Allen Iverson, of Georgetown.

Len Bias, University of Maryland, College Park

Bugsy McGrath, UVA

Patrick Ewing!!!

AI

I love Len Bias, but it has to be Patrick Ewing. Not just for the title, but all that he and that Hoya era meant for the college hoops world.

John Lucas Maryland

Lenny Bias.
That's period as in end of discussion.

I would have to say Len Bias but Patrick Ewing brought Georgetown a NCAA title

surprised no one has thrown it out there yet: david robinson, navy. but are we talking about the player who was the best while in college or the player who came out of area colleges to be best later on (in his pro career)?

There have been lots of good/great area players but it has to be Len Bias. We're talking strictly college, not pros and Len was a monster who often had to carry teams on his back while playing all 5 positions superbly.

Navy? David Robinson
Maryland? Lenny Bias
Virginia? Ralph Sampson
Georgetown? Pat Ewing
GW? Pops Mensah-Bonsu
American? Kermit Washington
Va Tech?
Howard?
Mason?

All the kids writing in never saw Willie Jones of American U. His practice was playing one on one full court. What a great scorer! I've seen all the guys mentioned above, but Willie was the best.

All the kids writing in never saw Willie Jones of American U. His practice was playing one on one full court. What a great scorer! I've seen all the guys mentioned above, but Willie was the best.

Iverson

The answer depends on if you're talking just college or also including the pros. I would argue that Iverson is the guy if you are including pros. Based on college only, you need to qualify whether you want individual talent (Bias/Sampson) or team success (Ewing). People are also forgetting Earl Jones from UDC. Didn't he (with Michael Britt's help) bring a couple of Division II championships to UDC? He was a beast at that level and we need to include him in the discussion.

MD- Len Bias
Gtown- Patrick Ewing (Stayed 4 years)
Navy- David Robinson
VA Tech- Dell Curry
GW-I forget his name but he was the center 2 years ago.
Howard- Larry Spriggs
George Mason- Carlos Yates
American- Kermit Washington or Will Jones
Coppin State- Larry Stewart
Virginia Union- Charles Oakley

Taylor Baldwin - Maryland

In no particular order: Bias, Ewing, Dixon,
Robinson

Definitely, Ralph Sampson from UVA if we're talking about the best local college player. Didn't he win Player of the Year 3 times?

If we're going on pure individual accomplishment, it has to be Ralph Sampson. He was the National Player of the Year three times and a First-Team All-American all four years. No one else in the area can claim such accomplishments, and only a few players ever in the history of NCAA basketball racked up so many honors.

With that said, considering the talent that surrounded him, David Robinson may have been the best local college player ever. Navy was 106-25 during his tenure and 31-71 in the four years following his graduation.

Vic Page -gtown

Albert King

Without a doubt, Len Bias.

If we're only judging by the college careers, I'm not sure Iverson would qualify.

Ralph Sampson, UVa
Patrick Ewing, Gtown
John Lucas, Len Elmore, Buck Williams, UMd
Dell Curry, VT

Juan Dixon-MD 2 final fours and the Terps first ever national title...he took MD where no one else (even Bias) could

Chuck Driesell, Maryland

A lot can be said for Ralph Sampson. He definitely obtained the awards and accolades. David Robinson as well dominated. However, the indivual who has been considered by many experts as one of the greatest college baskeyball players in the modern era and the most complete forward in college basketball history has to be the greatest local college basketball player - Len Bias. Born and raised within the beltway. Can't get more local than that.

The question is simply who was the best local college bball player, not who had the talent around them to win the most championships and not who played long enough to win the most awards. The clear answer is Len Bias.

Has to be Ralph Sampson. The ONLY three-time National Player of the Year, ever. People forget about his gifts and grace, and his dominance, because of hs injury-shortened pro career and his subsequent loundering through real life. But those who saw him play will never forget.

Photo finish for second between Robinson, Bias and Ewing.

Ask Michael Jordan who was the toughest player he ever went against and he will say Len Bias. Len could hit 30 foot jump shots all net while being triple teamed nine out of ten times.

Terps-Len Bias
Hoyas-Patrick Ewing
UVA-Ralph Sampson
Navy-David Robinson

Why can't the DC area create a "Big 5" style annual matchup? Terps, Hoyas, AU, George Mason, GW. Would be great to see that evolve like in Philly.

Lenny Bias was the single greatest individual B-Ball player at a local college.

