Top 5 players in LU division 1 History

[SCAR]

I have seen and know pretty much every player in Division 1 history at LU (1988-Present). I had a few years when Hankinson was here when I was considered an outsider but other than that I have been close to the program as a player, coach and now commentator. That being said I am curious to know everyone's thoughts about the best players in the program history. Not too many of us know everyone but I will give you mine right now.

5 Julius Nwoso - first and only player in team history to make an NBA roster (San Antonio and Boston in mid 90's) 1st of a long line of Nigerian players that have contributed to the program.
4 Matt Hildebrand - Lead his team to the first Big South Championship. Shot over 50% from 3 one year and lead the country in Free throw % his Soph and Senior seasons
3 Larry Jackson - 1500 points for his career and as a 4 year starter helped get his teams to 2 semi-final games and 2 championship games. Knocked down 8 threes in one game. Numbers are better than Hildebrand's but didn't win a championship so his # won't get retired.
2 Peter Aluma - Big South Championship MVP as a Freshman! 4 year Starter (Never won reg season MVP but was robbed twice). Played in 3 Big South Championships (the only player to do so in School History). Projected as a lottery pick going into his senior year. 1st in school history in blocked shots. Second all time Division 1 scorer with over 1700 points. Top 5 all-time Big South Scorer, second in games played, 4th in field goals made 1st in free throws attemeped and second made. 1st by far in blocked shots.
And the #1 player in LU Division 1 history is Tim Scar...No really Bailey Alston, my old backcourt teammate. His numbers are simply amazing. He was unstoppable. Didn't play in the Big South and only played 3 years at Liberty but his 2115 points would be second on the Big south all-time list behind Tony Dunkins 2151 but Dunkin was a 4 year starter. Alston shot 50% from the field for his career! For a guard that is unreal today (Blair shoots around 43% and Dees in the mid 40's too). He also averaged 6 rebounds a game from the guard position. Simply the Best!

Your thoughts....I know I left Blair, Chris Caldwell, Parrish Hickman and others but let me know your thoughts.

[LUconn]

Well, I haven't followed the program nearly as long, but Caldwell stands out most in my mind. Most likely because I haven't seen any of the players you were talking about play. You could tell the program was in turmoil and Mel was an idiot but he still shined through. He seemed to be somewhat of a Prima Donna though. Another one of my favorites, not nearly top 5, was Vince Okotie. He was so athletic and tall. There wasn't anything that guy couldn't do. I loved watching him play. Another mention is Carl Williams. I only got to see a couple games of his but I was impressed. He was a steal machine. I'm not sure but I believe he transfered in from UVA, so maybe he wouldn't count anyway. So that's my list of the greatest from 1999 on.

[aLUmnus]

Carl Williams also comes to mind, but you can't make the list from just one season.

Scar, your list is pretty much set, I don't see how you could change it. Larry Jackson, aaaahhh, there's a breath of fresh air. LU needs to recruit more players like him. I felt that Marcus White was pretty close in terms of talent and influence as Jackson, but I guess numbers tip the scale.

I think if we made a women's list (which someone is free to start), I think three of them would all be from the same team.

[WinthropEagleFan]

How can you leave off CJ Cowgill?

OK, maybe he wasn't top 5, but if you had a list of the top 5 ugliest-looking jump-shots in NCAA history, he'd make the list.

I didn't get exposed to LU basketball until my freshman yr. at WU in 96-97, so I believe i saw Aluma's last year...he has to be on any LU top 5 list. Don't remember the other guys, so i can't comment on them...

As for Caldwell, his last game was one of the guttiest efforts i've ever seen from one player...I can't remember how many he scored, but he had WU on the ropes in the 2001 Big South semifinal game and it took WU 2 OTs to finally finish off the Flames that year...

[aLUmnus]

I was thinking about a most infamous list, and CJ was gonna be #1. His performance at Radford was classic. And his shot was ugly, but it sure looked pretty going through the net.

[eddantes]

I was a big fan of Caldwell - really - but he played on lousy teams and was the only option, so that inflated his scoring.

Are we talking guys with at least three years on a Flames' roster? Because Gabe Martin is up there, or at least close.

[SCAR]

I am a big Chris Caldwell fan and a Gabe Martin fan but I think the list is correct in terms of contribution. In terms of raw athletic talent Gabe Martin is easily in the top 5. Had he played 3 or even 4 years you could make a case but his numbers are not better than any of the 5 guys on my list in my mind. Carl Williams was a transfer from West Virginia not UVA. He came in with Hankinson and had to redshirt 1 year and he played only 1 year here so it is hard to put him on any list. Parrish Hickman was a true superstar that played with Hildo and co. but he was not considered a team player and as talented as that group was, they didnt win it all until Parrish left. His knickname was Big Time because he started with Steve Smith at Michigan St....I remember CJ Cowgill his shot was pretty wierd looking.

