BC Hoops 21-22

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
32,109
Apropos of nothing but was having basketball conversation at the poker table (in Florida) when someone brought up Boston College…..weird I know. He knew I was from New England so assumed I was an Eagle fan (I’m not, no offense) and asked me who was the best player to come out of Boston College. If he asked me this question of like 50 other schools I’d snap respond but after thinking for a second I’m like……wait, who IS the best player to come out of BC and what qualifies? Best college player, of which BC had many, or best pro player which after giving way too much thought blurted out the words, “Michael Adam’s?” which as soon as I said it made no sense. Problem was I really couldn’t think of a real good NBA player from BC which to me is completely bizarre since they had so many great collegiate players. Am I the only one mesmerized by a school with such a long history of excellent college players to have guys like Adam’s, Bagley and Reggie Jackson in the conversation for best NBA player?

Wow, that was the most I’ve ever posted about Boston College basketball!!
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,655
Apropos of nothing but was having basketball conversation at the poker table (in Florida) when someone brought up Boston College…..weird I know. He knew I was from New England so assumed I was an Eagle fan (I’m not, no offense) and asked me who was the best player to come out of Boston College. If he asked me this question of like 50 other schools I’d snap respond but after thinking for a second I’m like……wait, who IS the best player to come out of BC and what qualifies? Best college player, of which BC had many, or best pro player which after giving way too much thought blurted out the words, “Michael Adam’s?” which as soon as I said it made no sense. Problem was I really couldn’t think of a real good NBA player from BC which to me is completely bizarre since they had so many great collegiate players. Am I the only one mesmerized by a school with such a long history of excellent college players to have guys like Adam’s, Bagley and Reggie Jackson in the conversation for best NBA player?

Wow, that was the most I’ve ever posted about Boston College basketball!!
It's either Adams or Barros if you're talking best NBA career, and I agree it's kind of nuts especially out of the last generation of BC basketball which included 5 or 6 REALLY REALLY GOOD college players the best NBA careers they got out of it are a mediocre Reggie Jackson and a mediocre at best Jared Dudley
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
32,109
It's either Adams or Barros if you're talking best NBA career, and I agree it's kind of nuts especially out of the last generation of BC basketball which included 5 or 6 REALLY REALLY GOOD college players the best NBA careers they got out of it are a mediocre Reggie Jackson and a mediocre at best Jared Dudley
Ok glad it’s not only me. It isn’t like these guys are NBA “busts” either it’s just that BC has a knack for recruiting high IQ players without the size/length/athleticism to make impacts or even make it at the next level. Curley, Jay Murphy, Garris, Dudley, C.Smith, all those small (and one fat, lol) point guards.
 
Last edited:

Dave Stapleton

Just A Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 11, 2001
9,498
Newport, RI
NBA success has been very consistent with the program’s tourney success. Prior to recent history, lots of appearances characterized by mediocrity.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
13,032
Ok glad it’s not only me. It isn’t like these guys are NBA “busts” either it’s just that BC has a knack for recruiting high IQ players without the size/length/athleticism to make impacts or even make it at the next level. Curley, Jay Murphy, Garris, Dudley, C.Smith, all those small (and one fat, lol) point guards.
John Garris had the athleticism, problem was that he was a 6’7” 220lb center. Heckuva college player, though. I remember he and Michael Adams completely defenestrating that Wallace Bryant/Quentin Daily USF squad that was favored to make the Final Four. I’ll never forget Adams dribbling the ball through Bryant’s legs on his way to the basket for a layup.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,655
Ok glad it’s not only me. It isn’t like these guys are NBA “busts” either it’s just that BC has a knack for recruiting high IQ players without the size/length/athleticism to make impacts or even make it at the next level. Curley, Jay Murphy, Garris, Dudley, C.Smith, all those small (and one fat, lol) point guards.
Some of them were definitely busts. I remember Ted Sarandis years ago going bonkers when the Celtics drafted Troy Bell (and then it turned out they weren't even picking him for them). Bell played 6 career games in the NBA and scored 11 points.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
13,032
In fairness Bell's knees were done by the time he entered the draft. He probably would have had a decent NBA career had he declared for the draft in 2001.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
32,109
Some of them were definitely busts. I remember Ted Sarandis years ago going bonkers when the Celtics drafted Troy Bell (and then it turned out they weren't even picking him for them). Bell played 6 career games in the NBA and scored 11 points.
Sure but I don’t really consider a mid-1st round pick a bust since like 65-75% of them fail. I was referring more to “real” busts like a Top 5-6 pick.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
80,825
I had high hopes for Paul Grant of all people, who went like 20 or 21. But sadly you can't learn basketball skill purely through osmosis, and that was a loooooong dropoff backing up KG.
 

