Big East Mount Rushmore

[monte]

Agree with Monte. As far as just the players, Mullin, Ewing, Iverson and Pearl are certainly the 4 to go on the Mount.

Mullin and Ewing, then went on to become Gold Medal Dream teamers, and HoFers and recognized as the Face of the Big East.

The one argument that I'll make against Iverson and Walter, is that they did not stay long enough to make the kind of impact that other players did. And just from a timing standpoint, the top 3 were in the right place at the right time; when the Big East was just exploding. It's also why, in this day and age of one/two and done, we'll never see the likes of Patrick/Pearl/Chris again. 

 

[redmannorth]

Dave Gavitt, no explanation is needed. 
John Thompson, took over a horrible program and turned them into a powerhouse. In 1981 when the BE was relatively new he brought in the top recruiting class in the country, it gave the BE so much exposure. From 81-85 went to three championship games and won it all in 84. Also the most polarizing coach of his era, you loved him or hated him. I learned to have a great deal of respect for him. 
Ewing the nations highest recruit in 81 and perhaps the most sought after player around that period of time. He did not disappoint. 
Mullin and Pearl Washington, 2 very highly recruited MCAA that brought so much exposure to the fledgling BE. 

 

[JohnnyFan]

Ewing
Mullin
Calhoun
Wright

Two best players, two most successful coaches.

 

[monte]

Dave Gavitt, no explanation is needed. 
John Thompson, took over a horrible program and turned them into a powerhouse. In 1981 when the BE was relatively new he brought in the top recruiting class in the country, it gave the BE so much exposure. From 81-85 went to three championship games and won it all in 84. Also the most polarizing coach of his era, you loved him or hated him. I learned to have a great deal of respect for him. 
Ewing the nations highest recruit in 81 and perhaps the most sought after player around that period of time. He did not disappoint. 
Mullin and Pearl Washington, 2 very highly recruited MCAA that brought so much exposure to the fledgling BE. 

The recruiting battles for Ewing and Pearl were the 2 biggest and most highly publicized that I can recall. I'd give the Pearl recruitment a slight edge. Those 2 players were legends before they ever played a minute of college ball. 

 

[paultzman]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

 

[monte]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

 

[paultzman]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

I believe Ed of Boys High was in class following that group

 

[MainMan]

The more I think about it, the answer becomes easier. But not more popular

Dave Gavitt 

Jack Kaiser 

Frank Rienzo

Jake Crouthamel

Gavitt had the vision. But it was our own Jack Kaiser, Georgetown's Frank Rienzo and Syracuse's Jake Crouthamel who made the Big East happen. 
 

 

[Eric]

Nice job mike on taking the focus away from the team the last day or so.  

 

[Las Vegan]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

I believe Ed of Boys High was in class following that group

I think Bobby Cremins also recruited a big-time NYC guard to Geo. Tech that year, but can't recall the name.
 

 

[monte]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

I believe Ed of Boys High was in class following that group

I think Bobby Cremins also recruited a big-time NYC guard to Geo. Tech that year, but can't recall the name.

 

If you're thinking of Kenny Anderson of Molloy, he was a few classes later. Played with our own Rob Werdann at Molloy. 

 

[Las Vegan]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

I believe Ed of Boys High was in class following that group

I think Bobby Cremins also recruited a big-time NYC guard to Geo. Tech that year, but can't recall the name.


 

If you're thinking of Kenny Anderson of Molloy, he was a few classes later. Played with our own Rob Werdann at Molloy. 

No,  he played with Mark Price, I believe. Came out of the PSAL.
 

 

[monte]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

I believe Ed of Boys High was in class following that group

I think Bobby Cremins also recruited a big-time NYC guard to Geo. Tech that year, but can't recall the name.



 

If you're thinking of Kenny Anderson of Molloy, he was a few classes later. Played with our own Rob Werdann at Molloy. 

No,  he played with Mark Price, I believe. Came out of the PSAL.

 

Prior to Anderson, the only other New Yorker that I recognized on the GT roster was forward/center John Salley out of Canarsie High. 

 

[bamafan]

Stephon Marbury?

 

[bamafan]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

We got the best pro but probably the 3rd best collegian.

 

[monte]

Stephon Marbury?

He was later though 

 

[redmannorth]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

I believe Ed of Boys High was in class following that group

I think Bobby Cremins also recruited a big-time NYC guard to Geo. Tech that year, but can't recall the name.


 

The 4 gréât point guards paultzman is talking about were in the class of 83. You are referring to Bruce (Henry ) Dalrymple if my memory serves me correctly who was a 2 guard from NYC but went to St. Johnsburry Prep in Vermont. He was class of 83 and did go to Georgia Tech and played in a great backcourt with Mark Price. He was a very good college player. 

 

[monte]

Imagine Pearl, Jackson, Kenny Smith and Kenny Hutchison were NYC HS point guards strongly recruited in same year. Thankfully we landed one.

Hutch played on one helluva Ben Franklin team. Maybe one of the greatest before the new age of high school ball. Was Eddie Davender in that class too? 

I believe Ed of Boys High was in class following that group

I think Bobby Cremins also recruited a big-time NYC guard to Geo. Tech that year, but can't recall the name.



 

The 4 gréât point guards paultzman is talking about were in the class of 83. You are referring to Bruce (Henry ) Dalrymple if my memory serves me correctly who was a 2 guard from NYC but went to St. Johnsburry Prep in Vermont. He was class of 83 and did go to Georgia Tech and played in a great backcourt with Mark Price. He was a very good college player. 

Had no idea Dalrymple was from NYC. Good find RMN
 

 

[redken]

Great stuff. Great memories.

 

[beast of the east]

There may very well have been 4 elite point guards in that hs class coming out of the nyc area, but my recollection was that Smith,  Washington, and Jackson were separated as the top three.   In my memory Smith and Washington were uber elite and were pursued by the very best programs and had their choice of schools.  We were not a serious contender for those two at any point.   There was quite a bit of distance between Smith and Washington (Washington was viewed as more of a dynamo than Smith) and Jackson.   Still, getting Jackson was considered a big win, though his inaugural season was not heralded the way Washington's was with Syracuse.  Al McGuire in particular was taken by Washington.

I worked uptown at the time and made good friends with co-workers from the neighborhood who referred to Washington by his schoolyard nick name of "Pac Man" for his seeming ability to change direction at lightning speed to avoid defenders.  Actually was a more unique and descriptive name than Pearl, which was more of a coronation to assign the title associated with the unstoppable Monroe.  Washington was indeed unstoppable as a collegian. So much so that he never had to learn the fundamentals of a true jump shot. Instead  he got by with a funky push that was more of a set shot than anything.

A much more derisive schoolyard nickname for Washington was Olivehead, because he was solidly built with a big butt that made his head look small like an olive.   It wasn't a hateful name, just something that stuck in the schoolyard.

Both Smith and Washington had nationally recognized college careers and I remember feeling sorry for Jackson the way Washington tore up the slower footed Mark.

Of course, in the end Jackson outshone both smith and Washington in the NBA by a ton.