Sentimental Favorite BU Player

[doug shank's crossover]

Every once in a while a post evolves away from the original intent and drifts to a subject that's completely different. My recent post regarding why I like DSE changed into a "who has the best bank shot" in BU history, post. In this case, it was a pretty cool direction because it got me thinking about great bank shooters in BU history and reminded me of one of my all time favorite BU players (sentimentally speaking), Sam Simmons. Further, it got me thinking about the many, many great players who've put the red and white jersey on without great media or popular acclaim, yet have been beloved by the mass of BU fans for sentimental reasons. I'm not talking about the all time great players like Hawkins, Phegley, Walker, Melchiorre or Anderson, but rather the sentimental favorites. Guys we loved for personal reasons. Doug Shank signed my popcorn box in the old fieldhouse before a Louisville game one time, outside the locker room, fully knowing that if Coach Stowell caught him signing just prior to taking the court, he'd be in trouble. He's been my favorite (sentimental) player ever since.

Who's your favorite sentimental player of all time? Why?

[Braves4Life]

For me that's easy -- Tom Les.

I watched him start playing for BU when I was 10 y.o. Needless to say I WAS Tom Les!

I patterned my game after him at an early age -- scrappy defense, taking charges, diving on the floor (if I played on a raised floor like him I would have dove into the crowd ), I'd even pass up the wide open shot like T. Les just to get an assist to an open teammate. Sometimes, I'd try to play a whole game without taking a shot just to get assists.... like him. He was my hero when I was little because he was small with limited ability...... Just like me

[Braveman]

Harold McMath- great work ethic- was one of my mom's favorites

Hasan Houston- great athlete- best bank shot artist ever

Barney Mines- smooth as silk- great tweener

Mike Williams- big, powerful- friendliest guy

and JL and Hawk from my time there at BU- both great guys- very nice- still friends to this day...

[MacabreMob]

JJ Tauai

[SFP]

JJ Tauai

I was going to say like wise because he never ever stopped trying even when the fans were on him. An unselfish team leader that led by example.

The Hawk is the other guy because he would give anyone the time of day.

[BUFAN]

For me that's easy -- Tom Les.

I watched him start playing for BU when I was 10 y.o. Needless to say I WAS Tom Les!

I patterned my game after him at an early age -- scrappy defense, taking charges, diving on the floor (if I played on a raised floor like him I would have dove into the crowd ), I'd even pass up the wide open shot like T. Les just to get an assist to an open teammate. Sometimes, I'd try to play a whole game without taking a shot just to get assists.... like him. He was my hero when I was little because he was small with limited ability...... Just like me

Were you able to enjoy Franky Sylvester?

[brocks]

Zobes . . . THA-REEEEEE!

[Double D]

Versace era - Donald Reese, Barney Mines.

Molinari era - Dwayne Funches, Kerry Burrell.

Les era - Tony Bennett, Zach Andrews.

[lefty]

Zobes . . . THA-REEEEEE!

I agree. He wanted to play at BU so bad he didn't even try to go anywhere else. He worked hard and earned a scholarship later and ended up being an integral part of the team.

JJ was another that I really admired

I'm really surprised nobody has mentioned Deon Jackson....as he seemed like he was an all-time favorite when he was playing

[houstontxbrave]

Robert Jenkins... as a kid I used to run around the Fieldhouse and always went to the locker room before games to slap 5 to the players before they headed out to warm up.

Tony Barone either must have felt sorry for me or just wanted to make a 8 years life but he invited me into the locker room before we played New Mexico State in Versaces first season. And needless to say Robert Jenkins let me sit on his chair.

From that era... JJ Anderson, Harold McMath, Bobby Humbles and I was real small but really like Jimmy Caruthers.

I would have to say one of my all time favorites was Dwayne Funches. When he was a freshman I can remember cringing ever single time he touched the ball let alone shot it, but by the time he was a senior that man was an absolute beast in nearly every area of the game. JJ Tauai and Bayo are close seconds to Funches, but he improved the most and worked the hardest of any Brave I have watched.

[leebiddlecome]

Paul Wilson and Donald Powell. I loved those guys as I was growing up.

[PTownHawkeye]

Zobes . . . THA-REEEEEE!

Ditto. Zobrist made me appreciate the ability to shoot the three while in motion...I don't think he ever took a set shot.

[Big Mike]

Joe Allen....he just seemed "bigger than life" on that raised floor.....he accomplished things on one leg most could never attain on two!

[lake Camelot]

Harold McMath, Robert Jenkins, Bobby Ford, Dwayne Funches, Marcus Pollard, Luke Jackson.

[CubbieBear]

Going back further...Gene "Squeaky" Melchiorre....clean shaven (points) --bounced back from the BU scandel to do okay for himself