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Post by jellybean on May 10, 2020 8:35:33 GMT -5
In looking at the current members, two glaring names are missing and should be added. They are Billy Taylor and Joe Bryant.
Billy Taylor was a smooth 6-5 scorer from Tuskegee, AL via Prep School in Central PA. Played three seasons from 72-73 to 74-75. He played 82 games and finished with 1554 (19.0) points, 513 rebounds (6.3) and 180 assists (2.2) for his career. When his career ended, he was #4 All-Time in Scoring behind Gola (2461), Durrett (1679) and Hubie Marshall (1576). He was voted into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 1982. He was two time All- Big Five.
Joe Bryant played just two seasons for the Explorers. I am not sure that FR were eligible to play when he entered La Salle. He did not play his SR season and entered the 1975 NBA Draft as a Hardship Player ( that's what they called it). Joe had a very legitimate reason I was told that Joe had a family member with serious health issues. I can tell you that JB's decision to leave was not well received by some in the La Salle Basketball Community.
The team (which included Billy Taylor) went 22-7 in the 74-75 season playing some truly memorable games. Winning the Sugar Bowl Tournament Championship where they beat a very good Furman team 69-64 and a great #7 Alabama team with T.R. Dunn and Leon Douglass for the championship 77-73. After that tournament, La Salle was ranked #14 (ultimately rising to #7 which was and still is the highest ranking since #2 68-69 team). Along the way they beat a very good Penn team 67-65 on a buzzer beating baseline jumper by JB over John Engles. The Palestra exploded with deafening noise. No lie, my ears were ringing for a couple of days following that game.
The team made the NCAA Tournament that season and had a rematch with a very powerful Syracuse team that went to the Final Four. La Salle lost earlier in the season at Syracuse 82-78. Yes oranges were thrown at the team in old Manley Field House. La Salle lost 87-83 in OT in the NCAA game at the Palestra.
Bryant played 55 games and scored 1118 (20.3) points with 612 rebounds (11.1). His team's record was 40-17. When his career ended, he was #14 in scoring. For career averages, he finished #4 All-time (today is #9) in scoring and #6 All-time (today is #7) for rebounding. He was a two time All- Big Five player and voted into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 1981.
Would love to see these two great players receive their long overdue induction.
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Post by calsufan on May 10, 2020 8:53:08 GMT -5
Billy Taylor should be a definite yes. Honestly, I assumed he would have been in long ago based on the stats you reeled off. That's a real head scratcher.
As far as JB goes, that's a tougher call because he only played 2 seasons. Yes, his stats were great and he was a very good player, but is it typical to put a player into a team's HOF with only 2 seasons to show? I'll also speak about the elephant in the room. Over the years, did the way the whole Kobe situation went down have anything to do with people in the athletic department keeping him out?
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Post by explorer88 on May 10, 2020 9:22:55 GMT -5
Billy Taylor should be a definite yes. Honestly, I assumed he would have been in long ago based on the stats you reeled off. That's a real head scratcher. As far as JB goes, that's a tougher call because he only played 2 seasons. Yes, his stats were great and he was a very good player, but is it typical to put a player into a team's HOF with only 2 seasons to show? I'll also speak about the elephant in the room. Over the years, did the way the whole Kobe situation went down have anything to do with people in the athletic department keeping him out? Interesting thought about the Kobe situation. Joe, was not a good La Salle employee. I remember reading an article which mentioned he was collecting a paycheck from La Salle and wasn’t working at all for the program but helping Kobe manage the transition to pro player. You can make the argument Speedy should be managing his employee but Speedy was rightfully blinded by seeing Kobe in a La Salle uniform as the head coach. Based on stats both should probably be in and see no reason Taylor is not in but you have to wonder if the Kobe situation and only playing 2 years is keeping JB out.
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Post by jellybean on May 10, 2020 9:30:20 GMT -5
Thank you calsufan and my response that follows in not an argument. Let me add since I knew the "Kobe" thing would come up.
First, Joe became an assistant I believe in the 1993-94 season when Kobe would be a SOPH in HS. It was EIGHTEEN years after his last season. It was TWELVE years after he was inducted into the Big Five HOF. JB's teammate Charlie Wise (who IMO was a great player but the 3rd best player on those teams with BT and JB) was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1989. Why was JB not inducted anytime prior to 1993?
