Greatest Big Sky Basketball Player

[n.ogdencat]

http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2008/7/31/25ANNIVERSARYMBB.aspx?path=mbball" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting topic on EGizz about who their best ever was (Michael Ray Richardson without a doubt...Kryslo was great, but nothing like Sugar Ray) and it got me thinking.

Who is the Greatest the Big Sky has ever seen? Of course I'm biased...Willie Sojourner...is my pick. The Show was pretty damn good, but only played 2 years, same as the Thrill. Orlando Lightfoot at Idaho was a stud and you can't forget about the Eagle (Stuckey). What do you all think?

The link is the Silver Anniversary Team. PRE 90s.

 

[oldrunner]

Micheal Ray was a great player, but Bruce Collins was a better college player and routinely got the better of him. Willie Sojourner and Bob Davis were better than both of those players. The kid from Eastern wasn't and isn't close to any of those guys. Willie had it all, scoring, rebounding, playing D. Some people thought he was lazy because he was the last one down the floor on offense. However, that was his assignment, in case there were to be a quick turnover, he would be back to block shots. Although, almost never on a fast break, he averaged ove 20 PPG and had many games with over 20 rebounds. I think he still holds the single game rebounding record of 25. :notworthy:

 

[hawkssb04]

One WSU gut to throw into the mix is Rico Washington. He didn't play at Weber for more than two years, but from what I hear, he was by far the best talent the Wildcats have ever had.

 

[SWeberCat02]

One WSU gut to throw into the mix is Rico Washington. He didn't play at Weber for more than two years, but from what I hear, he was by far the best talent the Wildcats have ever had.

As a kid I remember watching Rico play. He was good, but looked really good because he played in the dark years of Weber hoops (the Farmer/Huston years) and everyone around him wasn't very good.

 

[SWeberCat02]

If you just look at scoring, it would have to be Humes of ISU, or Lightfoot. Humes averaged 31.5 a game over two years and scored over 50 three times and over 40 seven times. Lightfoot is the all time career leader, and only played 3 years.

 

[SWeberCat02]

Ron Boone, if you just look at who had the best pro career.

 

[weberwildcat]

One WSU gut to throw into the mix is Rico Washington. He didn't play at Weber for more than two years, but from what I hear, he was by far the best talent the Wildcats have ever had.

As a kid I remember watching Rico play. He was good, but looked really good because he played in the dark years of Weber hoops (the Farmer/Huston years) and everyone around him wasn't very good.

he was really good but no where near a convo about the best in big sky history. he averaged 21 & 10.6 his senior year. pretty amazing numbers. 2 tim big sky 1st teamer, 1,000+ points, 11th alltime in wsu scoring.

 

[weberwildcat]

best player in big sky history...i am not sure, maybe it is up for debate.
but best in wsu history is not a debate, it is willie sojourner.

Career Points
1. Bruce Collins 2,019 (4 yrs)
2. Jimmy DeGraffenried 1,624 (4 yrs)
3. Jermaine Boyette 1,613 (3 yrs)
4. Willie Sojourner 1,563 (3 yrs)

Rebounds Career
1. Willie Sojourner 1143 1971 (#2 Big Sky history)
2. Jimmy Watts 949 1976
3. Bruce Collins 879 1980
4. Richard Smith 762 1980
5. Al DeWitt 722 1976

Career Rebounding Average
1. Willie Sojourner 14.1 68-71 (#1 Big Sky history)
2. Gene Visscher 12.8 64-66
3. Dan Sparks 12.6 66-68
4. Rico Washington 10.6 87-89
5. Kirk Smith 9.6 93-95

Single Season Rebounds
1. Willie Sojourner 411 1970 (#2 Big Sky history)
2. Willie Sojourner 392 1969
3. Dan Sparks 370 1968
4. Gene Visscher 358 1965
5. Lance Allred 348 2005

Single Season Rebounding Average
1. Willie Sojourner 15.8 1969-70
2. Gene Visscher 14.3 1965-66
3. Dan Sparks 13.7 1967-68
4. Willie Sojourner 13.6 1970-71
5. Willie Sojourner 13.1 1968-69

Single Game Points
1. Stan Mayhew 45 1977 (against USU)
2. Harold Arceneax 40 2000
3. Willie Sojourner 39 1971
4. Bruce Collins 39 1980

