Top 5 Huskies of All Time

[SubbaBub]

How are you measuring best?

The consensus all Americans are: Donyell, Ray, Rip, Emeka, Kemba, Shabazz.

The conference players of the year are:
Donyell, Ray, Rip (x2), Caron, Emeka, Thabeet, Shabazz.

NCAA MOP's are Rip, Emeka, Kemba, Shabazz.

PPG will give you a different list and will career wins, NBA draft #, NBA games played.

I look at it this way, like best NFL QB. Once you reach a certain level, that's it, there is no way to parse, Joe Mon tana, Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Steve Young, Farve, Marino, Aikman, Unitas or YA Tittle. They all excelled to the point that you could drop them on any team in any ERA and still be a GOAT.

The real question to be asking is which UCONN greats achieved GOAT status durin their time in Storrs. Meaning if they played on any team they'd be the guy or could have easily replaced the guy if that ream already had a guy.

 

[Husky25]

Is Hilton in your discussion for top 10? nba drafts on potential, this whole thread is based on college production.

Also, there's this thing called the huskies of honor...that should be a pretty useful barometer for finding 20+ players who are definitively better.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Lambs, but got to give respect where it's due here to the other uconn greats

The two go hand in hand. College performance provides for an indication of that potential, and No. Armstrong is not in my personal Top 10. He was consistently inconsistent from 2002-2005 before breaking out in '05-'06. He played nearly as many minutes his senior year as the three year prior.

So John Toner is a better basketball player than Jeremy Lamb? Jim Calhoun? Hugh Greer? The Huskies of Honor are there for significance as much as how great they were as individual players.

 

[Deadrody]

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

And yet, you include Donyell, who had one really great season and didn't lead his team to a thing.

 

[mauconnfan]

And yet, you include Donyell, who had one really great season and didn't lead his team to a thing.

But neither did Ray right? Donyell's Jr year was the best we've seen minus a NC. And he went 11/17 for pts his first 2 and his rebounding improved each year. He was certainly one of the top 5 best players, maybe not according to those who prefer championships, but those were won by teams that were better too.

 

[Husky25]

And yet, you include Donyell, who had one really great season and didn't lead his team to a thing.

Yup. I did.

 

[Deadrody]

But neither did Ray right? Donyell's Jr year was the best we've seen minus a NC. And he went 11/17 for pts his first 2 and his rebounding improved each year. He was certainly one of the top 5 best players, maybe not according to those who prefer championships, but those were won by teams that were better too.

I was just responding to someone eliminating Kemba from the top 5 over "inconsistency" in favor of Donyell. Yeah, a great season in 1994. Kemba had a pretty great year in 2011, too. And he carried his team to the BET title AND the national championship, AND he was a significant contributor to another final four team as a freshman.

You want to put Donyell in your top 5 ? Great. But not at the expense of Kemba Walker. No way, no how.

I do agree that Ray and Donyell are very comparable players when it comes to making your "top 5" list. Great seasons, All Americans, but couldn't get over the final four hump.

For me, there are only a few categories you label college basketball seasons - pretty good, good, really good, very good, and CHAMPION. And to me, 1999 and 2004 were awesome, but 2011 and 2014 are program defining seasons.

So maybe, in the name of fairness, we'll call the top 5:

Ray, Donyell, Rip, Kemba, Shabazz

The only defense for leaving out Emeka and / or Ben is that they had each other, and Rashad, and Taliek, and Boone, etc. That was probably the most talented overall roster.

So call it the top 6. Consider that they give out an award for 6th man, so one more than a starting five:

Ray, Donyell, Rip, Kemba, Shabazz, and Emeka

 

[Husky25]

I was just responding to someone eliminating Kemba from the top 5 over "inconsistency" in favor of Donyell. Yeah, a great season in 1994. Kemba had a pretty great year in 2011, too. And he carried his team to the BET title AND the national championship, AND he was a significant contributor to another final four team as a freshman.

You want to put Donyell in your top 5 ? Great. But not at the expense of Kemba Walker. No way, no how.

And yet, I did.

 

[Deadrody]

And yet, I did.

One hand clapping, just for you

 

[huskiesNhoos]

The two go hand in hand. College performance provides for an indication of that potential, and No. Armstrong is not in my personal Top 10. He was consistently inconsistent from 2002-2005 before breaking out in '05-'06. He played nearly as many minutes his senior year as the three year prior.

So John Toner is a better basketball player than Jeremy Lamb? Jim Calhoun? Hugh Greer? The Huskies of Honor are there for significance as much as how great they were as individual players.

After going back and forth with you I'm having a tough time deciding if you seriously think Jim Calhoun is in the huskies of honor because of his time as a player

 

[Husky25]

One hand clapping, just for you

Is there supposed to be an overwhelming urge to apologize for my opinion, Mrs. Walker? 'Cause I'm not feeling it.

After going back and forth with you I'm having a tough time deciding if you seriously think Jim Calhoun is in the huskies of honor because of his time as a player

Yup. That's exactly what I think.

 

[Waquoit]

... Kemba was in 2010-11...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.

Yet you are carrying a ton of water for Lamb in this thread. How did he play as a sophomore?

 

[Robertelamin]

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

 

[Husky25]

Yet you are carrying a ton of water for Lamb in this thread. How did he play as a sophomore?

Good enough to be a lottery pick and I never had Lamb close to the top 5.

 

[tentoes4rings]

Ray's official retirement got me thinking about the greatest Huskies of all time at the college level. My top 5 in no particular order:

Rip
Ray
Emeka
Kemba
Shabazz

Donyell and Caron deserve strong consideration as well. Thoughts?

I don't see how anyone can argue with this list. When you look at accomplishments and titles, all but Ray need to be on there. Ray was the most talented player to ever wear the uniform so this has to be the 5.

 

[Kemba'sYogurt]

Vital
Jackson
Gilbert
Durham
Diarra

Top 5 top 5 top 5!!

 

[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.