Basketball from a fans perspective

University of Central Florida?

Two SI.com writers Dan Hanner and Chris Johnson provided us each Division I teams ranking. 1. “Our proprietary projections model uses historical results, recruiting archives and scouting data to reveal how every team in Division I will fare this season.”  I found it interesting they ranked Wichita State higher than Kansas, once again affirming my belief the best team in the State of Kansas is located in Wichita and not Lawrence.  I was curious on their ranking of Mizzou, they listed them at 39 not shocking nor does it provoke an argument from me.  I do find it a little confusing how they list UCF and Tacko Fall at 28, I’m going to read that portion in more detail.  As for the other teams interesting reading none the less.

1.  SI.com, Dan Hanner and Chris Johnson

Is there sibling rivalry?

There might be other brothers coaching college basketball, without research.  the Miller brothers are the first that come to mind.  Older brother Sean has served as Arizona’s head coach since 2009, previously he coached at Xavier.  Who are the Millers you might ask, the brothers played high school basketball for their dad at Blackhawk High School in Beaver Falls (PA).  

Sean Miller was a point guard for the Pitt Panthers and younger brother Archie was also a point guard however he chose North Carolina State.  Both brothers served as assistant coaches prior to securing their first head coaching position.  Younger brother Archie is head coach at Indiana and beginning his first year at the helm.  Archie coached the Dayton Flyers for six years before he was hired at Indiana.  As for Sean he coached Xavier five years prior to taking the Arizona job.  Is there really sibling rivalry for the brothers you ask?  Probably not serious rivalry but it’s likely it does exist. 

Best of the best

I was checking research material and came across a story we’d discussed previously.  Kansas City Metro is not Los Angeles, New York or even Chicago.  We don’t approach those cities in population now and certainly not in the 1960’s.  I surveyed a few persons old and young and while not scientifically accurate the result was quite interesting.  “Who was/is the best high school player in Kansas City.”  By sampling a cross section of ages and ethnicity I believe my results to be accurate. 

Older individuals, millennial, youth and those ages in between all provided me one name.  Warren Armstrong who later became Warren Jabali was the overwhelming choice of all.  This is noteworthy considering Jabali played at Kansas City’s Central High School graduating in 1964.  The 6-2 Jabali’s leaping ability was beyond comprehension, he often out leaped players 2-4 inches taller than him.  Dunk the basketball, you want a one hand dunk or two he did them both. 

It’s not unusual to see an NBA player smack the ball off the backboard preventing a lay-up, Jabali did this in a 1963 high school game.  He would go on to Wichita State and though he chose the ABA he could have played in the NBA.  Jabali was drafted in the 4^th round of the 1968 NBA Draft by the Knicks, why so low you ask?  This was the ‘60’s a time of militancy by many in the black community and Jabali was one who was outspoken, not violent but believed in speaking his mind.

Rookie of the Year in the ABA in 1969 teammate Rick Barry said this; 1. “He’s unbelievable. As a guard, he’s in a class by himself. I’ve never seen a player his size with so much strength. As great as Oscar Robertson is, well, he couldn’t come close to matching Armstrong in jumping and rebounding.”  So, there you have it the best basketball player ever to come from the Kansas City Metro.  

1.  www.remembertheaba For Warren Jabali: A Tribute to a Great Player by Dave Thomas