Let us not forget that Pat Ewing played with the likes of Reggie Williams, Eric (Sleepy)Floyd, David Wingate, each of whom went on to enjoy long NBA Careers.

Lenny played with Adrian Branch. No Knock on Adrian, but he was no Eric Floyd.

Juan Dixon. He stayed 4 years, went to 2 Final Fours and won a championship. His life is a study in perseverance.

Firstly, Virginia and Virginia Tech are not local teams. Len Bias was a stud of a player, but it his his death made him a legend. In short, he was not the best local player. Patrick Ewing, and Iverson were, and anyone who says otherwise is wearing his team loyalty on his sleeve. I am not a GU fan, but a fan of College Basketball.

Mickey Wiles, Maryland

Len Bias Class of 1986 UMD

A Iverson was about as good as S Francis in terms of production and elevation of his team. AI was an erratic shooter and poor game-manager. His assist to turnover ratio was horrid.
P Ewing and R Sampson were on another level. I dont think you could name anyone in the same sentence as these two.

Pat Ewing, Lenny Bias, Buck Williams, Kermit, A.I. and Albert King. Unfortunately, in my opinion, I doubt we'll see that type of 'teamwork' on the college hoops courts the way we did back in that golden era of the great GU, UNC, St. Johns, Syracuse, Nova, MD and UVA teams.

The excitement of the then upstart Big East and Saturday ACC games can't be put into words. I'm glad that Comcast televises those classic match ups of that great era. Jimmy V., we'll always miss you.

MD - Len Elmore (with honorable mention to Jim O'Brien, who hit the game-winning shot against second-ranked South Carolina getting Lefty Driesell his first big win, a game went a long way toward bringing big-time college hoops to the DC-area. Amen.)

Bobby Knight used to say in his talks to high school players that Michael Jordan and Len Bias were the best college players he ever saw. He used how each turned out as an example of doing well with your talent vs. waisting your talent.

You have to mention Adrian Branch(UM). He was also way ahead of the curve in terms of the flare that players bring to the game these days. I saw him in a game at DeMatha where he, while dribbling on the left wing, threw the ball underhanded in the direction of the backboard. He then dashed down the lane and dunked the ricochet with one hand. Still one of the most spectacular plays I have ever seen at any level. And that was 1985!!! Before some of the "And 1" guys were even born.

It is Bias. He has not been mythologized - he was that good. If he had lived, we would, I dare say, not look at Jordan in such a godly light, because Bias with the Celtics would have provided a worthy competitor - none of the other names mentioned here did that.

For the purposes of debate...Joe Smith.

Count my vote for Len Bias. He's the reason I began watching college basketball. Talk to the guys that played against him and you'll get no argument. It's always hard to judge players against people who weren't their contemporaries, but Len Bias changed the shape of games in multiple ways. He wasn't a unidimensional player.

I loved David Robinson, he was that Navy team.

Ralph Sampson had an incredible college career, and was one of a kind with ball handling, shooting, rebounding, etc.

Patrick Ewing was a winner.

But nothing, NOTHING, compares to the feats that Len Bias would single-handedly do.

What about Tom McMillen? And since when are UVa and VaTech local schools? NC State is the same distance or closer to DC than VaTech so that would make David Thompson the hands down winner.

Len Bias is the best player not only to play locally and the best player to come from this area.

No bearing on the discussion but
local school status is determined by the fanbase and where the students are from. It's not that hard to figure out.

Most state universities draw from the state they are in. Most people who go to NC State are not in the WaPo reading area.

It's a two man race for me:

Bubakar Aw or Ruben Boumtje Boumtje

Best local college player? Lenny B. All over the court. Most versatile.
Most dominant? Tie between Ewing, Sampson and Robinson. But best...Lenny B.
Local player that played college? don't forget to put Johnny Dawkins in the mix then. Didn't J.Dawkins put his butt in Robinson's face when he did a reverse dunk on him in the NCAA tourney. Scratch Robinson off the dominant list.

My main man Will "The Beast" Bowers was the greatest area basketball player ever. I was saw him dunk from half-court, blind-folded and take home the "Homecoming Queen" all with a torn-ACL.

Iverson

Len Bias was clearly the best. Larry Bird vowed to play at rookie camp if the Celtics drafted him. No discussion needed.

Len Bias by far.

We are talking about a true local player. I grew up watching him first play at Northwestern HS (PG County) as well as on the playgrounds in his Landover MD neighborhood, then at UM, and you can't tell me that during that time every local player from little league to high school didn't try copy his style of play. I know I did. "Hands down" the best ever.

