The best player time forgot: Chris Jackson


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Abdul-Rauf


my best friend was telling me when Chris Jackson came into Lake charles for the American Press Tournament...stuff of legend..

I remember that tournament. I think Gulfport played Washington Marion in the finals but can't be certain about that. That dude was hella bad and a previous poster was correct, Dale Brown couldn't do anything with all that talent! Not only did LSU have Chris, Shaq, Roberts. There were also some damn good role players. Vernel Singleton, A kid from Ferriday (can't remember his name) Maurice Williamson, etc... All those kats made some sort of HS all-american team!!!
 
Note quite right. That was actually figured out with Nate "Tiny" Archibald back in the 70's. He is still the only player to lead the NBA in scoring and assists in a single season.

You're right. I forgot about Archibald. But it can be argued that he was a true point guard with lots of scoring ability, ala Isiah Thomas. To this day I'm not sure if Jackson was really a point guard. I think Denver made a mistake when they assumed he'd be a classic PG.

Keno1970 said:
...A kid from Ferriday (can't remember his name)...

Wayne Sims?
 



You're right. I forgot about Archibald. But it can be argued that he was a true point guard with lots of scoring ability, ala Isiah Thomas. To this day I'm not sure if Jackson was really a point guard. I think Denver made a mistake when they assumed he'd be a classic PG.

Wayne Sims?

The name of the Ferriday guy is Shawn Griggs who later transferred to USL (now ULL) after being academically ineligible following his freshman year at LSU.
 
Say what you will about Dale Brown, but we all know that even a "Dream Team" of talent may not play well together because everyone wants to be the "star". Dale was a motivational coach...a player's coach. He was more concerned about the individual. Whenever a kid was even considered "good enough" to go pro, Dale Brown was the only college coach who actually told the kids "its a once in a lifetime opportunity...take it". He never said "stay here and we'll win a national championship" and you HAVE to respect him for that!

I have seen Dale assemble some of the best talent in years and with Ron Abernathy, they did an awesome job of recruiting!! Kids do what kids do! Dale would draw out the plays. Execution was not always the best. Even when he had the BIG MEN of the 80's and early 90's (excluding Shaq), those boys weren't mental giants. Talented...yes...but if you don't recognize defenses, positioning, etc., then you are a small fish in a large pond of players. Potential has never won a game, but hustle, smarts, athletic talent AND good coaching COMBINED! Some of Dale's big men were talented, but LAZY!!! That's a whole nuther topic....
 
:lmao:

Dale Brown and L$U could definitely recruit. I'll give him credit for that..... But at the end of the day, you still gotta coach effectively. If Big Men aren't mentally prepared for games, that's the coach's fault. If Big Men are lazy, it's the coach's job to adjust their attitudes one splinter at a time. High school players are supposed to be developed when they get to college, no matter how highly touted they are.

Had a guy like John Cheney consistently had that kind of talent-- particularly in the front court-- he would've been a fixture in the final four.
 
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