The best all around player to ever play for UNLV was...
- Thread starter smooth as butter
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All around? Probably Stacey. JR was only here two years, like LJ, but I loved his all around game too.
Best player, LJ, Rider and Marion would be my top 3.
Best all around, got to be Ice, but all around means something different than best.
Best all around, got to be Ice, but all around means something different than best.
N
NSU67
Guest
Top 3 players, in no particular order:
1.) Stacey Augmon
2.) S. Augmon
3.) Stacey A.
In my mind the list begins and ends with Stacey Augmon. Larry was spectacular, and they needed each other to achieve the near-perfection that they produced. But as has been previously noted, LJ only played for two years as a Rebel. To me, that tips the scales in Stacey’s direction.
The same criteria would apply to several other UNLV greats. Armon Gilliam, Shawn Marion, even Greg Anthony started their college careers elsewhere. In fact, of the eight names which hang from the rafters at the Thomas & Mack, only Sidney Green, Glen Gondrezick and Stacey Augmon came to the Rebels as freshmen and played for their full four years of eligibility.
In college basketball’s current incarnation, great players do not stay for four years, but although Stacy (and Larry) could have cashed in after their junior years, with a national crown on their resume, they chose to return to their coach and their school in an attempt to make history. Despite the season ending in a result that the mere mention, 25 years later, still produces knots in my stomach, they both earn greatness points for loyalty.
But again, to my mind, although LJ was an unstoppable force in the paint, Augmon’s overall game, including what opposing coaches have characterized as the greatest lock-down defense they’ve ever seen in a college player, coupled with his tenure gives him the edge over Johnson, who is the only other player I would consider for “Best All-Around” Rebel of all-time…
1.) Stacey Augmon
2.) S. Augmon
3.) Stacey A.
In my mind the list begins and ends with Stacey Augmon. Larry was spectacular, and they needed each other to achieve the near-perfection that they produced. But as has been previously noted, LJ only played for two years as a Rebel. To me, that tips the scales in Stacey’s direction.
The same criteria would apply to several other UNLV greats. Armon Gilliam, Shawn Marion, even Greg Anthony started their college careers elsewhere. In fact, of the eight names which hang from the rafters at the Thomas & Mack, only Sidney Green, Glen Gondrezick and Stacey Augmon came to the Rebels as freshmen and played for their full four years of eligibility.
In college basketball’s current incarnation, great players do not stay for four years, but although Stacy (and Larry) could have cashed in after their junior years, with a national crown on their resume, they chose to return to their coach and their school in an attempt to make history. Despite the season ending in a result that the mere mention, 25 years later, still produces knots in my stomach, they both earn greatness points for loyalty.
But again, to my mind, although LJ was an unstoppable force in the paint, Augmon’s overall game, including what opposing coaches have characterized as the greatest lock-down defense they’ve ever seen in a college player, coupled with his tenure gives him the edge over Johnson, who is the only other player I would consider for “Best All-Around” Rebel of all-time…
This is such "off season" topic and thread. Usually this stuff is discussed in the summer. I can't believe we are talking about it with the conference tournament coming up. And I'm not saying we shouldn't be discussing stuff like this because there just isn't that much positive left to talk about for this season. If DJ was still eligible the Rebs would have a fair shot at winning the MWC tournament and we'd all be anxious for it to start but now we are already on "off season" topics. I guess we'll have to do coach speculation (who it will be for a while and then how he will do after someone is hired) for the next 7 months. Like you all, I'm just frustrated at the state of affairs, angry with the NCAA again, and unsure of the future. Still rooting for this year's team as they have really left it all on the floor all season. They've had some let downs but I am not disappointed with their overall effort.