While not saying these are the best, just throwing Yinka Dare and Joe Smith out there.

This is a easy one to respond to. len Bias was the best college player ever from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. We are not talking about how the team did but for what Len had to work with in comparison to Patrick and AI there is no question he was the best to come out of the area. Let's not forget what he did to Michael and the Tar heels........

jon gilchrist - md

Depending on your definition of local, it's either Sampson or Ewing.

Anyone remember Adrian Dantley?

All of these are great options. I am sticking with Len Bias!!

This one is easy: Len Bias. He redefined the position in college in a way that even Jordan didn't. Dominating presence, a complete athlete, posessing remarkable court intelligence, and intense desire...his kind is seen once in a generation at the collegiate level. Red Auerbach coached/managed 16 championships with numerous Hall of Famers -- traded Gerald Henderson away to move up in the draft to get Len Bias. The man knew what a special talent Len Bias was.

Honorable mentions: R. Sampson, A. King, J. Lucas, J.Dixon, P. Ewing, D. Robinson.

It has to be Len Bias. I saw most of these guys and not to take anything away from Ralph Sampson but he was 7'4. You should be good at that size. Bias carried MD in an era when it was him and 4 ok guys. Plus Dean Smith AND Coach K said he was the best player they had to coach against. That seals it for me.

I think 4 players, including one player who has had little mention so far, stand far and above the pack. In this order:
Ewing
Bias
Sampson
Reggie Williams

The case for Ewing at the top is clear. Ewing may have been the most dominant player since Alcindor in college basketball, and likely the most intimidating since Mikan or Wilt.

Williams is surprisingly underappreciated. Although he clearly was not the equal of Bias or Sampson, the things he could do on the court were remarkable. An examination of his 1987 season, when he single-handedly took his team to the brink of the final four (the center on that team stood a mighty 6'4"), demonstrates his greatness at the college level.

Finally, I am surprised that the Maryland fans are reciting Albert King, John Lucas and Juan Dixon without a mention of Walt Williams. I put him in the same category as Reggie Williams, although a notch below him. The Wizard could do it all.

len bias- please! its definitely ewing.

UMD sucks. HOYASAXA

Garfield Smith of UMD. Or Michael Graham at GU.

Bias.

The question was best local college basketball player. Pro careers are irrelevant.

1) Bias
2) Ewing
3) Sampson
4) Lucas
5) Robinson

Shawnta Rogers - GW...5'4 beastman

Kermit Washington. AVERAGED 20 points and 20 rebounds per game FOR HIS CAREER.

clearly evers burns of maryland was the best ever.. or exree hipp

Len Bias was as good as Michael Jordan. How you can even THINK about anyone else is ridiculous.

juan dixon

Sirvaliant Brown was a great player.

...Sirvaliant Brown of GW

The best local college player of all time was Lenny in my opinion. P. Ewing, R. Sampson, D. Robinson, and even J. Dixon and A. Iverson were great in their own right but did not touch the versitlaity and multiple dimensions that Len Bias could. The big men were greatest inside the arc and J.D. and A.I. were great but not on the level as Lenny was in terms of going up for it with the big boys (rebounding) as he could.

Leonard Bias

some of these are hillarious: Garfield Smith and Yinka Dare?!

Bias. Definitely.

Bias.

I'll say Bias, Ewing, and Iverson. But 2 names I wanted to throw out there, Ernie Graham and Boo Bowers (American U)

Will "Skill plus Power" Bowers

Len Bias. I have always believed he was a better college player than Michael Jordan.

#34 Len Bias. For those of us who are old enough to remember, kids around here wanted to be like Lenny, not Michael. That should say enough right there. As for Sampson, I'd have to say he was a little soft. Smaller centers often ate him alive. Buck Williams owned him, as did the center (I forget his name)from Chaminade - that little school in Hawaii.

Yinka Dare

Bias and Ewing. Bias for shear talent and Ewing for his and his team's accomplishments.

Ewing. No question. 3 FF appearances, 1 NCAA champ and player of the tournament for 84. changed the way opposing offenses could play their game and dominated the middle on both ends.

Sarunas Jasikevicius--UMD
Alexander Kuehl or Yegor Mescheriakov--GW
Andreas Mikalauskus--UVA
NONE--GTown (Big John never did like to cross the pond)

I'm a die hard Maryland fan...Len Bias, John Lucas and even Albert King would be in my top 10. But number one has to go to Patrick Ewing.

