Friday, December 19, 2008

My picks for the Mount All-Century Team

For those of you without the background of who I am. The facts are this, I saw my first Mount game back in the amazing season of 1981. The Mount lost to Florida Southern in the Division II national championship game on my 8th birthday. I've been a Mountaineer fan ever since. I'm remember quite a few games since then, and as far as the All-Century team goes, I've been a fan for 28 years. So a little better than a 1/4 of the century, but certainly not a full sampling. So as I make these picks, remember they are going to be slanted towards the players of the last 30 years. Those are the guys I remember. And the stories and reputations of the guys who proceded them. You may vote differently and I'll respect that, because these were difficult choices for me. With that said, I picked 10 guys I saw play, 5 I didn't. Didn't plan it that way, just worked out that way. But at the bottom I'll list another five guys, the five guys who would make my 15 if I only picked guys I've seen play.

In alphebetical order:

Sal Angelo - A lot of the guys that I pick here are guards and scorers. Angelo was a rebounder and a darn good one. He is second all-time in rebounds - and still holds the single game record with 34 caroms. Not sure that one will ever be broken. He tops in rebounds per game.



Fred Carter - He's likely the best player to ever play at the Mount. The stories I've heard about him are legendary. He is third is scoring all time and he didn't have the benefit of the three-point arc. Not only was he the first African-American player at the school, he was the first African-American student. So his contribution goes well beyond the basketball court. One of only two players to have his number retired.



Mike Cataline - The fourth all-time leading scorer in school history gets him a spot on the team.


Paul Edwards - Watching Paul and his brother Daryle play for the Mount after their careers at Calvert Hall was one of the things I'll always remember as a kid. He was just a flat out super basketball player. Without a pair of knee injuries, his career numbers which were sensational anyhow might have been better. An off-guard he leads the school in career steals, is tenth in points and seventh in assists. A tremendous all-around player who would be tough to keep out of the the starting lineup even with this group.

Jeremy Goode - He's not on the ballot but I am writing him in. I won't be around to vote for him in 100 years. And as a sophomore he led the Mount to its third NCAA tournament appearance, and he has two more seasons to get back to the Big Dance. He's approaching 1000 points and could end up in the top five of many categories before he departs after next season. More than deserving even though he's only played two seasons.

Gregory Harris - The guard led the Mount to the NCAA tournament in 1999. He was a scorer and left the Mount as the school's assist leader and holds that mark today. He also could score the basketball, he's sixth on the all-time list in points.

Riley Inge - Played only two and half years at the Mount. He teamed with his good friend Chris McGuthrie to lead the Mount to its first NCAA appearance. He was the type of point guard that made a lot of plays and few mistakes. Despite only playing 2 1/2 seasons, he's fourth in steals and third in assists and 20th in scoring. One of the best players to ever wear the blue and white.

Durelle Lewis - Speaking of top-notch point guards, Lewis was a standout. From Steel-High he was a key factor in leading the Mount to Division II's national championship game in 1981. As quick as quick could be, he once had 11 steals in a game. 14th all-time in scoring, he's one of the best true point guards to play for the Mountaineers.

Chris McGuthrie - Chris Mac may have well been one of the most exciting players to ever play the game. He played the game with a flair and a style not too often seen. He led the team to two national postseason tournaments in the NCAA tournament in 1995 and the NIT the next year. Second all-time in scoring and the school's all-time leader in three-pointers made with 300.

John O'Reilly - O'Reilly made my team on his numbers alone and the fact that he made the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team. Averaged nearly 19 points and 14 rebounds a game during his career at the Mount. Played on the 1962 national championship team.

Steve Rossignoli - Roz was part of that 1981 team that made me a Mount fan for life. His inside scoring and tough rebounding was a major factor in the team's success. He scored 1613 points in his career - averaging double digits four straight years.

Jim Rowe - Another of the group of great Mounties from that 1981 team. And I was young watching that team, but he really seemed to be the guy that made them go. The guy who held it all together. Paired in the backcourt with Lewis, he had a fine jumpshot and an ability to get to the basket. He's fifth all-time in scoring.

Mark Scallion - Every team needs a sixth man - and Scallion was it. He's the best this school ever had - and quite possibly the best anywhere ever. He scored 1000 plus points without ever starting a game. He did it with a funny looking jump shot, that was funny only leaving his hands, but sweet on the other end.

Jack Sullivan - The school's all-time leading scorer with 2672 points. Still holds 13 school records. One of only two players to have his number retired.

Mike Tate - The lefthander was one of my all-time favorites. He was a fantastic player who played on the wing and did his share of damage from the outside, but also did a good job getting to the basket. He is 11th all-time in scoring and 7th in assists.

Now the five guys, who would be part of my 15, if I stuck to only the guys I had seen play....

Kevin Booth - Booth probably deserves a spot somewhere above this, but I just couldn't put him in over some other guys. The trouble for Kevin was he was a shooting guard playing in a point guard's body - and often times playing without a point guard. But he still managed to make nearly 46 percent of his three-point attempts - and he was just about as good a shooter as I ever recall.

Darryle Edwards - an all-around player who did a little bit of everything to make his team better. Of all the guys I've listed here, he might have been my favorite. So maybe I put him upto higher standards than the rest but he just seems a notch below the guys who I voted for.

Joe Reedy - Reedy was a real good player who was a reserve for most of his first few years in Emmitsburg. But he came on strong and averaged 19 points a night in his senior season, with a sweet jumper.

Alex Watson - The most athletic player I ever saw play for the Mount. He had a lot of skills as a player as well. But I will never forget his performance against West Virginia Tech his freshman year. Playing in his third or fourth collegiate game, the 6-2 guard made a steal got ahead of the pack, bounced the ball off the floor, caught it off the glass and slammed it home. A few minutes later he got another steal and did the same thing except this time he spun around in the air and slammed it behind his head.

Michael Watson - Got the most out of his physical attributes. At 6-4 he averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds or more during his final three seasons with the Mounties. He did it by working hard and shooting well. He's still the school's leaders in field goal percentage.

There you have my picks. It wasn't easy. I hated not including some guys including George Young and Lou Grillo, but you've got to pick 15.

Now it's up to you - Go Vote.





1 comment:

  1. I just want to say, of all my Mount basketball memories... Alex Watson's dunks in that game were unbelievable to me! I will never forget him bouncing it off the floor and reverse dunking it. My uncle and I were sitting next to fans from West Virginia Tech or whoever they were playing and the look on their faces said it all! Many childhood hours were occupied in attempts to mimic Alex Watson!

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