Single Game Rebounds
1. Willie Sojourner 25 1971
2. Bruce Collins 24 1976
3. Willie Sojourner 24 1970
4. Willie Sojourner 24 1969
5. Willie Sojourner 24 1968

3 Time Big Sky Conference 1st Team
Jermaine Boyette '01, '02, '03
Bruce Collins '78, '79, '80
Jimmy Watts '74, '75, '76
Willie Sojourner '68, '69, '70

4 Time Big Sky Conference 1st Team
a total of 0 between the entire conf. one wsu player that will be a junior this year
has the chance to be the big sky's only ever 4 timer. :nod:

not only is willie a legend and best wsu player he is also a wsu bball pioneer, guys like him are the reason we now get to watch games in the Ogden Cathedral. they should have named it the Motta-Sojourner Center. willie was drafted to nba in 1971.

wsu with sojourner
-3 big sky titles (2 of those titles 2 place was 4 GAMES BACK!)
-3 ncaa tourney appearances, 3 ncaa touney wins.
-twice weber FINISHED the season ranked
-most wins by a wsu team, 27-3 in 1969. i think the big sky record is 28 wins.
-part of only big sky undefeated team, 1969, that record stood til 2003 when wsu did it again.
-wsu only lost 5 big sky games in his 3 yrs
-first ever wsu instate basketball game was willie's senior year, it was in logan. weber won 63-62.
- willie's worst season was when wsu lost just 7 games overall in 1970.
-wsu had 3 home losses in his 3 yrs. 0 home losses in 2 of those yrs.
-big sky's Longest Winning streak: 18 straight games and 24 straight conference games
-big sky's Longest Road winning streak for road wins and conference road wins: 13 conference games, 1968-70 and 8 total road wins 1969



imagine if freshman would have been allowed to play back then!! think about the above stats with one more year played. career rebounds and points alone...

no one should be allowed to wear the #35 at wsu out of respect.
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

 

[talhadfoursteals]

One WSU gut to throw into the mix is Rico Washington. He didn't play at Weber for more than two years, but from what I hear, he was by far the best talent the Wildcats have ever had.

WHAT!!! rotesst:

Rico was a good player, and without him, the Dark Ages of Weber State basketball would have been far more dark, but he isn't anywhere close to being on the same level as some of the other Weber State greats. Willie Sojourner is our greatest...hands down.

Hawks, I'm glad that you did give Rico some love though. Rico, because of the teams he was a part of, usually is forgotten or overlooked, but he was a hell of a good player.

 

[n.ogdencat]

best player in big sky history...i am not sure, maybe it is up for debate.
but best in wsu history is not a debate, it is willie sojourner.

Career Points
1. Bruce Collins 2,019 (4 yrs)
2. Jimmy DeGraffenried 1,624 (4 yrs)
3. Jermaine Boyette 1,613 (3 yrs)
4. Willie Sojourner 1,563 (3 yrs)

Rebounds Career
1. Willie Sojourner 1143 1971 (#2 Big Sky history)
2. Jimmy Watts 949 1976
3. Bruce Collins 879 1980
4. Richard Smith 762 1980
5. Al DeWitt 722 1976

Career Rebounding Average
1. Willie Sojourner 14.1 68-71 (#1 Big Sky history)
2. Gene Visscher 12.8 64-66
3. Dan Sparks 12.6 66-68
4. Rico Washington 10.6 87-89
5. Kirk Smith 9.6 93-95

Single Season Rebounds
1. Willie Sojourner 411 1970 (#2 Big Sky history)
2. Willie Sojourner 392 1969
3. Dan Sparks 370 1968
4. Gene Visscher 358 1965
5. Lance Allred 348 2005

Single Season Rebounding Average
1. Willie Sojourner 15.8 1969-70
2. Gene Visscher 14.3 1965-66
3. Dan Sparks 13.7 1967-68
4. Willie Sojourner 13.6 1970-71
5. Willie Sojourner 13.1 1968-69

Single Game Points
1. Stan Mayhew 45 1977 (against USU)
2. Harold Arceneax 40 2000
3. Willie Sojourner 39 1971
4. Bruce Collins 39 1980

Single Game Rebounds
1. Willie Sojourner 25 1971
2. Bruce Collins 24 1976
3. Willie Sojourner 24 1970
4. Willie Sojourner 24 1969
5. Willie Sojourner 24 1968