Curtis Schultz

Patrick Ewing---'85 college player of the year. 3x all american. 3 final fours. Most importantly, '84 National Championship. Most dominate, intimidating force of his era and changed the way the game was played. Collegiate and Pro hall of fame. Enough said.

Gene Shue at MD - look at his college record and his NBA achievements.

Ralph Sampson wasn't as good as good as Buck Williams (check the film)
Len Bias put up 44 on Michael
Walt Williams resurrected an entire program

Well, if we were including folks who were actually born and raised here and attended high school here, it would have to be Adrian Dantley. But because Dantley played his college ball at Notre Dame, I guess he doesn't count. But he was always a local product.

Lenny 'Frosty' Bias

Kermit Washington: the last 20-20 man in the history of the NCAA.. As James Thurber once said, "You can look it up..."

@ Euroman -

Is Dikembe Mutombo not considered crossing the Pond, or is Crossing the Pond limited to Europe? Last I checked Africa requires a trip over the Atlantic, just like Europe does.

juan dixon

Bias.

Patrick Ewing

Bias was the best offensively and Ewing was best defensively but Ewing has to get the best in college nod because of his team's accomplishments. It's pure conjecture but I believe Bias would have been a better pro. Ewing never did get a ring for his team. (I'm a lifelong Terps fan.)

Anyone who didn't name Len Bias was still in diapers, in the womb or hadn't been conceived yet !

Kevin Durant

MIKE SWEETNEY

Walt Williams

Juan Dixion

Without a doubt Len Bias

LEN BIAS!!!

Best College Career:

1. Ralph Sampson
2. Len Bias
3. David Robinson
4. Patrick Ewing

Len Bias. If you saw him play you know why he is getting so many votes. Incredible. He was a better athlete than Jordan and 2 inches taller! If you didn't see him play, get tape of his monster game at the UNC.

1. Bias
2. Ewing, Sampson, Dantley, Lucas, Robinson
3. Walt Williams, Sleepy Floyd, Iverson, Buck Williams, Albert King, Joe Smith, Dixon, Adrian Branch

Lenny B, definitely

I loved the Len Bias years, but the greatest Terp player ever is Juan Dixon. Two Final Fours, and NCAA Title and legendary wins/losses against Duke. And Juan made people everywhere hope with his life story. I know about Len Elmore, Tom McMillen and John Lucas. I watched Albert King and Buck Williams. They made us cheer over decades of Md hoops. But who brought home the Championship?
And for VA Union, I go with Ben Wallace.

Michael Britt and Earl Jones - Univ of DC

this not for laughs. they were as good as it got.

anyone recall these guys circa 80-83?

Robinson had a better college career than even Bias...especially considering the talent level of the rest of their teammates.

Sampson was good but he is mostly remembered for losing to Chaminade
I think AI(the answer), Ewing, David Robinson, Bias,Gene shoe and maybe even Kermit Washington (Mr. 20-20)

the original LB was hands down the greatest to play at a local college; what's sad nowadays a guy w/ his ability would declare for the NBA as a Soph(such as AI, Durant, Beasley, Joe Smith, etc.). Bias was an NBA player his last 2 years at UMD; although Sampson might be the most skillful 7 footer ever, Bias was the crossbreed of Nique's athleticism and MJ's skill. guys have had more successful college careers, but this is to name the best player.

Len Bias!

The only player I have ever seen even close to as good as Michael Jordan....was Len Bias. There is simply no one else close.

"Hot Plate" Williams

Best local player (including NBA career) - Probably has to be Ewing. Won a title and went to Finals. Probably the second best jump shooting big man (behind Olajuwon) in NBA history. Second: Probably Iverson (but will he ever pass the ball?).

Best local player (just based on collegiate career) - My first thought was Juan Dixon. Went to 2 final fours and capped off career with NCAA championship plus MVP. Had a lot of help from Steve Blake and others. But he probably had the best ACC career other than those early 1990s Duke players (Laettner, Grant Hill, Hurley). Second: Has to be Ewing.

So probably Ewing, all in all, is the best local college bball player ever.

Ranking by school is a lot harder.

Maryland - Juan Dixon. Bias is a very close second.
Georgetown - Ewing. Iverson is a close second. Remember Reggie Williams though.
Virginia - Has to be Sampson. Also remember current Wiz Roger Mason. Also Bryant Stith could ball.
Virginia Tech - Probably Dell Curry. Bimbo Coles is a close second.
GW - Probably that guy Mescheriakov. Remember Yinka Dare.