Second, as for only playing two seasons, again I am not sure FR were eligible at that time or maybe JB was a Prop 48? I don't recall the reason. He gave up his SR year to go pro (one of the first groups to be able to do that I believe). Again, I was told it was to provide for a sick grandparent. So I personally don't think that two years should matter. Is he being penalized for providing for his family and not playing for La Salle? I would hate to think so.
Thanks for your response.
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Post by victoriouslasalle on May 10, 2020 9:36:05 GMT -5
In looking at the current members, two glaring names are missing and should be added. They are Billy Taylor and Joe Bryant. Billy Taylor was a smooth 6-5 scorer from Tuskegee, AL via Prep School in Central PA. Played three seasons from 72-73 to 74-75. He played 82 games and finished with 1554 (19.0) points, 513 rebounds (6.3) and 180 assists (2.2) for his career. When his career ended, he was #4 All-Time in Scoring behind Gola (2461), Durrett (1679) and Hubie Marshall (1576). He was voted into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 1982. He was two time All- Big Five. Joe Bryant played just two seasons for the Explorers. I am not sure that FR were eligible to play when he entered La Salle. He did not play his SR season and entered the 1975 NBA Draft as a Hardship Player ( that's what they called it). Joe had a very legitimate reason I was told that Joe had a family member with serious health issues. I can tell you that JB's decision to leave was not well received by some in the La Salle Basketball Community. The team (which included Billy Taylor) went 22-7 in the 74-75 season playing some truly memorable games. Winning the Sugar Bowl Tournament Championship where they beat a very good Furman team 69-64 and a great #7 Alabama team with T.R. Dunn and Leon Douglass for the championship 77-73. After that tournament, La Salle was ranked #14 (ultimately rising to #7 which was and still is the highest ranking since #2 68-69 team). Along the way they beat a very good Penn team 67-65 on a buzzer beating baseline jumper by JB over John Engles. The Palestra exploded with deafening noise. No lie, my ears were ringing for a couple of days following that game. The team made the NCAA Tournament that season and had a rematch with a very powerful Syracuse team that went to the Final Four. La Salle lost earlier in the season at Syracuse 82-78. Yes oranges were thrown at the team in old Manley Field House. La Salle lost 87-83 in OT in the NCAA game at the Palestra. Bryant played 55 games and scored 1118 (20.3) points with 612 rebounds (11.1). His team's record was 40-17. When his career ended, he was #14 in scoring. For career averages, he finished #4 All-time (today is #9) in scoring and #6 All-time (today is #7) for rebounding. He was a two time All- Big Five player and voted into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 1981. Would love to see these two great players receive their long overdue induction. Really neat stuff here! Thumbs way up for Billy Taylor. I remember listening to the radio and the 11:00 PM TV sports broadcasts waiting and waiting to get that Alabama score. I knew the game was over. I was regularly getting scores on the radio but no final. Finally, I phoned one of the stations, spoke to Hugh Gannon, I think, who told me he couldn't give it to me but it would be announced shortly. Speaking of puzzling. As to JB, big disappointment for me when he left. He and Don Wilbur playing together his senior year would have been special. The stats you note would suggest he well deserves the spot in my view. He was talented, delivered during his time, undoubtedly a star college player. How the world changes. Leaving for the NBA early was not heard of in those days. (A gut punch for this fan per JB.) Now it is routine.
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Post by calsufan on May 10, 2020 11:47:25 GMT -5
Jellybean, as I said, it may go back to only playing 2 years. I don't think it's wrong at all to want to provide for your family and I applaud him for that. I just don't know if most schools would say that a player would have to play the majority of their time (say 3 years?) at a school to be considered for the HOF. 2 years is a short time even though he was a great player and his stats reflect that.
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Post by calsufan on May 10, 2020 11:52:16 GMT -5
Victorious, I didn't realize that JB would have been a senior my freshman year at La Salle. I would have loved to have seen him play. I remember Don Wilbur playing. He was as skinny as a rail, but a good player. I just looked it up and Wilbur got drafted in the 5th round by the Trailblazers. It's crazy to think that they had at least 5 rounds for pro ball back in the day.