Eagle3

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2004
619
Ok glad it’s not only me. It isn’t like these guys are NBA “busts” either it’s just that BC has a knack for recruiting high IQ players without the size/length/athleticism to make impacts or even make it at the next level. Curley, Jay Murphy, Garris, Dudley, C.Smith, all those small (and one fat, lol) point guards.
I would say its a necessity rather than a knack. Guys with size/length/athleticism rarely put BC on their list. Players with a high IQ AND size/length/athleticism go to Duke. So BC is left with just the IQ guys and 1 or maybe 2 out of the 3 in the size/length/athleticism dept.

As for best NBA Player, you got it right with Michael Adams. He's the best of not much to choose from. They've only had 2 guys taken in the top 5 of the NBA draft ever. Terry Driscol #4 in 1969 and Gerry Ward #5 in 1963. Both were busts and out of the league within 5 seasons. After that the next highest was everybody's favorite fat point guard at #12, and then Jerome Robinson at #13 (outcome TBD but not looking good). Adams was a 3rd round pick in 1985, back before they cut it off at 2 rounds. But he averaged about 14.8 points, 6.5 Assists and 1.7 steals per game over 11 years. Not great but not shabby, and he had a 4 year stretch from '88-'89 to '91-'92 where he put up about 20 a game, including 26ppg and 10apg in '90-'91 and made the All Star team in '92. He was in the first wave of guys who really embraced the 3 point line, and basically made a career out it. Led the league in 3 point attempts 4 years in a row from 88-92 and 3 pointers made two of those years. He held the NBA record for consecutive games with a 3 pointer for a while, which of course has long since been passed by the deluge in recent years.

Dana Barros was a much better pure shooter, but Adams was a better scorer with way more assists and steals. I guess Reggie Jackson has to be in the conversation, just because there's not much else, but I'd still say Adams. Dudley hung around a long time and had some decent years, but as somebody said, he was mediocre at best overall. After a few years as an NBA assistant I expect Dudley to be the next BC head coach if Earl Grant doesn't cut it.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
49,111
In fairness Bell's knees were done by the time he entered the draft. He probably would have had a decent NBA career had he declared for the draft in 2001.
Sigh…

That meniscus tear ruined such a great player. I’ve literally never seen someone get so many 4 point plays. He was a master at it. Handle wasn’t great but his shooting was so good that he could have had a nice bench career if he had healthy knees.
 

edoug

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
6,007
Adams with his shot put style of shooting at 5'10" or so, it's a wonder how he could get the shot off. Especially when the league figured out he could hit it. Although he was quick and that had something to do with it.
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jun 22, 2008
37,500
Malcolm Huckaby is the only BC player in the past 30 years who had the athleticism to be more than a fringe pro, but he never shot the ball as well as a 6-4 NBA player needed to, even before the 3-point revolution. Troy Bell was obviously the best college player during that span, but I thought it was self-evident that he wasn’t a pro — still can’t believe he went in the first round.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
49,111
Malcolm Huckaby is the only BC player in the past 30 years who had the athleticism to be more than a fringe pro, but he never shot the ball as well as a 6-4 NBA player needed to, even before the 3-point revolution. Troy Bell was obviously the best college player during that span, but I thought it was self-evident that he wasn’t a pro — still can’t believe he went in the first round.
I think you’re really underrating Bell’s athleticism. Had a 40 inch vertical, which I once personally verified at the plex. His issue was that he was a PG size but didn’t really have a PG handle. Dribbled too high, which is why guys like John Linehan gave him fits. I never expected him to be picked where he did but he was rumored as a first rounder for a while. Almost left the year prior and probably should have.

Also, Reggie Jackson has had a 10 year career and NBA athleticism.
 

