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Best Player the Griz Never Had?

C

citygriz

Well-known member
This might be fun--players that we almost got, but didn't. Players that would definitely have re-written the history of Montana basketball. I'm not putting Steph Curry on this list, just guys that we know seriously considered us before picking another school:
Mike Lewis
Wayne Estes
John Stockton
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZK6j-kCmAM

of those three = I say Estes


Not on that list: I wanted to see Jeff Epperly play for the Griz.
 
Coulda had Tom Ferch, the boys' dad, who last I heard was STILL playing 3 man at a high level ... has become a legend in his time.
 
citay said:
This might be fun--players that we almost got, but didn't. Players that would definitely have re-written the history of Montana basketball. I'm not putting Steph Curry on this list, just guys that we know seriously considered us before picking another school:
Mike Lewis
Wayne Estes
John Stockton
Click to expand...

I have heard from good sources that Estes made Montana his first choice, but Frosty thought he was "too fat" to play at this level.
 
From all I've ever heard, especially from my grandfather, Montana was definitely Estes's first choice. A lady of his affections may have figured in to his desire to stay in Missoula. But the Estes class high school graduating class of 1961 was the first to be offered only a partial "work-study" scholarship, thanks to then-president Harry Newburn. Ole Harry said these jocks were gonna work for that scholarship (sweeping up hall corridors in the dorms, as one example) and at that, the money was going to fall well short of a full ride. Newburn left in 1963, after a four-year tenure at Montana, and full-rides were restored after that. I'd never heard the Frosty Cox rumor, but there can be no question the scholarship situation was a major factor.
 
citay said:
From all I've ever heard, especially from my grandfather, Montana was definitely Estes's first choice. A lady of his affections may have figured in to his desire to stay in Missoula. But the Estes class high school graduating class of 1961 was the first to be offered only a partial "work-study" scholarship, thanks to then-president Harry Newburn. Ole Harry said these jocks were gonna work for that scholarship (sweeping up hall corridors in the dorms, as one example) and at that, the money was going to fall well short of a full ride. Newburn left in 1963, after a four-year tenure at Montana, and full-rides were restored after that. I'd never heard the Frosty Cox rumor, but there can be no question the scholarship situation was a major factor.
Click to expand...

My older brother was a UM student in those days, and was friends with Ray Lucien. Apparently he heard that rumor from Ray. Not saying it was true, but it is what I heard.
 
Atlanta Griz1 said:
citay said:
From all I've ever heard, especially from my grandfather, Montana was definitely Estes's first choice. A lady of his affections may have figured in to his desire to stay in Missoula. But the Estes class high school graduating class of 1961 was the first to be offered only a partial "work-study" scholarship, thanks to then-president Harry Newburn. Ole Harry said these jocks were gonna work for that scholarship (sweeping up hall corridors in the dorms, as one example) and at that, the money was going to fall well short of a full ride. Newburn left in 1963, after a four-year tenure at Montana, and full-rides were restored after that. I'd never heard the Frosty Cox rumor, but there can be no question the scholarship situation was a major factor.
Click to expand...

My older brother was a UM student in those days, and was friends with Ray Lucien. Apparently he heard that rumor from Ray. Not saying it was true, but it is what I heard.
Click to expand...

Is your brother still in touch with Ray?
 
Wayne Estes, I may be biased because I am a USU grad. From what I heard he was going to be taken first or second in the NBA the year he died. The new basketball training facility at USU is named after him.

http://www.utahstateaggies.com/school-bio/estes-center.html
 
Not sure what the snafu was on Rodney Stuckey was not coming here.

He certainly is a Baller worthy of mention.

Anyone remember what kept him from coming here?...Grades, or lack of available schollorship?...other?
 
John Stockton in my book...I'm a little younger and had no idea he considered Montana (even though it makes perfect sense). He is my favorite athlete of all time and it would have been that much more awesome if he was a Griz!
 
Wayne Estes...... WOW, what a player. I never heard this story before. A life cut short is always a tragedy.

So how in the world would anyone stop a hook shot like that? Amazing.
 
