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Current issue lists 3 writers' opinions/poll about who the top 50 Duke MBB players are. Who is your top 10 and how many can you match with the "experts?"

Is this in the print mag or online? I gotta think about my top 10...and sorry Dick Groat..I'm sure you're worthy but I never saw you play.

CameronBornAndBred wrote:Is this in the print mag or online? I gotta think about my top 10...and sorry Dick Groat..I'm sure you're worthy but I never saw you play.

Print mag. Got it in the mail yesterday.

My Top 10 (just off the cuff)...And I DO factor in how long they stayed at Duke and what the meant to the program overall.

10. Jim Spanarkel
9. Dick Groat
8. Mike Giminski
7. Danny Ferry
6. Shane Battier
5. Art Heyman
4. Bobby Hurley
3. Grant Hill
2. Johnny Dawkins
1. Christian Laettner

Again, this could be all screwed up. It was just off the top of my head.

-EarlJam

10 ain't enough. Sorry.

They didn't get the hardware, but Marin, Mullins, Verga, Lewis, Banks...that's enough.

EarlJam wrote:My Top 10 (just off the cuff)...And I DO factor in how long they stayed at Duke and what the meant to the program overall.

10. Jim Spanarkel
9. Dick Groat
8. Mike Giminski
7. Danny Ferry
6. Shane Battier
5. Art Heyman
4. Bobby Hurley
3. Grant Hill
2. Johnny Dawkins
1. Christian Laettner

Again, this could be all screwed up. It was just off the top of my head.

-EarlJam

10. Jim Spanarkel
9. Jim Spanarkel
8. Jim Spanarkel
7. Jim Spanarkel
6. Jim Spanarkel
5. Jim Spanarkel
4. Jim Spanarkel
3. Jim Spanarkel
2. Jim Spanarkel
1. Jim Spanarkel

Keep in mind that I am married to ILJ.

Don't tell her, but Shane, Kyle, Bobby, and Christian are probably in my top 5.

Lavabe wrote:
10. Jim Spanarkel
9. Jim Spanarkel
8. Jim Spanarkel
7. Jim Spanarkel
6. Jim Spanarkel
5. Jim Spanarkel
4. Jim Spanarkel
3. Jim Spanarkel
2. Jim Spanarkel
1. Jim Spanarkel

Keep in mind that I am married to ILJ.

Don't tell her, but Shane, Kyle, Bobby, and Christian are probably in my top 5.

Don't worry, Lavabe; as long as you continue washing dishes during games, your secret is safe with us!

Here are my top 48, from Abdelnaby to Zoubek:

Alaa Abdelnaby
Mark Alarie
Tommy Amaker
Tate Armstrong
William Avery
Gene Banks
Shane Battier
Carlos Boozer
Elton Brand
Robert Brickey
Chris Carrawell
Chris Collins
Brian Davis
Johnny Dawkins
Luol Deng
Kenny Dennard
Chris Duhon
Mike Dunleavy
Danny Ferry
Mike Gminski
Dick Groat
David Henderson
Gerald Henderson
Phil Henderson
Art Heyman
Grant Hill
Thomas Hill
Bobby Hurley
Kyrie Irving
Nate James
Billy King
Christian Laettner
Trajan Langdon
Corey Maggette
Jeff Mullins
Demarcus Nelson
Cherokee Parks
JJ Redick
Jon Scheyer
Kyle Singler
Nolan Smith
Quin Snyder
Jim Spanarkel
Steve Vacendak
Jay Williams
Shelden Williams
Steve Wojciechowski
Brian Zoubek

I have two others who would make my list, but that's because they're my friends, so I'm not going to list them here.

When push comes to shove, I think I go with (complete with smilies that represent each of them):
1. Shane
2. Christian
3. Hurley
4. Jon Scheyer
5. Jimmy (I want to remain married to ILJ )

Johnny D, Ferry, GHill, Heyman, and Jason also make it up in my top 10.

Please note... Nolan and/or Kyle may move up. Nolan and Kyle deserve a LOT of credit, but they're still making their history.