[Sly Fox]

You have to be a real oldtimer like us, Scar, to remember Bailey. I remember the year he sat out after transferring from Rutgers being excruciatingly long as we waited for him to get a chance to get on the floor. He was amazingly s-m-o-o-t-h. At any moment, he can light it up in a hurry.

I was covering the Spurs when Julius was sitting on IR in SA. He seemed like a real good guy and the Spurs believed that if he could ever get healthy, he would really have contributed. Sadly, it didn't work out that way. The Admiral really spoke highly of him.

I have been far too many miles away from the program to stray from Scar's selections. But I admit I'd like to see Chris' name on the list. A little known fact about Chris is he mentored a pretty fair point guard in his own right when he was in high school ... T.J. Ford. Willowridge was unbelievably stacked back in those days.

[eddantes]

Willowridge had a couple others...

Daniel Ewing (of Duke fame) was there, and Caldwell lived with a guy named Ivan McFarlin for two years. McFarlin is the third-leading scorer on a not-too-shabby OK State team...

[SCAR]

It was hard to leave Chris off the list because he is my boy but the fact that his name has come up a half dozen times should me that he would probably make the top 10. Top 5 is really tight. There are others deserving but only 5 make it. Caldwell had a great career but it is too bad his teams didn't win. If my teams had won more games and if I had played 4 years instead of 3 I might have had a more prolific career as well. Winning is important when considering all time teams. Truthfully there are a lot of guys more physically gifted than Hildo but he was a great leader and he put up numbers. BTW Hildo (#20),Julius Nwouso and Aluma (00) are the only ones with their numbers retired. Alston is overdue for sure but Karl Hess (head ACC official) also scored over 2000 points in his career, granted it was not dvision 1 but he should still be honored....Any of you young cats want to argue Blair or Dees into the top 5?

[Sly Fox]

Scar, I am a little surprised Bailey isn't better known by more LU fans. But back then we were an Independent trying to find our way.

And you don't even know the beginning of that Willowridge team that won the national championship. Keep in mind this is a public school. That means its not an all-star team or reclassification prep school like Oak Hill. Here was the starting backcourt:

TJ Ford (National Player of Year at UT before sitting on IR for Bucks)

Daniel Ewing (Duke)

Kenny Taylor (Teammate of John Lucas III & Lawrence Roberts at Baylor before transferring to Texas)

Then you add in Okie State's Ivan McFarlin and Texas Southern's Jerome Bell and you have a starting five that all became college starters with 4 of the 5 at bigtime programs.

BTW - Chris was teammates at Willowridge with Ansu Sesay

[Blair will make his mark]

Can not argue with the top five, but once Blair is finished with his time here, his jerseys is going up in the rafters and will be one of the Top 5 players ever to play in a LU uniform. Although his numbers might not make it up to where Alton's and/or Hess's stats...hes already got the Big South Championship and maybe one or even to more to come. Just remember...the kid is sub 6 feet and puts up big numbers against big teams. When its all said and done he will be Top 5.

Dees although might be one Top 10 players ever I think will likely be overshadowed by Blair....but again...they both got 2 more years left, who knows what will happen.

This I do know...Scar is in my bottom 10 ever.

[SCAR]

Thanks Blair will Make his Mark for putting me in the bottom 10. That means that you must know me Seriously though, Blair has a chance to make his mark for sure. If he and Dees win 2, 3 or even 4 they both might make my top 5 because I know how hard it is to win 1! It would take a lot for Blair to move Aluma or Alston off the list but they may make a run at Jackson, Hildo or Juice. Again this is just my opinion and subject to interpretation. Keep the posts coming. This is great stuff. And Blair will make his mark, you need to come over and play some more PS2. You may get lucky and beat me...(Yes I know who you are too )

[PittLU]

I feel privileged to be at LU to witness most of your top 5 in women's and men's. I really cant argue most the top 5 in either, but I do have to say the Aluma's biggest fault was his attitude. He was as laid back as dude in a coma. The only way to fire him up would be to hit him over the head with a baseball bat, and even then he might just shake your hand and move on.

In my opinion, Marcus White would have to belong in the top 10. He was as good of a point guard as I have seen as far as ball skills go. He didnt have the numbers, but LU lives off juco transfers......

I got to see Blair, Dees, and Martin last year on ESPN2 for the Big South Championship, and I have to say that that team reminded me much of the 95 and 96 runners up (sans Aluma of course).

The Wilkerson twins were electric - and not bad looking either Put them with Kisseleva, and you had one heck of a team. I have to say that I actully left the game in which they won their first Big South Championship. The men had lost before them, and they were down at halftime. I can kick myself because that was the start of the amazing streak they are on!