Crystal Langhorne - Maryland

Sarunas Jasikevicius.

1. Sampson for being consistently dominant in EVERY season he played in college - on both sides of the ball.
2. Ewing for TOTALLY changing how teams could play their games.
3. Dixon for being the most clutch player EVER to play. When you absolutely, positively needed to win, he ALWAYS came through.
4. Robinson, Bias, W. Williams, R. Williams and (li'l) Charles Smith for lifting entire programs on their backs and into national prominence - all while facing top competition.

Lot of other great players mentioned though.

Joe Smith. As in, NaiSmith.

Adrian Branch.

Len Bias! remember he was better than barkley and malone when he died and would have had more success as a pro (playing along side hall of famers in Boston).

Len Bias ... hands down. He could play 1 thru 4 and was better at those positions than most teams' starters. Anyone remember Bias taking the Terps into Chapel Hill to beat the Heels for the first time in like 3 decades. The guy was scary and probably would have meant another 2 to 3 championships for the Celtics had he lived.

Johnny Rhoads.

Len Bias - period. No one even close

Bias, end of discussion!

Len Bias. There isn't any question about it.

It depends on how you define greatness. Acheiving the most with the least support? Robinson. Talent? Bias. Success? Ewing. But if you make your case solely on championships then you must also believe that Trent Dilfer was greater than Dan Marino. If we had a round robin one-on-one between these three I can't see Bias losing to either. And don't forget Coach Thompson was afraid to play Maryland for years.

Don't you forget about me.

Bias was great, but the "lack of support" argument in comparison to Ewing is thin. Reggie Williams wasn't a "great" college player until Ewing left, and every other Hoya on the championship team was a role player. People forget how dominant Ewing was without even having to score. Every team Gtown played was intimidated.

"No bearing on the discussion but
local school status is determined by the fanbase and where the students are from."

No, that's how the WaPo determines how to allot coverage. "Local" is determined by how far away something is. I've driven to Blacksburg -- it took over 4 hours. You can drive to New York City quicker than that. And as far as "where the students are from": if lots of kids from L.A. go to Stanford, does that make Stanford an L.A. school? Va Tech is NOT a local school (and UVA is a real stretch). I don't mind if the post wants to give those schools extra coverage because there are a lot of alumni in the area, but they aren't D.C. area schools. (And if the Post is going to adopt them, then what about U. of Richmond and VCU?)

On a related topic, what about that Orange Line station, West Falls Church/VT-UVA? Come ON, people.

Going to school at UVA watching the best of the acc roll through... have to say that the player who made everyone else look like they were in high school? hands down... Len Bias. He always looked like he could do anything he wanted at any time. He was a beast.

People have hit most, but not all, of my all-time all-name team for DC area college basketball.

MD: Sarunas Jasikevicius, Nik Caner-Medley

GW: Yinka Dare, SirValiant Brown (the individual champion IMO), Pops Mensah-Bonsu

G'town (the overall champion by far): Boubacar Aw, Ya-Ya Dia, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Othella Harrington, "Sleepy" Floyd

I know I am forgetting some great ones, though...

Tony Lewis Loyola Maryland

this is stupid. lenny bias was the greatest college player ever. including jordan. no contest.

If you were on the playground and had the first pick, you would take Len Bias first EVERY time.

Without question...the late Len Bias of the University of Maryland.

Was Bias ever POY?

Most of the Bias backers are supporting their argument by pointing out that Bias was better than Jordan. I don't disagree with the sentiment, because he unquestionably was. That said, Jordan did not become the game-changing player that he became until several years into his pro career. He was a very good college player, but not one of the all-time greats.

A number of players mentioned as part of this debate were much better college players than Jordan: Ewing, Sampson, Bias, Robinson, Floyd, Lucas, Reggie Williams. A case can even be made for Juan Dixon. For this reason, any claim that a player was better than Jordan, even if true, does not end the conversation of who was the greatest.

The best Local College Basketball player:

Focus on Local. Ewing is from what, New York? Juan Dixon is from Baltimore. Iverson is from Va Beach. Sampson? UVA is NOT local, it's a two hour drive just like Philadelphia. Robinson at Navy is close... but... can't we stay inside the beltway here people?

Len Bias was walking through Woodridge (not WoodBridge, get it straight) and Mt Ranier all the time. Walking. Or driving a Honda Scooter when they were the rave.

He is not just the best player on a local college team, he is the best player FROM here to play on a local college team.

Once again, that's:

Len.
Bias.

