ALL-TIME BIG EAST TOP 50 PLAYERS, Chris Dokish, Georgetown News, Villanova News

BIG EAST ALL-TIME TOP 50 PLAYERS: #10 & #9

Today we continue the countdown of the Big East All-Time Top 50 Players compiled by NBE Basketball Report recruiting analyst and staff writer Chris Dokish.

Over the course of four weeks, leading up to the start of the 2008-2009 regular season, our top 50 list will be revealed as we countdown to the #1 Big East player of all-time.

Today we crack the Top 10 with a look at players checking in at #10 and at #9 on our list. Enjoy the trip through the history of the Big East.

10) Eric (Sleepy) Floyd: Georgetown - (1979-82) Gastonia, NC

Three years in Big East: 18.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.0 spg, 50.6% FG, 76.1% FT.

Four year career overall: 17.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.1 spg, 77.4% FT.

First Team Consensus All-American (1982)

A great athlete and terrific all-around player that somehow got overlooked by the ACC schools. The 6’3” shooting guard, who paired with Patrick Ewing to make one of the best tandems in conference history, was known by everyone as “Sleepy”, a name he got because of his distinct hooded eyelids.

As a freshman he was paired with all-stars John Duren and Craig Shelton, but still led the team in scoring with 16.6 ppg, while also adding an impressive 4.1 rpg, 1.9 spg, and 81.3% from the free throw line. For his sophomore season, the Big East was born and Floyd was among the first stars, ending the season with 18.7 ppg, 2.3 spg, 75.7% from the free throw line and an amazing field goal percentage for a guard of 55.4%. During his junior season, Floyd had career highs of 19.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg, while also adding 1.9 spg and shooting 80.6% from the line. As a senior, Patrick Ewing arrived and both led the Hoyas to the NCAA Championship Game where they lost to a North Carolina team that featured Michael Jordan and James Worthy. While Floyd’s numbers dropped as a senior, he was named a 1st Team All-American thanks to his 16.7 ppg and 1.7 spg.

For his career, he amassed 2,304 points, still the best in program history, and that was accomplished before the three point shot. Floyd was the 13th overall pick by the New Jersey Nets and played thirteen years in the NBA. He was a one time all-star and still holds the NBA playoff record for scoring 29 points in one quarter. Even more impressive was that the feat was accomplished against the Los Angeles Lakers team of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and in a small measure of revenge, James Worthy.
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9) Kerry Kittles: Villanova - (1992-96) New Orleans, LA

Four years: 18.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.3 spg, 39.4% 3FG, 71.9% FT.

Player of the Year (1995)

Second Team Consensus All-American (1995)

First Team Consensus All-American (1996)

When you’re the best player in the history of a program as storied as Villanova, then you are something special. But that’s what Kittles was. A force both offensively and defensively, Kittles is both the program’s all-time leading scorer and all-time steals leader.

Kittles eased into things as a freshman, averaging 10.9 ppg, 1.7 spg, and 43.2% from three point range. In his sophomore season he began to show the level of player he was becoming with 19.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 2.7 spg. As a junior, Kittles became an All-American with his best season yet when he averaged 21.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, and 2.2 spg, while shooting 52.4% from the field, 41.4% from three, and 76.7% from the line. Surprising many by eschewing the draft, Kittles gained First Team All-American honors as a senior with 20.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.2 spg, and 40.4% from three.

“He just never stopped running,” former Boston College star Bill Curley tells NBE. “He was like a water bug, always zig zagging all over the court. He was relentless.”

For his career, the 6’5” shooting guard amassed 2,243 points and 715 rebounds, with the latter being the best total of any guard on the list, by far. His 1,288 Big East points are 5th best all-time, while he also ranks 2nd in made field goals, and 6th in both made three pointers and steals.

The eight pick in the NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets, Kittles averaged 14.1 ppg over an eight year career. His career ended at the age of 30 due to injuries.
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Note: The only criteria that was used to compile the list was how well a player performed in college, specifically in the conference, physically as well as the degree of impact he made for his program or the league. NOT taken into consideration was the general popularity of the player, how high he was drafted into the NBA, or even his pro career. Also, no current players are eligible.

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