There was a story that Elgin Baylor stopped to see Frosty and expressed interest in playing at UM. Frosty said he didn't need him. Be reminded that I don't know if the story is true.
 
citay said:
This might be fun--players that we almost got, but didn't. Players that would definitely have re-written the history of Montana basketball. I'm not putting Steph Curry on this list, just guys that we know seriously considered us before picking another school:
Mike Lewis
Wayne Estes
John Stockton
Click to expand...

I don't know why Lewis or Estes didn't come to the Griz, but I highly doubt we had any real chance to get Stockton. (Yes I see on his Wikipedia page it says it came down to Gonzaga,Idaho and Montana) but his dad and grandfather played basketball and football (and his grandfather in the NFL) at Gonzaga and John went to Gonzaga Prep and grew up,literally, across the street, from Gonzaga. He was born to go to Gonzaga, as are the "good" 4th-generation Stocktons. The Griz only get the "reject-Stocktons". and probably always will.

I remember Blaine Taylor saying he flew in a prize recruit who ended up starting on Cincinnati's Final 4 team (he never said who specifically), and it was snowing when he arrived and he had never seen snow before and it freaked him out and Blaine said "I knew we had no chance right there."
 
IdahoGrizFan said:
Wayne Estes...... WOW, what a player. I never heard this story before. A life cut short is always a tragedy.

So how in the world would anyone stop a hook shot like that? Amazing.
Click to expand...

Estes - by more than a little bit. Was the state discuss champion as well - strong & supremely focused athlete. Was only a kid when I saw him play @ tournament time. My HS Bball coach used him as an example of what great looked like all the time.
 
So:
Center: Mike Lewis
Forward Wayne Estes
Forward Larry Pretty Weasel
Forward Elgin Baylor
Guard John Stockton
Guard Steph Curry
 
Zirg said:
citay said:
This might be fun--players that we almost got, but didn't. Players that would definitely have re-written the history of Montana basketball. I'm not putting Steph Curry on this list, just guys that we know seriously considered us before picking another school:
Mike Lewis
Wayne Estes
John Stockton
Click to expand...

I don't know why Lewis or Estes didn't come to the Griz, but I highly doubt we had any real chance to get Stockton. (Yes I see on his Wikipedia page it says it came down to Gonzaga,Idaho and Montana) but his dad and grandfather played basketball and football (and his grandfather in the NFL) at Gonzaga and John went to Gonzaga Prep and grew up,literally, across the street, from Gonzaga. He was born to go to Gonzaga, as are the "good" 4th-generation Stocktons. The Griz only get the "reject-Stocktons". and probably always will.

I remember Blaine Taylor saying he flew in a prize recruit who ended up starting on Cincinnati's Final 4 team (he never said who specifically), and it was snowing when he arrived and he had never seen snow before and it freaked him out and Blaine said "I knew we had no chance right there."
Click to expand...

Sounds like Corie Blount who was from Monrovia, CA
 
ordigger said:
Zirg said:
citay said:
This might be fun--players that we almost got, but didn't. Players that would definitely have re-written the history of Montana basketball. I'm not putting Steph Curry on this list, just guys that we know seriously considered us before picking another school:
Mike Lewis
Wayne Estes
John Stockton
Click to expand...

I don't know why Lewis or Estes didn't come to the Griz, but I highly doubt we had any real chance to get Stockton. (Yes I see on his Wikipedia page it says it came down to Gonzaga,Idaho and Montana) but his dad and grandfather played basketball and football (and his grandfather in the NFL) at Gonzaga and John went to Gonzaga Prep and grew up,literally, across the street, from Gonzaga. He was born to go to Gonzaga, as are the "good" 4th-generation Stocktons. The Griz only get the "reject-Stocktons". and probably always will.

I remember Blaine Taylor saying he flew in a prize recruit who ended up starting on Cincinnati's Final 4 team (he never said who specifically), and it was snowing when he arrived and he had never seen snow before and it freaked him out and Blaine said "I knew we had no chance right there."
Click to expand...

Sounds like Corie Blount who was from Monrovia, CA
Click to expand...
Cool, nice research. That could very well be right. I knew it wasn't Van Exel
 
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