WHO IS BAMA'S ALL TIME BEST PLAYER?
Impossible to decide, but some great memories in trying...
Someone asked me the other day who was the best player I had seen at Alabama. That is an interesting question. How do you compare players in different eras? Perhaps the best way to select the 'best' is not to compare eras. I felt the best way to address the problem of eras was to compare each player with others he played against. In compiling this list I considered every Alabama player to make All-American. My focus was on career and not a single season. It is possible that many Alabama fans don't know my final choices. I'm sure that a lot of fans have never seen them play. That is a shame. My final top three will say a lot about the history of Alabama basketball. There are a lot of really good players in all eras of 'Bama basketball, but the truly great players come from a different time.
To make my pick I considered several things. 1. How did he compare with other SEC players in his era? 2. What were his physical skills? 3. What about his stats? Were they significant to his era? 4. How much did he mean to his team? 5. What was his national reputation? Those were things I thought significant. There certainly may be other areas I should have considered. Here are some of the players considered:
1. Leon Douglas - (1972-76)The most significant recruit to ever sign with the University of Alabama. When 'Grandpa' picked the Tide it was the beginning of a new direction for Alabama and the next few years proved that true. The first time to I saw Douglas was his senior year in high school. A late friend of mine who coached at UCLA wanted to see him play. I picked him up in Huntsville and we traveled Colbert County to watch him play. He didn't disappoint. When Douglas was introduced as a high school senior in Memorial Coliseum he received a five-minute ovation. The future was bright for 'Bama. Douglas was four-time All SEC player. Let that soak in for a minute. He wore #13. Unlucky for whoever he played. Douglas was three time All-American, including his Freshman year.
2. Jerry Harper- was an All-American in 1955-56. Harper was one player who could play in any era and succeed. He was the best rebounder in Alabama history. The stats bear that out. If the opponent missed a shot, Harper got it. If Alabama missed a shot, Harper got it.
Harper was a consummate competitor. They called him Moose. He was 6-8 in a time frame when that was big. He holds the record for most rebounds in a single game (33), the most rebounds in a season (517) and career rebounds (1688). If you want to talk about records that may never be broken you have exhibit one. It is difficult to understand just how dominate Harper was at Alabama. If you look closely at the photo to your left you can see that Harper is above the rim. You couldn't outwork him, you couldn't get around him when he blocked you out. If the ball was in the air then Harper was going to get it most of the time. He also was a dynamic offensive player. He got a lot of offensive rebounds and put backs.
3. Reggie King - Made All-American in 1976,77, and 78. He is one of only two Alabama players who made All-America three times. King was unstoppable once he got the ball in the low post. King was only 6-6 but he was a load. He may have been the strongest player ever to lace 'em up at the Capstone. I introduced my daughter to Reggie when she was two years old. I asked her who he was, she replied, "the mule." He had a kind disposition off the floor but was the enforcer on the floor. King played in an era where basketball was a rough game played by men. There was none of that outside shooting. The game was about one thing between 1976 to 1978. Get the ball to Reginald. King is the only Alabama player to score more than 2000 points and 1000 rebounds. King had a world class Afro which he loved to show off. He played for Kansas City and Seattle in the NBA. His inside power game was evident in the NBA just like it was at Alabama. I think it is fair to say that King was on the All-Time favorite list with Tide fans. He certainly is on mine. If you talk about all time greats King has to be in the conversation.
I'm sure that each of you have your own idea of who the best really might be. I am sure that anyone mentioned is worthy of consideration. Remember that my list was weighed heavily on career and not a single season.
To name a best is very hard when you have watch Alabama basketball for over six decades. I started watching Alabama basketball in the 1950's. I still watch it in 2017. That is a considerable stretch of time. I've watched Alabama play in Tuscaloosa. I've watched them play in Japan. I hope to watch them in Canada very soon. To pick the best is impossible. Jerry Harper was my first basketball idol. He talked to me once when I was a kid. I was hooked on Alabama basketball forever after that conversation. Leon Douglas was the first big time recruit that Alabama signed. Everyone wanted Douglas. C.M. Newton convinced him to come to Alabama and create a program. He did. You cannot minimize the importance of Leon Douglas. Reginald King was the toughest player I've ever seen. Reggie could bring a knife to a gun fight and win. He owned the paint like no player who has ever played at Alabama except one player. That man was Jerry Harper. If only one player could be the best it was Harper. He was the best player I've ever seen.
For everyone that didn't have a chance to see Jerry Harper you missed a great player. If you saw Douglas and King play it was a wonder to behold. Roll Tide and thank you for the memories.
Impossible to decide, but some great memories in trying...
Someone asked me the other day who was the best player I had seen at Alabama. That is an interesting question. How do you compare players in different eras? Perhaps the best way to select the 'best' is not to compare eras. I felt the best way to address the problem of eras was to compare each player with others he played against. In compiling this list I considered every Alabama player to make All-American. My focus was on career and not a single season. It is possible that many Alabama fans don't know my final choices. I'm sure that a lot of fans have never seen them play. That is a shame. My final top three will say a lot about the history of Alabama basketball. There are a lot of really good players in all eras of 'Bama basketball, but the truly great players come from a different time.
To make my pick I considered several things. 1. How did he compare with other SEC players in his era? 2. What were his physical skills? 3. What about his stats? Were they significant to his era? 4. How much did he mean to his team? 5. What was his national reputation? Those were things I thought significant. There certainly may be other areas I should have considered. Here are some of the players considered:
Harper was a consummate competitor. They called him Moose. He was 6-8 in a time frame when that was big. He holds the record for most rebounds in a single game (33), the most rebounds in a season (517) and career rebounds (1688). If you want to talk about records that may never be broken you have exhibit one. It is difficult to understand just how dominate Harper was at Alabama. If you look closely at the photo to your left you can see that Harper is above the rim. You couldn't outwork him, you couldn't get around him when he blocked you out. If the ball was in the air then Harper was going to get it most of the time. He also was a dynamic offensive player. He got a lot of offensive rebounds and put backs.
I'm sure that each of you have your own idea of who the best really might be. I am sure that anyone mentioned is worthy of consideration. Remember that my list was weighed heavily on career and not a single season.
To name a best is very hard when you have watch Alabama basketball for over six decades. I started watching Alabama basketball in the 1950's. I still watch it in 2017. That is a considerable stretch of time. I've watched Alabama play in Tuscaloosa. I've watched them play in Japan. I hope to watch them in Canada very soon. To pick the best is impossible. Jerry Harper was my first basketball idol. He talked to me once when I was a kid. I was hooked on Alabama basketball forever after that conversation. Leon Douglas was the first big time recruit that Alabama signed. Everyone wanted Douglas. C.M. Newton convinced him to come to Alabama and create a program. He did. You cannot minimize the importance of Leon Douglas. Reginald King was the toughest player I've ever seen. Reggie could bring a knife to a gun fight and win. He owned the paint like no player who has ever played at Alabama except one player. That man was Jerry Harper. If only one player could be the best it was Harper. He was the best player I've ever seen.
For everyone that didn't have a chance to see Jerry Harper you missed a great player. If you saw Douglas and King play it was a wonder to behold. Roll Tide and thank you for the memories.
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