Your Basra Fakhir description is exactly how I'd describe Jerome Tillman. Fakhir was before my time. Were they similar players?

For the sake of this conversation:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/basra-fakhir...

I think "see ball, get ball" is quite accurate on the glass.

I'm going to go with a series of guys who I had a personal connection to (no matter how small)....

I got hooked as a kid on Trent & Geno. During 7th Grade Basketball Camp Geno selected me as a captain of one the teams when we split up so at the time I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Later my brother became good friends with Stonerook and I met him on a sibs weekend trip when I was in high school. He just cracked me up and he's a great guy. Still see him occasionally for a golf outing.

Leon was incredible for 4 years. I will never forget the tip in. Easily my favorite in person memory watching any sporting event.

Sonny because I got to know him over the years mostly after college. He was a reliable Jumper away from being incredible. Still see him occasionally as well.

Other random events that I still remember fondly and keeps these guys high on my favorite Bobcat lists....
Brandon Hunter in his Escalade on Court St. My drunk roommate yelling "you're my boy BHunt" and him not reacting other than just rolling the window up.
DJ - Played Blackjack with him for a long time directly after the loss to North Carolina
Jaivon Harris - gave me props one night on walk home from uptown after my team won a 3 on 3 tourney that day.
Delvar Barrett - Just hooping in Ping with him after he graduated. Such a good guy.

+1

Greatest Bobcat team in history . . . so far. I have a hunch one of the Boal's teams may do them one better!

Basra was a one of a kind freak Athlete. Raw in a basketball skill set (not nearly as polished as Tillman). Really struggled facing the basket and his FT’s spun sideways. But was a pure team player and always game 110%

Best Lightning in a Bottle:
Armon Bassett--while other guards were great, none but perhaps DJ did what Mr. Bassett did for Bobcat basketball in big time games during a 10 day stretch!

Yeah, but...

My favorite all-time player is still their star from when I was first watching the Bobcats as a freshman, John Devereaux.

Agree re the 63-64 team being OHIO's greatest. Played a typically tough Snyder non-conf schedule. In the 3 NCAA games, gave up 69 in each. Beat Louisville 71-69 and KY 85-69. Lost to Michigan 69-57.

One of my long-held beliefs: Ohio would have been a stronger match against UCLA in the national championship game than was Michigan. Michigan had tall timber - Bunton, Tregoning - but UCLA outquicked the Wolverines.

As you mentioned, Ohio's tallest starter was center Paul Storey at 6'5". UCLA's tallest starter was center Fred Slaughter, also 6'5". I've long thought that Storey along with Don Hilt, Jerry Jackson, Mike Haley and Charley Gill would have tested UCLA.

Loved me some Leon, but it has to be Coop for me. Dominated in Cleveland, 3 tourney wins, and stuffed the entire stat sheet over his career. Get his jersey in the rafters asap!

Flomo deserves at least a shoutout! And my "what could have been" goes to Fears. Really would've been fun to see four years of him and Leon.

Reading this thread brought back loads of memories, so kudos for whoever posted the question!

Cooper should definitely have his jersey retired but it took Trent a long time before they retired his.

Best player I've seen at OU- DJ Cooper

Favorite- Treg Setty. OU was in a dark time, post Sweet 16 and Treg was a guy who brought a spark to the program. Loved what he did on and off the court at OU.