GB5

New Member
Aug 26, 2013
773
Are we dismissing Sean Williams? He had the athleticism to be exactly what Rob Williams is for the Celtics. Which is an elite athlete with great timing/jumping who needed to refine his other skills when arriving to the NBA. If he could have kept himself off the weed, he would have made 100 million dollars.
 

PC Drunken Friar

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 12, 2003
15,473
South Boston
I think you’re really underrating Bell’s athleticism. Had a 40 inch vertical, which I once personally verified at the plex. His issue was that he was a PG size but didn’t really have a PG handle. Dribbled too high, which is why guys like John Linehan gave him fits. I never expected him to be picked where he did but he was rumored as a first rounder for a while. Almost left the year prior and probably should have.

Also, Reggie Jackson has had a 10 year career and NBA athleticism.
Linehan gave Kobe fits.

Never forget this.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,655
Are we dismissing Sean Williams? He had the athleticism to be exactly what Rob Williams is for the Celtics. Which is an elite athlete with great timing/jumping who needed to refine his other skills when arriving to the NBA. If he could have kept himself off the weed, he would have made 100 million dollars.
Yeah I think it's fair to call him a bust. He had so much talent, got kicked off the team as only a junior and STILL got drafted in the mid 1st, had a decent rookie year, and then never did anything else while finding a way to be in and out of the NBA twice by 25 and eventually playing in such basketball powerhouse countries as the Phillipines, and Bahrain.

He would have been a top 10 pick at minimum if he just finished out his BC career without issues.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Are we dismissing Sean Williams? He had the athleticism to be exactly what Rob Williams is for the Celtics. Which is an elite athlete with great timing/jumping who needed to refine his other skills when arriving to the NBA. If he could have kept himself off the weed, he would have made 100 million dollars.
I think someone mentioned him up at the top of the thread
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
49,111
Yeah I think it's fair to call him a bust. He had so much talent, got kicked off the team as only a junior and STILL got drafted in the mid 1st, had a decent rookie year, and then never did anything else while finding a way to be in and out of the NBA twice by 25 and eventually playing in such basketball powerhouse countries as the Phillipines, and Bahrain.

He would have been a top 10 pick at minimum if he just finished out his BC career without issues.
Hard to look at Robert Williams and not see what Sean Williams could have become with a better head on his shoulders.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
32,109
I think you’re really underrating Bell’s athleticism. Had a 40 inch vertical, which I once personally verified at the plex. His issue was that he was a PG size but didn’t really have a PG handle. Dribbled too high, which is why guys like John Linehan gave him fits. I never expected him to be picked where he did but he was rumored as a first rounder for a while. Almost left the year prior and probably should have.

Also, Reggie Jackson has had a 10 year career and NBA athleticism.
That was a weird draft. There were 4 teams all with enormous needs at PG I believe all drafting consecutively in the middle of the first round. That group of PG’s normally would have been selected where Pritchard went, in the mid-20’s, if not for their gaping holes at the position. Luke Ridnour was probably the best of that group with Reece Gaines and Bell the busts…..I won’t cheat and look to see who the other one was but pretty certain he was also crappy and didn’t make it in the league.


Edit: I couldn’t help but to look and how could I forget that the other was Marcus Banks? Lol. These teams would have been better off with Steve Blake or Mo Williams, each who went in the middle of the 2nd round.
 

Bleedred

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 21, 2001
10,609
Boston, MA
Interesting discussion about best BC pro, but can you start a new thread? I love following the recruiting scene and this has turned into a nostalgia thread. :)
 

Humphrey

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2010
3,419
Meh, this will be the most action this thread gets all year.
Building a program up from the dregs without a big name coach (not that this guy isn't a good coach, he just isn't well known) doesn't attract a lot of attention.
 

Eagle3

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2004
619
Between being able to keep Gianni Thompson for this year and then signing Donald Hand, Chas Kelly, and Prince Aligbe for next year, Grant is off to a really nice start on paper. All 4 star guys, and the 2 guards (Hand and Kelly) are both 6' 5", so a potentially big starting backcourt in the future. Time will tell if the rankings translate. Jarious Hamilton was also a 4 star dont forget.

But, if they are legit and he can add another talented big, and if he can coach as well as he seems to be able to recruit then we may be back in business in a couple years.