RIP June 19, 1986 and I remember EXACTLY where I was when I heard the news. Don't you?

First reaction is Len Bias but my considered choice is Kermit Washington. His numbers are exceptional -- 20 pts and 20 rebound av for his career.

Ewing, then Bias, then Robinson.

If we're talking local "college basketball player" (as opposed to "local college" basketball player), then the obvious answer:

Danny Ferry

I'm from Cambridge, MA, by way of Jamaica.

Jahidi White

GW's Shawnta Rogers

Your choices look pretty good, but as to greatest ACC player there can really be no argument--David Thompson.

Let's talk about from 79-84
Georgetown- Patrick & sleepy
Maryland- Albert Buck Ernie
Udc- Earl P-Britt Payne
Howard- Spriggs Ratiff Wright
Gw- Brown That's just to name a few let's not forget Jo Jo Hunter Billy Bryant before they transferred James Turkey Tillman

Ewing. Without question. He and his Gtown teams DEFINED the so-called golden era of college basketball. The team that so many people hated and so many people loved. And Ewing was the face of that team. He essentially made the Big East a major conference and as a result made ESPN a major player in sports broadcasting. Ewing, John Thompson and Georgetown became household names during that run. They made it to three championship games and one a national championship. Nuff said.

Bias was never important on a national level because the Terps weren't all that important on the national scene during his time. And his frosh season and arguably his second season were totally forgettable.

David Robinson? Please. Played in basically a D3 league. Sure he didn't have the talent to play with that Patrick did but considering his Navy teams didn't play against anyone he didn't need a great supporting cast. And that also meant Robinson could get all the points for himself. He had very little impact on college basketball and most folks alive back then probably can't even recall seeing him play. The Post is a joke for ranking that guy above Ewing.

Patrick Ewing clearly trumps Lenny "Cocaine is a Performance Enhancing Drug" Bias.

Patrick

Isn't UVA like 2 hours away from here?

1) BIAS. Without question. UnREAL baller. No one else comes close (w/all due respect to the others)

2) Ewing
3) Sampson
4) Robinson
5) Lucas or Albert King

HONORABLE MENTION) Earl Jones - UDC, early '80s

PS: YouTube clips are great, but if you EVER get a chance to get your hands on a tape of Lenny, live in action, GET IT. I have the one of MD-UNC (Bias v. Jordan). Seeing him dunk on 7-something Warren Martin, fall on Martin's shoulders and land w/gonads in his FACE was CLASSIC...

Only three should be in this conversation. The first had the most accolades and was a unique combination of size and versatility, the second was the most dominant, had the greatest team success and helped change the face of the game, and the third had greater ability than all the others and the most spectacular play on the court.

Sampson. Ewing. Bias.

For those of us who saw them play, Sampson pales just a tad in the light of the other two. Hard to say between Ewing and Bias who was the "best local college basketball player."

The Washington Post ranking Robinson above these three is a joke. A great player with great stats (see also: Kermit Washington) but not in the same league. GW greats (Dare/Pops)? Not even close. Others (seriously) mentioned here:

Len Elmore, Tom McMillen, John Lucas, Albert King (though a good player, someone was probably conflating him and his older brother, Bernard), Walt Williams, Joe Smith - great players but would anyone seriously take them over Bias? Juan Dixon won a championship but as for being "best player" I would take Bias (and most of these others) before him.

Sleepy Floyd, Reggie Williams, Charles Smith, Alonzo Mourning - all come up short vs. Ewing (pun intended), though Sleepy is very close. Allen Iverson may have had nearly as much talent as Bias but stayed only two years and, while an outstanding individual performer, couldn't play with others until well into his pro career.

Who was best between Ewing and Bias? Again, it is hard to say but my remembrance of their comparative play is backed up by the NBA drafts of 85 and 86. Bias was selected second (after Brad Daugherty) in a relatively weak pool; Ewing, by contrast, was a lock #1 no matter whose team card was picked from the barrel (remember the conspiracy theory about the refrigerated Knicks card that led to the ping-pong ball system?) in a far more substantial pool of players. That Sampson also went first and won the only head-to-head match between the two is deceptive; 83 was also a weak draft and Ewing's sophomore performance against the senior Sampson was in the early stage of a rebuilding (and injury-plagued) year for Ewing's team while Sampson's was ranked #1 and at the height of its program's history.

Al Bunge of Maryland and Harold Fox (Jacksonville) was perhaps the greatest high school player from here who went on to College.

Juan Dixon--the Juan and only!

Len Bias. No doubt.