They actually hung with Tennessee for the first 5 minutes. All I have to say about that game is that Kisseleva hung with Chamica Holdsclaw who was a first round pick that year......

[aLUmnus]

LUPITT, that women's championship game that you walked out of was one of the best games I have ever seen. I tried to get a video of it, but that's near impossible. Really, though, you missed an awesome comeback and an incredible and gutsy performance by Sharon Wilkerson. I believe that was the game where some player fell on her head and she broke her tooth, but still came back to lead the team to the win.

Ooops, sorry, mens thread.

[Formerplayer]

Wow that's a great list guys. I haven't had a chance to log on in a while my computer is acting up. The last time I had a post we were Division 1 bottom feeders, now we have won 5 in a row. Just wanted to reply to some of the posts. Torin Beeler could really jump no 48 inch vert I would say 36-38 easily. Caldwell was not a pre madona, he's actually a really good guy, he didn't play with Ansu he was a year off, he played his senior year with TJ, Daniel, and Ivan lived with him for two years. SCAR you are the man for putting that list together. Carl transferred from WVU, I think Scar answered that one. Hewas really good led the nation in steal with over 4 a game 107 in a season. i think Blair will go down in history as a top 5 player moving Larry Jackson down to 6 or 7. Sly Foxx I was talking to someone back in Houston and they told me Fort Bend Marshall was tops in the Greater Houston Area 3 in the state. Looks like former Willowridge coach, Gary Nicholas is doing a fine job. SCAR GIVE US A TOP 10 LIST PLEASE!

[Sly Fox]

Welcome back to the board, formerplayer. I could have sworn Chris and Ansu played together a year. But doing the math, you are absolutely correct. Undoubtedly, Marshall has replaced Willowridge & Hightower as the glamour program out in Fort Bend County. The only other real contenders in the Houston area 5A right now are Kingwood, Cy Falls and Westfield. Here's a link to Jim Hicks' site that gives the best area rankings:

rcssports.com/

Yeah, I agree that we need to expand the list out to a Top 10. We certainly have the maetrial to work with.

[Formerplayer]

Slyfoxx, that's a great link. When did Sharptown go from 5a to 4a? I forgot about the fairly new school, Bush. The eagles are in a tie for fourth place though i can live with that.

[Sly Fox]

The Apollos have fallen on hard times in most all sports the past few years. They have a PG named Lipkins who is signed with Northern Illinois. The top school in the Sharpstown area is Gulf Shores Academy. They are located int he old Sharpstown Mall and have the nation's top-tranked senior Gerald Green. He's basically a lock to head to the Draft although he signed with Okie State.

HISD had a banner year last year with Milby winning the 5A state title ('Zona frosh Jawann McClellan leading the way to an undefeated season) and Jones taking the 4A crown behind UT's Daniel Gibson.

Fort Bend is adding a new school almost every year. And its seems the new schools keeping getting the top athletes. And the open enrollment in FBISD helps funnel the talent to certain schools.

[SCAR]

Former Player,

welcome back to the boards. It does seem that the list I put together generated some positive thought about Liberty basketball. I am not sure who you are but I am sure I probably know you. Even more, you probably think that you may make the list! . A top 10 list is really hard for me to do. In fact I spoke with a former teammate recently about my top 5 and he agreed with my list except for the fact that Julius Nwoso only played 3 seasons and should therefore be moved ahead of Hildebrand and Jackson. I may have to agree with him on that. rather than come up with a top 10 I will list some other players that made their mark on the program. Again this is division 1A only and in random order.

Jay Boykin 94-98. Tore both his acl's but before the second one, he was a 75% 3 point shooter through 10 games and averaged 15 ppg in only 17 minutes per game. He was our second leading scorer on the team behind Aluma and would have been an all time great in my opinion if not for the injuries.

Chris Caldwell. Enough has been said about him in earlier threads to maybe even put him on a top 5 list but certainly a top 10.

Marcus White. 95-97. Maybe the best true point guard in school history. Made Boykin, Jackson and Aluma great players. Think of Woodson with quicker hands and feet but not as good of a jump shot. Better athlete than Woodson though. We routinely ran lob plays for him when I coached.

Carl Williams 1998-99 season. Only played 1 year due to transferring in as a Senior from WVU. Great defender, lead the nation in steals and prior to conference play that year he averaged 23ppg.

Parish Hickman 1992-1993. 6-8 inches of skills. Played with Steve Smith at Michigan St and made the elite 8 before getting booted from State. Put it up a lot and he and Juice (Nwoso) really never gelled.

Keith Ferguson 1992-1993. From Tennessee. 6-5, very skilled. Slowest jumpshot in the world but with the quickest 1st step made him virtually unstoppable at times. Played with Hildo, Juice, Hickman etc and was still a standout.

