Cider Jim wrote:Jungle, if Chafin hadn't have gone to LBC, he would have probably ended up at an NAIA team in West Virginia; Hess, who I saw play several times against Tenn. Temple, was an NCCAA level player: that is to say, though both did well when LBC was in its basketball infancy, most likely neither player (in their prime) could have made our 2008-09 team under McKay, and probably would have never even been recruited today, since we no longer look at NAIA & NCCAA level talent.
I sort of agree with you on Chafin, although I think he had a couple of D2 offers. As far as Hess being an NCCAA level player, weeeeeell, that is the level he played on, and he was a 2 time first team all-american, averaged 26 ppg over his last 2 years (and it would have been at least 30 with the 3 point line). He also led the team to a national championship. That kind of productivity tells me he MIGHT have been able to play at a higher level.
Obviously, he would not have put up those numbers.
Hess was not big or a great athlete, but he had great basketball IQ and his skill level was off the charts. He would have been the best pure shooter on this years team, and although it would have been harder to get off his funky from-the-hip deliver against D1 defenders, I think he was clever enough that he would have gotten up his share. Defending D1 guards would probably have been his toughest challenge. He would not have started for this years team, but would have enabled BJ to get a bit more rest while taking some of Ohmersons minutes as well.
--Fumble (1961-2009), RIP
- By LU Armchair coach
- By ECC29
- By Purple Haize