From the magazine as voted on by Brill, Featherston, Jacobs, Roth and Sumner:


1. Laettner. There is no other choice. Period.
2. Heyman. I would have put G. Hill here as I never saw Ahtie play but did put Heyman in my top 5.
3. Johnny D. Tough to argue with this one. I also chose him 3rd.
4. Shane. Again, little to no argument.
5. G. Hill. I had him and Heyman switched. Grant was such a complete player.
6. Jay Williams. No quibbling from me.
7. Ferry. Tough to rank him much higher.
8. J.J. I put him at 10th on my list.
9. Groat. Never saw him play either, but I think I put him 10th.
10. (tie) Hurley and G-man. Could you put either of these out of the top 10?

Later today, 12 through 20. Yes, Spanarkel is in the group.

12. Mullins
13. Verga
14. JIMMY
15. Shelden
16. Brand
17. Tink
18. Marin
19. Alarie
20. Trajan

devildeac wrote:From the magazine as voted on by Brill, Featherston, Jacobs, Roth and Sumner:


1. Laettner. There is no other choice. Period.
2. Heyman. I would have put G. Hill here as I never saw Ahtie play but did put Heyman in my top 5.
3. Johnny D. Tough to argue with this one. I also chose him 3rd.
4. Shane. Again, little to no argument.
5. G. Hill. I had him and Heyman switched. Grant was such a complete player.
6. Jay Williams. No quibbling from me.
7. Ferry. Tough to rank him much higher.
8. J.J. I put him at 10th on my list.
9. Groat. Never saw him play either, but I think I put him 10th.
10. (tie) Hurley and G-man. Could you put either of these out of the top 10?

Later today, 12 through 20. Yes, Spanarkel is in the group.

I don't question the basketball expertise of the writers, BUT I beg to differ with their bewildering failure to remember the 2010 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS. What these students did is one of the most remarkable achievements in Duke history, and the team play far surpasses the achievements of some of the individuals on the 1-20 list. I really do respect the people on the list, but I am BAFFLED with the exclusion of the 2010 basketball champions.

Did they think that Heyward made the shot? ;)

Lavabe wrote:

devildeac wrote:From the magazine as voted on by Brill, Featherston, Jacobs, Roth and Sumner:


1. Laettner. There is no other choice. Period.
2. Heyman. I would have put G. Hill here as I never saw Ahtie play but did put Heyman in my top 5.
3. Johnny D. Tough to argue with this one. I also chose him 3rd.
4. Shane. Again, little to no argument.
5. G. Hill. I had him and Heyman switched. Grant was such a complete player.
6. Jay Williams. No quibbling from me.
7. Ferry. Tough to rank him much higher.
8. J.J. I put him at 10th on my list.
9. Groat. Never saw him play either, but I think I put him 10th.
10. (tie) Hurley and G-man. Could you put either of these out of the top 10?

Later today, 12 through 20. Yes, Spanarkel is in the group.

I don't question the basketball expertise of the writers, BUT I beg to differ with their bewildering failure to remember the 2010 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS. What these students did is one of the most remarkable achievements in Duke history, and the team play far surpasses the achievements of some of the individuals on the 1-20 list. I really do respect the people on the list, but I am BAFFLED with the exclusion of the 2010 basketball champions.

Did they think that Heyward made the shot? ;)

I suspect that when the next list is compiled, you'll see Kyle and Nolan on the list, likely with Singler in the top 10 and Nolan in the top 20. They excluded current players.

devildeac wrote:

Lavabe wrote:I don't question the basketball expertise of the writers, BUT I beg to differ with their bewildering failure to remember the 2010 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS. What these students did is one of the most remarkable achievements in Duke history, and the team play far surpasses the achievements of some of the individuals on the 1-20 list. I really do respect the people on the list, but I am BAFFLED with the exclusion of the 2010 basketball champions.

Did they think that Heyward made the shot? ;)

I suspect that when the next list is compiled, you'll see Kyle and Nolan on the list, likely with Singler in the top 10 and Nolan in the top 20. They excluded current players.

That is why I put Scheyer on my list. He is not a current player. And yes, he didn't have the national player of the year honors of some on the list, but he did everything asked of him: he was the best 6th man, he was a great shooter (maybe not as good as JJ and Trajan), a great rebounder, sacrificed his shooting to run the point, a great leader (right up there with Shane), and ultimately, led his team to a championship (something that many on the list never got to). You simply MUST have him in the top 20.