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Post by diehardexplorer on May 10, 2020 14:00:56 GMT -5
both guys should be in the hall of athletes. only reason i could think of that might keep them out would be if they didn't graduate, although i assume jb did if he was an assistant coach here. billy was smooth. that was a nice team. like jellybean said, they had the misfortune of having to play final four team syracuse in the first round of the tournament. some great pictures of both in the 1974-75 press guide. digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=basketball_media_guides
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on May 10, 2020 15:11:09 GMT -5
, although i assume jb did if he was an assistant coach here. I mean the head coach didn’t have a college degree so I don’t know why that’d be a requirement.
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Post by broderickpresident on May 10, 2020 16:53:16 GMT -5
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Post by diehardexplorer on May 10, 2020 18:03:11 GMT -5
, although i assume jb did if he was an assistant coach here. I mean the head coach didn’t have a college degree so I don’t know why that’d be a requirement. as far as i know, speedy was the only d-1 head or assistant coach without a degree.
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Post by victoriouslasalle on May 10, 2020 18:18:23 GMT -5
Victorious, I didn't realize that JB would have been a senior my freshman year at La Salle. I would have loved to have seen him play. I remember Don Wilbur playing. He was as skinny as a rail, but a good player. I just looked it up and Wilbur got drafted in the 5th round by the Trailblazers. It's crazy to think that they had at least 5 rounds for pro ball back in the day. Calsufan Wilber to my recollection was not skinny but might have been a true 6-11 more like 7-0 honest to God La Salle back to the basket center. Initially a project came into his own his last 2 years getting about 10 boards a game and developed a scoring touch. JB was such a talented 6-10 big, but guard wannabee. At times he acted like he wanted to just be a guard. Could really shoot. Very athletic. Even though he wanted to play on the perimeter facing the basket (or so it seemed) JB still got you 10 boards to go with his good scoring. He was a player. He could score inside and outside. And I am not sure how hard he really worked at it. Not much of a serious demeanor. I think JB's senior yr would have been Wilber's Junior coming out year. He was blossoming. That is my recollection. I am sure there are folks on here that can check me on this.
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Post by glorydays on May 11, 2020 9:33:19 GMT -5
Second, as for only playing two seasons, again I am not sure FR were eligible at that time or maybe JB was a Prop 48? I don't recall the reason. He gave up his SR year to go pro (one of the first groups to be able to do that I believe). Again, I was told it was to provide for a sick grandparent. So I personally don't think that two years should matter. Is he being penalized for providing for his family and not playing for La Salle? I would hate to think so. Prop 48 was not enacted until 1986. Freshmen were not eligible to play NCAA D1 basketball until 1972. La Salle did not permit JB to play his freshman year based on the NCAA rules. Based on your SAT's and HS grades you had to predict a 1.6 GPA in your freshmen year. Possibly, if JB went to West Catholic or St. Tommy More, the faculty would have pushed him to the point where he would have been eligible. I am glad he chose La Salle.
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Post by 23won on May 11, 2020 12:03:40 GMT -5
Both deserve inclusion. Terrific athletes.
You can’t fault Bryant for not pushing Kobe to La Salle. Most alums I know don’t push their kids to La Salle. After all he has been through in the last year, the honor would be a nice relief. He was the first Magic Johnson style player I recall. He could play all 5 positions and excel, like Magic.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on May 11, 2020 13:47:22 GMT -5
You can’t fault Bryant for not pushing Kobe to La Salle. Sure I can
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Post by 23won on May 11, 2020 14:16:55 GMT -5
You can’t fault Bryant for not pushing Kobe to La Salle. Sure I can So your avatar is an early commit?
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on May 11, 2020 14:23:34 GMT -5
So your avatar is an early commit? No but feel free to knock me for it if he's a top 3 basketball player of all time.
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Post by diehardexplorer on May 11, 2020 14:37:23 GMT -5
He was the first Magic Johnson style player I recall. He could play all 5 positions and excel, like Magic. sorry, that would be ken durrett.
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on May 11, 2020 15:23:43 GMT -5
Is the argument that Joe had a bigger commitment to La Salle than his kid?
