as to where. No one is automatic because we've had so many great players.

Seems everyone has Emeka in there but without Ben Gordon while he was hurt and others does he get a title. If Ricky Moore doesn't go down as a freshman vs Colgate could he have stopped on of the guards who went off at Miss State and Ray gets a FF/title? KEA has the first one against a great Duke team why not him instead of Kemba or Bazz? If Yell makes his own FT's he probably gets at least a FF. Caron put his team on his back and almost singlehandedly go them to the FF he was amazing. Again knocking on the door is sometimes as impressive as a single player.

You have a point and a solid one, just saying the good news is we've had a lot of great players and memories to choose from.