Edit: I seem to recall posting something very similar, also with a whole lot of "ifs", when Christian landed Jarius. Not a single one of the "ifs" came to fruition. Hopefully this turns out better.
 
Last edited:

Dave Stapleton

Just A Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 11, 2001
9,498
Newport, RI
Isn't it a NCAA violation to give recruits a silver basketball?
Not if it’s stainless. I am very impressed. Two four stars with 7 months left in recruiting. This year will be a dumpster fire but he’s off to a great start recruiting.
 

edoug

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
6,007
Not if it’s stainless. I am very impressed. Two four stars with 7 months left in recruiting. This year will be a dumpster fire but he’s off to a great start recruiting.
Yeah, it's great he can get talented players. It would be even better if it translate onto the court
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,655
4 wins last year, 3 wins already this year. Yeah it was 2 cupcakes and a 3rd that might be a cupcake, but it's still 3 wins.

We'll find out a lot more this week when they play 2 pretty good teams in URI and Utah, but they certainly seem to be heading in the right direction.
 

Dave Stapleton

Just A Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 11, 2001
9,498
Newport, RI
4 wins last year, 3 wins already this year. Yeah it was 2 cupcakes and a 3rd that might be a cupcake, but it's still 3 wins.

We'll find out a lot more this week when they play 2 pretty good teams in URI and Utah, but they certainly seem to be heading in the right direction.
Scotty … agree completely. I don’t expect miracles but Grant seems to have the team really buying into the defensive side of the ball and they aren’t just throwing up 3s when the offense stagnates. They also seem to have some nice pieces with the Juco transfer and Miss St. transfer.

That combined with the 26th rated recruiting class for next year and the first time they’ve ever had two 4-Stars in the same class has me cautiously optimistic.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,655
Shooting 25% from the field, in large part due to getting blocked 13 times, and only 9 assists to 13 turnovers, not so great. Langford brothers got completely shut down by URI.
 

Dave Stapleton

Just A Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 11, 2001
9,498
Newport, RI
I went to the game last night and at least the effort was there. We all know this team has a talent deficiency which will hopefully be remedied significantly next year.

I can’t help but think last year the team loses by 30+.
 

Eagle3

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2004
619
I went to the game last night and at least the effort was there. We all know this team has a talent deficiency which will hopefully be remedied significantly next year.

I can’t help but think last year the team loses by 30+.
They played well defensively, which speaks to the effort, but other than Bickerstaff they had no answer for the athleticism of the Mitchell twins on the other end.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
80,825
Good win yesterday v. USF at home. Continuing good defense, keeping USF under 50. The crowd was amazing . . .

wondering why they’re not participating in the ACC-B1G challenge
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,655
Good win yesterday v. USF at home. Continuing good defense, keeping USF under 50. The crowd was amazing . . .

wondering why they’re not participating in the ACC-B1G challenge
There are only 14 Big 10 teams and 15 ACC teams, BC finished 15th last year
 

Eagle3

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2004
619
Good win yesterday v. USF at home. Continuing good defense, keeping USF under 50. The crowd was amazing . . .
Are you being sarcastic about the crowd? From the glimpses I saw on TV it looked empty in there.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
And you missed a good one!! Dominated ND all night.

This team is playing hard and with intensity.

First place in the ACC!
I was following the score online. It seemed easy but I didn’t actually see a thing. Is it a rights thing? Or does NESN think folks are more interested in random New England college hockey on the + (it wasn’t BC or BU or NE or Harvard or UMass or Lowell) than we are in BC vs. ND?
 

Dave Stapleton

Just A Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 11, 2001
9,498
Newport, RI
I was following the score online. It seemed easy but I didn’t actually see a thing. Is it a rights thing? Or does NESN think folks are more interested in random New England college hockey on the + (it wasn’t BC or BU or NE or Harvard or UMass or Lowell) than we are in BC vs. ND?
It was on the ACC Network which hasn’t been available on Comcast but they announced a deal this week.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
It was on the ACC Network which hasn’t been available on Comcast but they announced a deal this week.
That’s really good to hear. I don’t watch a ton of college sports, but as a former resident of Cleveland Circle, and a guy who took a few night school courses at the Heights, I do follow the Eagles and have been frustrated with the inability to watch them on that network