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on May 11, 2020 15:38:56 GMT -5
He was the first Magic Johnson style player I recall. He could play all 5 positions and excel, like Magic. sorry, that would be ken durrett. Tom Gola
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on May 11, 2020 15:52:00 GMT -5
You can’t fault Bryant for not pushing Kobe to La Salle. Sure I can Would he have gotten a pass from you if he came here and decided to transfer with 3 games left in the season...because you seem to think that's OK for others....
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on May 11, 2020 16:46:11 GMT -5
I would not have knocked an 18-year old Kobe for decisions that I had no knowledge of, no.
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Post by calsufan on May 11, 2020 16:47:20 GMT -5
Would he have gotten a pass from you if he came here and decided to transfer with 3 games left in the season...because you seem to think that's OK for others.... I've just got to say...you seem to be really stretching for those "gotcha" moments lately.
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on May 11, 2020 17:03:32 GMT -5
I would not have knocked an 18-year old Kobe for decisions that I had no knowledge of, no. knocking his dad for decisions you have no knowledge of is fine though. Glad we cleared that up.
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Post by 23won on May 11, 2020 17:10:52 GMT -5
He was the first Magic Johnson style player I recall. He could play all 5 positions and excel, like Magic. sorry, that would be ken durrett. I saw them both and agree on Ken being able to play the 2-5 spots, but I only remember Joe having a 1 handle but not Ken. But it's a long tome ago and it could have been that the guards on Ken's teams were so damn good, he left it to them more and Joe took more of an initiative on that front. Ken was a truly elite player and better than Joe for sure, but Joe was really good.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on May 11, 2020 19:24:27 GMT -5
I would not have knocked an 18-year old Kobe for decisions that I had no knowledge of, no. knocking his dad for decisions you have no knowledge of is fine though. Glad we cleared that up. I was definitely serious about something that happened when I was nine.
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on May 11, 2020 22:33:39 GMT -5
knocking his dad for decisions you have no knowledge of is fine though. Glad we cleared that up. I was definitely serious about something that happened when I was nine. Considering you got bent out of shape when the school sent cheerleaders a year to support a prominent female graduate ...something that had zero impact on your life... it is not out of the realm of possibilities for you to be upset about something that happened when you were nine.
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on May 12, 2020 12:19:26 GMT -5
Did you buy flooring in the last 8 weeks?
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on May 13, 2020 14:53:56 GMT -5
I did some digging on this at our (virtual) Alumni Board meeting last night. Just to set the stage...the Hall of Athletes is a joint initiative between the Alumni Association (we have a committee for this every year to look at the nominations) and the Athletic Department. You can actually submit a candidate for consideration at this link: goexplorers.com/sb_output.aspx?form=47Joe Bryant was voted in a while ago. One of the things requested is that the inductee be present for their induction. Joe hasn't come to campus and hasn't responded to requests from the school to be inducted. The information on Billy Taylor wasn't readily available when I asked, but will post if I hear back. I find it hard to believe he would have fallen through the cracks and not been selected at some point given his stats and the stats of others inducted, but maybe it's worth someone familiar with his stats and his contributions submitting it again through the link above.
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Post by jellybean on May 23, 2020 10:16:41 GMT -5
I did some digging on this at our (virtual) Alumni Board meeting last night. Just to set the stage...the Hall of Athletes is a joint initiative between the Alumni Association (we have a committee for this every year to look at the nominations) and the Athletic Department. You can actually submit a candidate for consideration at this link: goexplorers.com/sb_output.aspx?form=47Joe Bryant was voted in a while ago. One of the things requested is that the inductee be present for their induction. Joe hasn't come to campus and hasn't responded to requests from the school to be inducted. The information on Billy Taylor wasn't readily available when I asked, but will post if I hear back. I find it hard to believe he would have fallen through the cracks and not been selected at some point given his stats and the stats of others inducted, but maybe it's worth someone familiar with his stats and his contributions submitting it again through the link above. Thank you. That is what I heard too. JB was voted in some time ago but for whatever reason has not chosen to accept and attend the ceremony. That's a shame. Hopefully all parties can come together. It would be nice to see him in the Hall of Athletes. I also learned that there is no requirement to have your degree. There is no requirement you have to play a certain amount of time. It's all about performance. As for Billy Taylor, I had heard that the school had lost contact with him. No one was able to get in touch. That's a shame too. I hope he is alive and doing well. He should be in the Hall as well.
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