Reflections on Basketball Mt. Rushmore

As I reflect on the passing of Jerry West, I am reminded of my all-time favorite basketball players. West, a 12-time All-NBA selection at the guard position, was one of the most respected players and executives in the basketball world. His death made me think about others who would be on my list of all-time favorites.

The Logo

I’m an old school aficionado when it comes to basketball. I enjoyed watching players like Wilt Chamberlain, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Bill Walton, Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul Jabbar), Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Bird, and Billy Knight. My high school basketball team at West Mifflin South even defeated a highly touted Knight-led Braddock team during the 1969-70 winter season.

Victory

Two modern-day players I really enjoy watching are Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors and T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers. Curry is undoubtedly one of the greatest shooters in NBA history; McConnell understands the nuances of the game and plays basketball the right way.

The Sharpshooter

I’m both old and new school when it comes to my thoughts on favorite all-time female hoopsters. Currently, it’s Caitlyn Clark, who starred at Iowa and is now a rookie on the Indiana Fever team in the WNBA. And in the not-too-distant past, Suzie McConnell-Serio was unforgettable while competing for Seton LaSalle, Penn State, and in the Olympics and WNBA.

Rookie Sensation

UNC Basketball Offseason Workouts

At Carolina Basketball Camp this week, kids and their parents got an exclusive preview of the 2024-25 UNC basketball team, Hubert Davis’ reloaded fourth collection of Tar Heels as head coach. Fortunately for fans who spend summer days wishing it was November already, someone filmed Wednesday’s blue-white action in the Smith Center and posted all or the bulk of it on YouTube.

Court Action

Hubert Davis and his crew welcome back a pair of backcourt starters in sophomore floor general Elliot Cadeau and graduate bucket-getter RJ Davis, who is the reigning ACC Player of the Year and has a legitimate shot at catching Tyler Hansbrough atop UNC’s all-time scoring list.

ACC Player of the Year

The Tar Heels also enjoy several returning reserves, including junior guard Seth Trimble, junior forward Jalen Washington, and graduate forward Jae’Lyn Withers. Plus, the UNC staff has added five scholarship pieces between two proven transfer forwards and three top-100 rookies, highlighted by two five-star McDonald’s All-American talents in electrifying guard Ian Jackson and lockdown-defender wing Drake Powell.

Electrifying Guard

Florida Recruit Set to Become Tallest College Basketball Player Ever

Gainesville, Fla. - The swamp is getting larger in Gainesville. The Florida Gators are set to bring in Canadian big man Olivier Rioux later this year to clog up the paint, and he is going to be in the record books.

Tallest College Basketball Player

Rioux, 18, is listed as 7 feet, 9 inches tall on the Gators’ website, which would make him the tallest college basketball player ever. He does not hold the record just yet, as he has not played college ball at the moment, but when he does, he will surpass Paul Sturgess, the 7 feet, 8 inch giant who played at Florida Tech and Mountain State.

Record Holder

Rioux has since had another growth spurt, gaining four inches in the last two years, according to Ball Is Life. He stood 6 feet, 1 inch at age 8; 6 feet, 11 inches by sixth grade; and reached 7 feet during the summer before entering seventh grade.

Growth Chart

Rioux says he wears a size 20 shoe on his Instagram bio. He says his older brother is 6 feet, 9 inches; his dad is 6 feet, 8 inches; and his mom is 6 feet, 1 inch.

Family Ties

Rioux played high school ball at the IMG Academy and was a three-star prospect. He is listed on MaxPreps as the 376th-ranked player in his class and the 56th-ranked center.

High School Stats

He helped Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 U18 FIBA AmeriCup while averaging 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, including 10 points vs. Venezuela and nine rebounds vs. Puerto Rico.

International Stats

The Gators last won it all in 2007, which was the second of back-to-back titles.

Championship