Top 8 of all time!

[Xman95]

OK, I know I'll get grief for at least one of these picks, but the guy was was just steady -- Hawkins.

PG - Michael Hawkins: controls the game, knocks down open shots, keeps teammates involved, plays D
SG - Byron Larkin: could just plain fill it up...need I say more?
SF - James Posey: complete package - scored inside and out, tough defense, great as the point of a press
PF - David West: I think the best player in the history of X, did everything anyone could ask of him, the heart of any team he's on
C - Tyrone Hill: great presence inside

B - Romain Sato: great defense and threes off the bench, rebounding, can play 2 or 3
B - Brian Grant: another strong inside presence, scored from mid-range too, plays 4 or 5
B - Drew Lavender: all the qualities of Hawk, with the ability to be more dynamic, but also a little more out of control so that's why he's my bench guy, gives me a back-up PG

Just missed: Doellman, Cage, A.Williams, Sykes, Massey (for his abilities from long range and to jump out of the gym!), Braggs, Gladden, Walker

Last guy off the bench in a blowout: Smydra, Compton, Hughes

[mhettel]

didn't see a game before 91, so my list is more recent.

PG- Lavendar
SG- Lenny Brown
SF- Posey
PF- West
C- Braggs

Bench: Chalmers 1/2 , Sato 2/3 , Doellman 4

TONS of versatility

3 pt Lineup: Drew, Lenny, Sato, Posey, Doellman
Defensive Lineup: Drew, Sato, Posey, Doellman, West
Tough Lineup: Lenny, Sato, Posey, West, Braggs
Close out the game with Free Throws lineup: Drew, Lenny, Sato, doellman, West

I'd take those guys against virtually anyone.

If I could go a bit deeper in the rotation, I'd add Cage and Thornton

[tjxu97]

Starters:
PG: Jumpin Jamal Walker
SG: Byron Larkin
SF:James Posey
PF: Brian Grant
C: David West

Bench:
Lenny Brown
Tyrone Hill
Lionel Chalmers

[WCWIII]

Hill center
Larkin shooting guard
West forward
Grant forward
Lavender point guard


D. Brown (I think he'll be one of the greats)
Derek Strong (was better than A Williams while at X--didn't have the pro career but...)
Sato

Derek Strong's pro career: here.

Your list is good except Posey for D. Brown (so far). Lavender, Hawkins, Jumpin' Jamal, or Stan Kimbrough all could be considered at PG.

[XU84]

I should re-phrase my comment on Strong. He didn't have the pro career that Williams had, but he certainly did play in the pro's.

I think Hill has to start on the all-time top eight team. He was a great player. Pretty amazing that from a program the size of XU's, we're arguing over some amazing b-ball talent in the forward position (Grant, Posey, Hill, Williams, Strong, Braggs, etc.)

[mostly harmless]

It is funny how as time goes by we seem to forget how good players of the past were. Tyrone Hill is the third best player of the post Staak era at Xavier. Brian Grant may be number 4 and some people have left them off of their lists altogether while Jamal Walker, while I loved him as a player, seems to be overrated as time goes by due to his style of play. Stan Kimbrough was a superior player, but not nearly as flashy as Jumping Jamal. And while Aaron Williams has had a long, successful NBA career, lets be honest he was not that caliber of player while at X.

Anyways my own list,

PG - Lavender (no one was steadier, if he was taller, a sure fire pro)
SG - Larkin (just a scoring machine)
SF - West (he had the perimeter shot, just didn't need to use it as much)
PF - Grant
C - Hill

Bench
G - Lenny Brown (good defender, good shooter, great scorer - very clutch)
F - Posey
G/F - Sato (great rebounder, good scorer, good defender

No need for a back up center as either West or Grant could shift there with Hill out and Posey and Sato both were excellent rebounders for their position.

[XU84]

Intersting that no one picked Steve Thomas in the top eight. I certainly never saw him play, or at least not that I would remember, but have to wonder if those who did would rate him in the top 8. He was a scoring machine and considered the best 'pure-shooter' ever to wear the blue and white.

[passthepuck?]

Recall the halcyon days of yesteryear. Stan Kimbrough, as a transfer, came in as a big scorer, but ran the point. In other words he was the guy who turned on the gym lights for Byron. When Byron graduated. Stan became the shooting point guard and dominated. All the other guards mentioned were good at one thing but Stan could do it all. Sounds like man love.

Starters:
Guards – Stan and Byron
Forwards – West, Posey and Strong

Reserves:

Guards – Hawkins, Chalmers
Forwards – Sato, Hill and Grant

[xuhuh!]

guards, byron larkin and lenny brown center, tyrone hill forwards, david west and brian grant bench, james posey, romaine sato, derrick brown coach, sean miller

[millersdad]

After reading everyone's list I am suprised that Romain Sato was left off of a lot of peoples list to start. If you look at his points scored and rebound totals he is near the top of both list all time...plus he was our defensive stopper like cage and now burrell was. I was also suprised that jumpin jamal was left off many list too. