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Best Big Sky hoops player ever?

Also one of the great lines ever when discussing the Knicks fortunes that season:

REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.
 
GrizSteve said:
Also one of the great lines ever when discussing the Knicks fortunes that season:

REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.
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Would've been great if he could've succeeded in the Association. Wonder what effect that would've had on where the program is today.
 
Lightfoot was a great one too. So was Derrick Pope.

But I would still put MRR and Krysko above them.
 
Tom Damoko was a pretty talented player, and down right difficult to guard at 6-10 and possibly the best shooter in MSU history. 1/2 court in he was in range.
 
Also of note:

Willie Sojourner from Weber - 1980 or so.

The Griz has a true freshman from Indiana in Jud Heathcote's first year who I though had as much talent as anyone, including MRR. That was Reuben Bailey who played on the frosh team (when frosh couldn't play on the varsity). He left after his frosh year and haven't heard what happened to him but he was special.

For Griz players, Daren Engellant was also a very rare player.

I agree regarding Steve Hayes from Idaho State, the team which ended UCLA's famed string in the NCAA's.
 
williamspo said:
Also of note:

Willie Sojourner from Weber - 1980 or so.

The Griz has a true freshman from Indiana in Jud Heathcote's first year who I though had as much talent as anyone, including MRR. That was Reuben Bailey who played on the frosh team (when frosh couldn't play on the varsity). He left after his frosh year and haven't heard what happened to him but he was special.

For Griz players, Daren Engellant was also a very rare player.

I agree regarding Steve Hayes from Idaho State, the team which ended UCLA's famed string in the NCAA's.
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Willie Sojourner played for Weber State from 1968 - 71.

He was killed in a car crash on October 19, 2005 in Italy.
 
another good big sky player was chris childs from boise state, who went on to play pro ball.

there's also the famous story about jud heathcote, when he recruited magic johnson to michigan state. somebody in the press asked jud if he'd ever seen a player with magic's talent, and jud said, why yes, micheal ray richardson.
 
Idaho's Phil Hopson was drafted by Portland Trailblazers in 1983. He was released and played Internationally. Hopson was part of the 1981-82 Idaho team that was ranked in the top 10. That team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. One of the most exciting Griz BB games was against Idaho in January of 1982, Griz beating a once undefeated Vandal team 53 - 51 off of a Doug Selvig last second shot. I still have a picture of the student section during that game from the Missoulian ( I was in that picture of course).
 
I wouldn't put him at #1 ever, but Jack Gillespie, MSU forward/center, would make my starting 5 for all-time BSC players. I think he played around 1970-73 or so.
 
Grizbacker1 said:
Michael Ray Richardson is so far ahead of Stuckey it is ridiculous. Most NBA experts will tell you MRR may have become the best point guard in NBA History had drugs not ruined his NBA career. Kudos to him for making the best of it, kicking ass in Europe, and now doing work on behalf of the NBA.

People that are too young to have seen him play really missed out.
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It''s because of the MR years that I laugh at the attendance figures at Adams Fieldhouse now. I remember those days, when you couldn't BUY a ticket, and it was SRO (much like football now). There was some of that during Krysto's years, but really not the vibrancy that was there during MR and Jud's time together.

I too am glad that MR got his act together....just sorry it had to be in Europe....we missed one HELL of a player over here. :crybaby:
 
i had the privilage of growing up one block from where MRR lived while he was at UM. I'm not sure how long he lived there but at least one year.
he was great to us neighborhood kids.
*side note a 4 year Griz football letterman grew up even closer to him than i.*
anyway, he was shy in a way, but not standoffish.
and if he was one of those guys getting money under the table it suer wasn't appearant....the guy was flat out poor.
according to his landlord he left missoula owing rent but promised to pay. well the landlord expceted nothing but told MR "ok whenever you get it" . he didn't follow BB and didn't know MRR would be drafted. well, with his first check, MRR sent double what he owed.
 
I used to play pick up games while in high school at the Mens gym on Sundays.....Michael Ray was a fixture in that gym. Had the opportunity to have him say to my face ....many times...as I was usually playing defending guard in a zone defense...He'd say..."stuff number one" he'd take off around the free throw line for an amazing slam.....This happened time after time..Simply amazing air time...Hands down,the best talent the Big Sky has ever seen.

After turning pro, watched Michael Ray and the Knicks take on Majic Johnson, and the Lakers. The Knicks won a tight one in LA....After the game in the post game inerview, one news reporter pointed out that his game style was very very similar to Majic Johnsons, and to that ..... Michael Ray commented..."Yeah were alot alike...The only difference is about 4 inches, and Majic makes MILLIONS, and I make COOLAID".......He told it like it was...
 
I agree, Willie Sojourner, a man amoung boys, was the best. I believe he is still number two in rebounding in the Big Sky history.

He was drafted in the 2nd round of the NBA draft by Chicago, but opted for the ABA, where he went in round 0, go figure. I hated it when he showed up in Missoula, he sure did dominate the league while here. A big, powerful man.
 
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