Let's take a look at IU's best 1 & 2 year players...were would Wilkerson rate? I believe I'd have him in the top 5 of the 1 year players:
--G. McGinnis
--Eric Gordon
--K. Ware
--L. Wilkerson
--N. Vonleh
My HM would be:
--R. Langford
--Jalen H-S
--T. DeVries
--O. Ballo
I can only think of 9....have I forgotten anyone? As to the rankings, I know RL was a controversial guy. Also, some may like Jalen H-S a lot, but I thought he was up and down a lot. Note: I'm talking only production at IU, not draft status or pro careers.
2 year players of note and my rankings:
--I. Thomas
--J. Edwards
--K. Haston
--C. Zeller
--J. Jeffries
--T. Bryant
--D. Garrett
--OG Anunoby
--K. Smart
--L. Recker
Others: R. Vaden; J.Collier
Did I miss anyone of note? Haston v. Zeller v. Jeffries could go in any order, as could Bryant v. Garrett V. Anunoby
Haston played 3 years at IU...
Imo, Wilkerson wouldn't be within 100 miles of any list. He may be the only reason IU is above .500 right now, but he hasn't really made a mark. Same with Ballo. Same with Langford. Good players, sure, but they didn't do squat for IU.
My list of 1-2 year impact guys is relatively short: Isiah (#1 by a mile), McGinnis, Edwards, Smart/Garrett (title), Zeller (brought huge momentum to the program just by signing). Even though JHS didn't help move IU forward much, he deserves Honorable Mention simply for abusing Purdue. And while Eric Gordon is an all-time recruit and phenomenal college player, what did he really do for IU? Honorable Mention.
As you can see, I focused much more on what a player brought to IU than talent alone. If I were to simply focus on talent, the list would be quite different.
Romeo sucks in case you didn’t know my opinion 🙃😬
How about a list of the biggest a-holes associated with the IU program?
1a. Quinn
1b. Woody
End of list.
He was one of the better recruits (by ranking) in recent IU history, but he accomplished nothing.Romeo sucks in case you didn’t know my opinion 🙃😬
@gthomas I think you're being a little too harsh on Eric Gordon. He was the leading scorer on a team that finished 3rd in the Big Ten and was the B10 freshman of the year. Not his fault that most of the rest of the team were a bunch of knuckleheads and we fired the coach with 2 weeks left in the season. Oh, and didn't he play a good chunk of the conference season with a wrist injury? I seem to recall him wearing that brace for a long time. And he still averaged almost 21/game, also 3rd on the team in assists. He was a great player that came to IU at a very unfortunate time.
He was one of the better recruits (by ranking) in recent IU history, but he accomplished nothing.Romeo sucks in case you didn’t know my opinion 🙃😬
a player would have to be an utter fool to come to IU to win. I think you are looking at it all wrong, and it’s one of the reasons we are where we are as a program. If I had a son that could play at IU I would tell him if it’s all about money and a chance at the NBA, sure go to IU. You can get all of that and be in a great town to boot. As long as winning isn’t important.
He'd most certainly be high on my talent list, but, as I mentioned, my list focused much more on what a player meant to the program. All that said, you're right that, had EG come at a better time, things might have been a lot different from a team accomplishment perspective. In short, he was a victim of circumstance (as you noted).@gthomas I think you're being a little too harsh on Eric Gordon. He was the leading scorer on a team that finished 3rd in the Big Ten and was the B10 freshman of the year. Not his fault that most of the rest of the team were a bunch of knuckleheads and we fired the coach with 2 weeks left in the season. Oh, and didn't he play a good chunk of the conference season with a wrist injury? I seem to recall him wearing that brace for a long time. And he still averaged almost 21/game, also 3rd on the team in assists. He was a great player that came to IU at a very unfortunate time.
My list based solely on talent alone (no consideration for performance or team accomplishments)...
- Isiah
- McGinnis
- Edwards
- Gordon
- Jeffries
- Zeller
- JHS
- Ware
Some overlap, but a much different list.
@gthomas The team performance was pretty darn good, until.... Had the Sampson firing debacle not happened when it did, there's a good chance that team does some damage in March. So yeah, victim of circumstance, but also he was a key factor, along with DJ White, on a team that had a chance to do something special. So again, maybe being a little harsh on the final team results as it pertains to his inclusion on your list.
That said, I get it. That team didn't do anything of note in March. Lost their first game in the BTT (damn last second shot, stupid Gophers) and did the same in the NCAA tournament. The team had already imploded by then so not surprising the season ended the way it did. But that certainly wasn't EJ's fault.
Killingsworth. That dude could ball. Or killingsly or whatever. Transfer form auburn for Davis. Big dude
That dunk alone vs. Duke should get him on the list. Loudest I've ever heard AH (among the games I've attended).Killingsworth. That dude could ball. Or killingsly or whatever. Transfer form auburn for Davis. Big dude
Killingsworth. That dude could ball. Or killingsly or whatever. Transfer form auburn for Davis. Big dude
I had him in mind and thought I had included him....I agree he was pretty darn good and a tough competitor and team player. .....I do remember the breakaway dunk he had against Duke. I'd put him in ahead of Romeo...# 6 on my original list.
He'd most certainly be high on my talent list, but, as I mentioned, my list focused much more on what a player meant to the program. All that said, you're right that, had EG come at a better time, things might have been a lot different from a team accomplishment perspective. In short, he was a victim of circumstance (as you noted).@gthomas I think you're being a little too harsh on Eric Gordon. He was the leading scorer on a team that finished 3rd in the Big Ten and was the B10 freshman of the year. Not his fault that most of the rest of the team were a bunch of knuckleheads and we fired the coach with 2 weeks left in the season. Oh, and didn't he play a good chunk of the conference season with a wrist injury? I seem to recall him wearing that brace for a long time. And he still averaged almost 21/game, also 3rd on the team in assists. He was a great player that came to IU at a very unfortunate time.
My list based solely on talent alone (no consideration for performance or team accomplishments)...
- Isiah
- McGinnis
- Edwards
- Gordon
- Jeffries
- Zeller
- JHS
- Ware
Some overlap, but a much different list.
We've had some damn good talent that ended up having little or no positive effect past their one season---I'd put McGinnis; Gordon; Romeo; Killingsworth; JHS; Ware & Vonleh in that category........meanwhile Purdue has killed it with 4 year guys like Smith, Edey, and Kaufman-Renn. Very frustrating!!
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