Best recruiting classes ever?

[rammad90]

70-71 class

Jesse Dark (1000 point club - NBA)
Bernard Supernard Harris (1000 point club -NBA)
Reggie Cain (Clutch guard)
Dave Edwards (One of top PGs ever at VCU)
Howie Robinson (Broke Lew Alcindor's (Jabbar) scoring record in HS)
Greg McDougald (Transferred to Oral Roberts where he was a star)
Cornell Jones
Gary Simpson
Charlie White

I do not remember the 70-71 class. However, I have known Reggie Cain for over 30 years, met both SuperNard, and Jesse Dark as a kid. I saw all three play in summer league games after they were a bit older. However, I have got to agree these guys were the best.

Sherod, Kottack, and Elliot (transferred to ECU) or Duncan, Lamb, Schlegal toss up as a close second.

 

[ramathon74]

rammad90
Sherod, Kottack, and Elliot (transferred to ECU) or Duncan, Lamb, Schlegal toss up as a close second.

Didn't Penny Eliot go to GWU?

 

[bighorn]

The 1970 recruiting class was unique in a variety of ways:

1. It was recruited by Benny Dees and his lone full-time assistant, Van Bracken; to the shock of many, both then resigned before ever coaching their talented collection of newcomers.

2. The wealth of talent was landed, miraculously, with VCU having the undistinquished title of NAIA independent.

3. It was the first and last time VCU ever fielded a Freshman Team (coached by Bill Chambers). The Frosh won a Thanksgiving tournament in North Carolina before all getting pulled up to Coach Noe's varsity - in time to upset Minnesota at Xmas time.

4. The nucleus of the '70 recruits went 62-25 in four years against a hodge-podge of opponents. The brief 19-game schedule in 1972, and 20-games in '73, suggests the impossible nature of scheduling.

5. And for a final added tidbit to the history lesson, Cornell Jones (a spring-loaded, undersized forward out of Maggie Walker High) later toured with the Drifters and even sang the national anthem before a few games at Franklin Street Gym.

 

[rammad90]

Big Horn,

How did we get such good players early on? I remember being a kid and all of a sudden there was a team in the FAN that was really good. How did we get guys like Super Nard and Jesse Dark? Was this due to the fact that in the 70's African American players started migrating from teams like VUU, VSU, and NSU etc. Or did these schools have better talent than us at that time and didnt need/want our guys.

Long and short were these guys good coming in or did they simply get much better?

 

[SPI-DA1]

I agree on paper size and height wise and .....looking at clips from past performance athletically....This incomming class looks to be a beast....at least on paper....we will see in four months......

 

[bighorn]

Big Horn,

How did we get such good players early on? I remember being a kid and all of a sudden there was a team in the FAN that was really good. How did we get guys like Super Nard and Jesse Dark? Was this due to the fact that in the 70's African American players started migrating from teams like VUU, VSU, and NSU etc. Or did these schools have better talent than us at that time and didnt need/want our guys.

Long and short were these guys good coming in or did they simply get much better?

I was a combination of factors, '90:

For starters, yes, those players were the eqivalent of 4-stars coming out of high school - no late-bloomers, except perhaps in the case of Cain, who went to McDougald's high school (James Monroe, NYNY) and might have been used as bait.

At the time, the more traditional white schools (UVA, VPI, UR etc.) were just beginning to open the doors to blacks. VCU viewed this as its opening - a chance to slip in before the social landscape would so quickly change.

It helped that the historically black schools you mentioned had begun what would be long slide ... the Earl Monroes, Bob Dandridges, Sam Jones, Al Attles, etc., were starting to look beyond the black schools.

Also, it must be said that VCU's academic requirements (NAIA independent) were flimsy at best in those days. It's unlikely any of the class of '70 (except Cain) qualified for NCAA Division I frosh eligibility.

But let's give Dees/Bracken credit ... in affect, they had t he nerve to ask some of the prettiest girls at the dance for a waltz, and they weren't rejected. It was the recruiting Class of '70 that set the table for decades of outstanding Rams teams to come.

 

[rammed]

I go back to Lamb, Duncan, Schlegel. Period.

I don't put too much merit on the "wow" factor (Warren) or laying the groundwork (the early '70s - impressive nonetheless - in fact, amazing), nor do I put too much value on what players did post-VCU. I put credence on the results on the floor as VCU RAMS. That said, the results are indisputable IMO.

 

[BaNgMyPrOgRaM]

That '64 Green Devil team was bad ass.

 

[rammed]

thanks for the contribution 'bang.

 

[BigE]

70-71 class

Jesse Dark (1000 point club - NBA)
Bernard Supernard Harris (1000 point club -NBA)
Reggie Cain (Clutch guard)
Dave Edwards (One of top PGs ever at VCU)
Howie Robinson (Broke Lew Alcindor's (Jabbar) scoring record in HS)
Greg McDougald (Transferred to Oral Roberts where he was a star)
Cornell Jones
Gary Simpson
Charlie White

too bad the three point sot had not been approved yet - those rainbow shots from the corner by Supernard would have been worth three. He hit so many of them over Robert Parrish that he was pulled away from the basket and was key to VCU beating him and Centenary.

 

[RamJamFan]

I go back to Lamb, Duncan, Schlegel. Period.

I have to agree. The impact of those three incoming and through their career was huge. Tremendous character as adults as well. As good of backcourts as we've had in recent years, I don't believe any were better [perhaps arguably as good, not better] than Duncan/Lamb--such complementary forces. They also played together for so long. I think folks forget what a great defensive player Lamb was--best set of hands and stealing threat I ever recall at the pg...I think he would have been an even better SG, but with Duncan that wasn't needed from Lamb as much.

 

[BLACK and BLUE]

Duncan, Lamb, and Schlegel was the greatest class ever recruited by VCU - 1985 team ranked 11th in final team rankings poll. I don't think any other VCU team has been close to a 11th team ranking before or since 1985.

 

[rammad90]

I go back to Lamb, Duncan, Schlegel. Period.

I have to agree. The impact of those three incoming and through their career was huge. Tremendous character as adults as well. As good of backcourts as we've had in recent years, I don't believe any were better [perhaps arguably as good, not better] than Duncan/Lamb--such complementary forces. They also played together for so long. I think folks forget what a great defensive player Lamb was--best set of hands and stealing threat I ever recall at the pg...I think he would have been an even better SG, but with Duncan that wasn't needed from Lamb as much.

Duncan and Lamb were great. But I prefer Gerald and Ed. Both excellent ballers and both played at the next level.

 

[mrA10]

Kendrick's class. He was a freaking McDonald's All-American!

one person do not a class make

Sure it does. A one-man class is still a class isn't it? His jersey is hanging from the rafters and he was our all-time scorer until last year.

This could be a new thread subject, but do you think Kendrick could have gone to the NBA if he played in todays program? There were limited NBA eyes on VCU at that time. Someone with his talent could attract more attention at VCU now.

 

[rammed]

Kendrick was just a phenominal athlete and a good kid. Just great that he ultimately got his degree from VCU. His game, at the time, was really five feet within the basket --- highlight film material nonetheless. But, he really had no jump shot 10 feet or beyond with consistency and was, as best, a 50% free throw shooter. His limitations at the time really hurt his NBA chances. You can't help but wonder if the VCU staff at the time, Sonny et al, didn't do a very good job of developing Kendrick.

As a Ram, having his jersey retired was awesome. Glad I was there to see it.