3 Time Big Sky Conference 1st Team
Jermaine Boyette '01, '02, '03
Bruce Collins '78, '79, '80
Jimmy Watts '74, '75, '76
Willie Sojourner '68, '69, '70

4 Time Big Sky Conference 1st Team
a total of 0 between the entire conf. one wsu player that will be a junior this year
has the chance to be the big sky's only ever 4 timer. :nod:

not only is willie a legend and best wsu player he is also a wsu bball pioneer, guys like him are the reason we now get to watch games in the Ogden Cathedral. they should have named it the Motta-Sojourner Center. willie was drafted to nba in 1971.

wsu with sojourner
-3 big sky titles (2 of those titles 2 place was 4 GAMES BACK!)
-3 ncaa tourney appearances, 3 ncaa touney wins.
-twice weber FINISHED the season ranked
-most wins by a wsu team, 27-3 in 1969. i think the big sky record is 28 wins.
-part of only big sky undefeated team, 1969, that record stood til 2003 when wsu did it again.
-wsu only lost 5 big sky games in his 3 yrs
-first ever wsu instate basketball game was willie's senior year, it was in logan. weber won 63-62.
- willie's worst season was when wsu lost just 7 games overall in 1970.
-wsu had 3 home losses in his 3 yrs. 0 home losses in 2 of those yrs.
-big sky's Longest Winning streak: 18 straight games and 24 straight conference games
-big sky's Longest Road winning streak for road wins and conference road wins: 13 conference games, 1968-70 and 8 total road wins 1969



imagine if freshman would have been allowed to play back then!! think about the above stats with one more year played. career rebounds and points alone...

no one should be allowed to wear the #35 at wsu out of respect.
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

:+1: I think it is time that Weber honor our greatest player and retire his jersey.

 

[bigskychamps07]

What does everyone think about the greatest player of the last decade? My ranking goes as follows:

1. Jermaine Boyette
2. Damian Lillard (could very easily surpass Boyette over the next 2 years)
3. The General

 

[oldrunner]

Lillard will surpass Boyette this year if he stays healthy. Jermain didn't have much around him and it made him look that much better. At barely 6' tall, he was our best post player, often our best rebounder, our best scorer, our best ball handler, etc., etc. He had the nic name, superman, and it fit the situation quite well. He made Cravens look good. :wtf:

 

[n.ogdencat]

Lillard will surpass Boyette this year if he stays healthy. Jermain didn't have much around him and it made him look that much better. At barely 6' tall, he was our best post player, often our best rebounder, our best scorer, our best ball handler, etc., etc. He had the nic name, superman, and it fit the situation quite well. He made Cravens look good. :wtf:

Oldrunner, I rarely disagree with you, but on this one I've got to. Granted, I was a senior at Weber in 03 and had a couple of friends on that team (my quick disclaimer). But as Supaman would say, "This was a team of history."

If Rahe, Coach A, Phil, Visscher, McCarthy or Motta would have been coaching that team they would have won three straight Big Sky Championships (01-02; 02-03; 03-04). Yes, Supaman could do it all, but don't kid yourself, that team was very talented and deep. There were some very good players on that team. Johnny "sloth" Hamilton (Top 10 in points and most 3's in school history 241), Slobodan (2 time 1st Team All Big Sky and 02-03 & Newcomer of the Year; 03-04), Brad Barton (an amazing defensive player; he preserved wins over USU and Eastern with last second shots), Nic Sparrow (02-03 1st teamer), Stephan Bachman (Freshman of the year 99-10), Chocolate Thunder (Pat Danely), Stevie Morrison, The Microwave, and Talmadege "Crystal Crest" Eyre. I'm sorry that team was awesome.

 

[weberwildcat]

What does everyone think about the greatest player of the last decade? My ranking goes as follows:

1. Jermaine Boyette
2. Damian Lillard (could very easily surpass Boyette over the next 2 years)
3. The General

i agree.
dame has plenty of time left and will surpass every wsu player in history maybe even willie there is plenty of time to find out. for now it is willie, last decade is jermaine. i cant believe it has been over a decade since harold...

oldrunner and talhad both has some valid points but would our 16-0 have won the big sky without jermaine? not a chance. ewu was right behind us. no way we could have beat snow and co 3 times. jermaine scored 50% of our points alone in the championship game on espn and he almost did the same in the ncaa tourney. we did have depth with 7 seniors. imagine us having 7 seniors in 2013. i'd be calling 30-0 ha ha.