And besides... his Duke improv video is still one of the best comedic efforts by a Duke BBall player.

Lavabe wrote:

devildeac wrote:

Lavabe wrote:I don't question the basketball expertise of the writers, BUT I beg to differ with their bewildering failure to remember the 2010 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS. What these students did is one of the most remarkable achievements in Duke history, and the team play far surpasses the achievements of some of the individuals on the 1-20 list. I really do respect the people on the list, but I am BAFFLED with the exclusion of the 2010 basketball champions.

Did they think that Heyward made the shot? ;)

I suspect that when the next list is compiled, you'll see Kyle and Nolan on the list, likely with Singler in the top 10 and Nolan in the top 20. They excluded current players.

That is why I put Scheyer on my list. He is not a current player. And yes, he didn't have the national player of the year honors of some on the list, but he did everything asked of him: he was the best 6th man, he was a great shooter (maybe not as good as JJ and Trajan), a great rebounder, sacrificed his shooting to run the point, a great leader (right up there with Shane), and ultimately, led his team to a championship (something that many on the list never got to). You simply MUST have him in the top 20.

And besides... his Duke improv video is still one of the best comedic efforts by a Duke BBall player.

No way is he a top 10 player. One could argue top 20. I don't have the mag with me tonight as I forgot it when we left for DC. He is in the next 20 at #22, IIRC. I think that is a reasonable ranking, considering some of the folks above him.

EarlJam wrote:My Top 10 (just off the cuff)...And I DO factor in how long they stayed at Duke and what the meant to the program overall.

10. Jim Spanarkel
9. Dick Groat
8. Mike Giminski
7. Danny Ferry
6. Shane Battier
5. Art Heyman
4. Bobby Hurley
3. Grant Hill
2. Johnny Dawkins
1. Christian Laettner

Again, this could be all screwed up. It was just off the top of my head.

-EarlJam

If you're including what they meant to the program, don't you have to include the guy that K always attributes with being the first big name recruit to say yes which helped open the flood gates? Who could mean more to the program than him?

21. Mike Lewis
22. Jon
23. C-well
24. Amaker
25. Randy Denton
26. Duhon
27. Steve Vacendak
28. Bill Werber (you know, the guy who poured the beer )
29. Ronnie Mayer
30. Junior

31. Boozer
32. Joe Belmont
33. Tate
34. Billy King
35. Rudy D'Emilio
36. (tie) Wojo and Gerald Henderson
38. Ed Koffenberger
39. Ro'
40. Vince Taylor

bjornolf wrote:

EarlJam wrote:My Top 10 (just off the cuff)...And I DO factor in how long they stayed at Duke and what the meant to the program overall.

10. Jim Spanarkel
9. Dick Groat
8. Mike Giminski
7. Danny Ferry
6. Shane Battier
5. Art Heyman
4. Bobby Hurley
3. Grant Hill
2. Johnny Dawkins
1. Christian Laettner

Again, this could be all screwed up. It was just off the top of my head.

-EarlJam

If you're including what they meant to the program, don't you have to include the guy that K always attributes with being the first big name recruit to say yes which helped open the flood gates? Who could mean more to the program than him?

Snap. I thought that was Dawkins. No? Was it Bilas? Alarie?

-EarlJam

EarlJam wrote:

bjornolf wrote:

EarlJam wrote:My Top 10 (just off the cuff)...And I DO factor in how long they stayed at Duke and what the meant to the program overall.

10. Jim Spanarkel
9. Dick Groat
8. Mike Giminski
7. Danny Ferry
6. Shane Battier
5. Art Heyman
4. Bobby Hurley
3. Grant Hill
2. Johnny Dawkins
1. Christian Laettner

Again, this could be all screwed up. It was just off the top of my head.

-EarlJam

If you're including what they meant to the program, don't you have to include the guy that K always attributes with being the first big name recruit to say yes which helped open the flood gates? Who could mean more to the program than him?

Snap. I thought that was Dawkins. No? Was it Bilas? Alarie?

-EarlJam

I always thought it was Dawkins, too.