Kevin Stacom: Providence College's Greatest Centers
Kevin Stacom, Sports Analyst
Kevin Stacom: Providence College's Greatest Centers
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So it was suggested that I make a ranking and list of the top 5 Players in each category of Centers, guards, and forwards to ever have played at Providence College, if for nothing else, to instigate a spirited discussion in this season of the summer doldrums.
I always viewed such lists and rankings as more or less in the category of “barroom discussions” I say this because other than one or two absolute givens in each category it becomes a very subjective process whereby a lot of credible arguments can be made for a number of guys who are very close in terms of their statistical and overall ability and importance to the respective teams that they were part of.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe other element that enters into it is the age of the evaluator. Guys my age have seen players live that a lot of younger sports fans today didn’t have a chance to see play. Of course, it will affect your perception of a player's ability and value if he’s only viewed through the lens of statistics on a page or some limited old, grainy clips on a dated YouTube video.
For instance, I don’t agree with it, but I understand it when Bill Russell doesn’t make a lot of top 10 players in the NBA, even though he has more rings than fingers He played technically 13 seasons, was hurt one year, so 11 of the 12 years he was healthy he won it all. My point is that I’m sure the vast majority of those involved in the construction of those lists never saw him play live. It’s just not the same when you didn’t have the experience of seeing him play in the present time.
So here it goes. The 1st installment will be the ranking of the Top 5 Centers of Providence College:
#1- Marvin Barnes (1974)
I mentioned the subjective nature of this process, and I can’t claim any objectivity when it comes to evaluating Marvin, but I’m still very confident that fact will not effect the legitimacy of placing him at the top of this list.
I was lucky enough to play with Marvin for two years. In our junior year (‘73), he and Ernie led us to the Final 4, when he averaged 18.3 points/game, an amazing 19 rebounds/game, along with 2.9 assists/game. Our senior year with Ernie, Nehru King, Fran Costello, and Charlie Crawford were all gone we still finished the ‘74 season with a 28 and 4 record, getting knocked out in the final 16 game vs eventually NCAA Champion North Carolina State at their home on campus arena Marvin’s senior year statistics:
36.2 minutes/game, 22.1 points/game; 18.7 rebounds/game; 3.5 assists/game.
When you look back at all those statistical charts, you’re reminded that they didn’t keep stats for blocked shots. He had to have averaged at least 3 or 4 blocks/ game. With his size and lateral movement, Marvin was literally able to guard just about every position on the floor. He was smart, unselfish, and played with a high level of fierce intensity. The combined record of the two years I played with Marvin was 55 wins 8 losses. Basically, every time you stepped on a court with Marvin, you knew you had more than a good chance of winning.
He was the #2 pick of the 1974 NBA draft behind Bill Walton
Senior year statistics:
36.2 minutes/game;
17.1 points; 10.3 rebounds/game; 1.5 blocks; 1.2 assists; 58% FG’s
Otis Thorpe had a very solid College career at PC, as evidenced by the aforementioned statistics. He played in a bit of obscurity since his teams weren’t successful enough to qualify for postseason glory, and he played on teams that played a very controlled style of play which therefore underplayed his talent and athleticism. Luckily for Otis, his talent was at such a self-evident level that he was chosen with the 9th pick of the 1984 draft Although he played mostly center in college,he possessed a prototypical NBA power forward body and went on to have the most productive and longest NBA career (17 seasons)of any big man that came from PC He was a key piece on a 1994 Houston Rockets Championship team averaging 14 point/10.6 rebounds a game He was an athletic 6’10” 248lb PF who could run the floor, had great hands and feet, possessed a good midrange game and could guard both the Center and PF positions.
Like his predecessor, Thorpe, Austin played a lot of center in college but was tailor-made physically and skill-wise for an NBA power forward.
His senior year statistics:
17.9 points; 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals; 46% FG’s; 89% FT’s
Austin was a good athlete, could run the floor, and was a good shooter. He was on a well-remembered Providence team his senior year with God Shamgod, Jamel Thomas, and Ruben Garces, who lost to fourth-ranked Arizona in the elite 8 of the NCAA tournament in a great overtime game, 96-94. Austin had a very long and solid NBA career, lasting 12 years - 9 years with the Indiana Pacers and a year a piece with Dallas, Golden State, and Milwaukee.
Going back in the basketball Time Machine to the early 60’s, I thought it was appropriate to have John as a representative from that era for a couple of reasons I knew he was a key player on the 1963 NIT championship team, averaging 18.9 points, 14 rebounds/game that year. In his senior year (‘64), he averaged a gaudy 26.2 points and 14.5 rebounds a game. Obviously, big-time numbers. Back then, the NIT had as much prestige as the NCAA tournament does today. He was also part of a crew of guys that were crucial in that time period in the early 60’s of establishing a tradition at Providence College that those of us who came after were so fortunate to participate in. Every player who has gone there since to PC is very aware of that history and use it as motivation to hopefully make a mark to contribute to its continuation Players like Lenny Wilkens, Johnny Egan, Ray Flynn, Vinny Ernst, and John Thompson were the players that laid the groundwork for all future success
John went on to play two years for the Celtics as Bill Russell’s backup center. More importantly, he embarked upon a coaching career, starting as a high school coach in DC (St.Anthony’s) before leaving to begin a legendary career as coach of Georgetown, which was highlighted by winning an NCAA title in 1984. He was the first African-American coach to win a national Championship, lending a lot of inspiration to many coaches who came after him.
Dickey had a very solid senior year, averaging 11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He was also a key member of a very talented team that won the Big East tournament in 1994 with Rick Barnes as head coach. That team featured three other NBA players: Eric Williams, Michael Smith, and Austin Croshere. A hard worker and a smart, unselfish player, Simpkins was able to parley those qualities along with his size, athletic ability, and overall skill level to enjoy a 7 year NBA career, in addition to acquiring 3 Championship rings as a member of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls (‘96,’97,’98)Dickey has also been involved in front office personnel decisions for the Charlotte Hornets, and currently the Washington Wizards.