as deadly as jermaine was as the 2003 big sky mvp he didnt have a very good 3 pt shot, imagine if he could have shot 3's like dame but really he embarrassed just about everyone he played. there hasn't been a player at wsu since jeramaine that could get to the free-throw line like he did. he honestly did not need the 3 pt threat.

jermaine understood big sky basketball more so than any other player. with big sky refs all you got to do is drive the ball in every time and 7 times out of 10 they will call a foul and get you to the line. the other 2 times its a charge. and the 1 time out of 10 there is no foul.

jeramaine is another wsu player where u wonder what if he had played his fresh yr for weber state. what would his stats then be. his soph year was VERY good. I think he scored almost 40 against byu that yr (2001).

 

[weberwildcat]

for those that weren't around for the jermaine years:

Career Points
1. Bruce Collins 2,019 (4 yrs)
2. Jimmy DeGraffenried 1,624 (4 yrs)
3. Jermaine Boyette 1,613 (3 yrs)

Single Season Points
1. Harold Arceneaux 713 1998-99
2. Jermaine Boyette 657 2002-03
3. Stan Rose 650 1992-93

Career Average Points per Game - (at least 2 yrs)
1. Harold Arceneaux 22.6 1998-00
2. Rico Washington 21 1987-89
3. Bob Davis 19.7 1970-72
4. Gene Visscher 19.7 1964-66
5. Jermaine Boyette 19 2000-03

Career Steals
1. Damien Baskerville 172 1995-99
2. Jermaine Boyette 171 2000-03
3. Robbie Johnson 156 1990-94

Career Steals Average
1. Eddie Gill 2.92 1998-2000
2. Jermaine Boyette 2.15 2001-03
3. Ruben Nembhard 2.02 1993-95


Free Throws Made
1. Jermaine Boyette 486 2000-2003

3 Time Big Sky Conference 1st Team
Jermaine Boyette '01, '02, '03
Bruce Collins '78, '79, '80
Jimmy Watts '74, '75, '76
Willie Sojourner '68, '69, '70

Big Sky MVP *Award started in 1979
2010 Damian Lillard
2009 Kellen McCoy
2007 David Patten
2003 Jermaine Boyette
2000 Harold Arceneaux
1999 Harold Arceneaux
1996 Jimmy DeGraffenried
1995 Ruben Nembhard


1 big sky title, 1 ncaa tourney appearnance
1-2 vs byu
1-2 vs utah (our last win in slc)
1-2 vs usu

 

[n.ogdencat]

Supaman was amazing!! I'm not saying he wasn't. Those were some fun years. I'll never forget watching him on TV as a Sophmore when Weber broke Utah's 54 game home winning streak.

 

[oldrunner]

Tal; You're right. I had forgotten how much talent Joe was able to assemble. Joe was great at finding the talent. Hejust couldn't put it all together as a head coach. That team was loaded. If Ron had that team, Jermain and Slobodon would have been much bigger stars than they were. Ron was very good at designing an offense around stars and he was quite successful doing it. If Randy had that team, Jermain may not have scored as much, but we would have been a much better team and won even more games.

 

[montgomeryruss]

I think Stan Mayhew was one of the most talented forwards to play for Weber. he only played one year, 1976 or 77. i think he was drafted by indiana or Chicago. if he played his whole career at Weber he would have been one of the greatest, for sure.

 

[weberwildcat]

I think Stan Mayhew was one of the most talented forwards to play for Weber. he only played one year, 1976 or 77. i think he was drafted by indiana or Chicago. if he played his whole career at Weber he would have been one of the greatest, for sure.

mayhew indeed another wsu great...

was he really only at wsu for one season? wow...

Single Game Points
1. Stan Mayhew 45 1977 (against USU)
2. Harold Arceneax 40 2000
3. Willie Sojourner 39 1971
4. Bruce Collins 39 1980

-1977 wsu beat byu, utah and usu (twice) - stats arent completely accurate though as i couldnt see which were 1976-77 or 1977-78. id have to look in the media guide later.
-we went 20-8, 2nd place in big sky 2 games out from isu.

 

[n.ogdencat]

I think Stan Mayhew was one of the most talented forwards to play for Weber. he only played one year, 1976 or 77. i think he was drafted by indiana or Chicago. if he played his whole career at Weber he would have been one of the greatest, for sure.

Mayhew was a great player for sure!! Only Ron Boone kept him from the 76-77 Championship.