Darryl Williams 1993-1994. Juco Transfer that really was the most athletic player on the floor when Liberty played UNC in the big dance. He was a quiet player that was around 6-5 but would dunk on you or shoot the 3.

Beau Wallace. played with Caldwell for Hankinson. I thought Wadkins, Caldwell Wallace and Williams were a talented group of guards that was worth mentioning. Not sure of his numbers. (Too lazy to look it up right now).

Gabe Martin. 2002-2004. Runner up for player of the year in the Big South despite being the second or 3rd or even 4th option on offense at times. His athleticism and long arms together with his physical strength and shooting ability made him special. Don't ask him to dribble though .

Mike Coleman 1988-1992. Played injured my senior year or we may have had a great season. Finished in the top 10 in school history in scoring and was a tremendous post presence at 6-8. He would dunk everything. Great player. Pretty good pro career overseas too.

Jason Dixon. 1993-1994 Played on the championship team of 1994. Played 2 years of Juco and at 6-9 was one of the better post players in the conference and in school history.

Kevin Benton 1992-1994. Best player in school history you never heard of. He is compared to Tim Thomas in the Philly circles. Game was in shackles at Liberty but is a top player every year in Philly Pro/Am leagues. 6-6 and very athletic. He and Dixon were great players and great teammates.

Jody Chapman. 1991-94. Great dunker. Played for Bobby Jones of the Sixers at Charlotte Christian. Late bloomer but was key in the Big South run.

David Dees, Larry Blair, Brian Woodson. All great players.

I might put myself on a list had I been allowed to play my 4th year. I finished in the top 20 in scoring in school history despite playing only 3 years and despite playing with a guy that literally took 20 shots per game (Alston) but I won't put myself on any lists.

[Sly Fox]

Scar --- Had he not transferred, Fish was definitely destined to be on that list. Of course he and Bailey would've had a tough time getting enough touches.

[SCAR]

SlyFox,

yes Rodney (Fish) Harrison would have been one of the best but he left before he could make his mark.

[PAmedic]

taken from the Liberty Flames website tonite:

Lightbourne Named Big South Player of the Week

February 7, 2005 • Lynchburg, Va.
Liberty University men’s basketball player Leo Lightbourne has been named this week’s Big South Choice Hotels Player of the Week, honoring his efforts in helping the Flames to back-to-back wins against High Point and Birmingham-Southern last week.


it seems a shame he doesn't have another year. Only a casual observer of the program from afar these days, but he impressed me when I listened to the game the other nite. Is he a top 5, 10 or 20 all time LU D-1 player? is he a legitimate pro prospect? Europe?

[LUconn]

Let's not go crazy on him. Europe maybe.

[Sly Fox]

I agree ... I'm as thrilled as the next guy about Leo's emergence but there is no way he's on any Top-5 or Top-10 lists at LU.

[SCAR]

Leo is a great player. He actually played high school ball with a former teammate of mine by the name of Danny Pratt back in the Bahamas. Leo is not on my top 10 list if I had one but I will say that he has an excellent chance of playing post graduate hoops somewhere in this world. He has a shot at being 1st team all league though. That sure would be an accomplishment for him that is for sure. It is too bad he was hurt last season. Going into last year his teammates (some of them) thought he would be their best player last season but then he hurt his foot. He was a projected starter with Gabe Martin playing the 3 and Leo at the 4. It didn't work out that way but now he is getting his chance to shine and I for one couldn't be happier for him. What a great kid off the court too. One of my all time favorites.

[PAmedic]

yeah, thats sorta where I was going with the question. It seemed odd to me that a guy would improve to this extent in the middle of his senior year after an otherwise mediocre career. An injury earlier on explains it. Too bad, another full year of playing time and who knows?

[SCAR]

Leo actually averaged 18 and 12 in two years of Juco in Iowa which is why they brought him in. He had a great career in Juco and if not for the injury last year would have put together a great junior year. Also I must correct my sentence in the earlier post. He played FOR my teammate Danny Pratt not WITH. That would make Leo pretty old if he played with Pratt

[Sly Fox]

I was doing the math in my head, Scar, and it just didn't add up. That makes more sense.

Its too bad we can't use our Bahamian contacts to steal Jeremy Barr (6' 8" PF) out of Westchester Christian here in Houston. He's one of the top unsigned seniors in the country. But its looking like Tim Floyd may be bagging him after all.

I met him a few years ago at a Rockets game. His uncle is former Olympic bronze medalist in track who brought him from the Bahamas to Houston to develop his game. Really good kid who was slipping between the cracks until a breakout senior season for Westchester Christian. I'm sure Stephon has put a fullcourt press on him nonetheless.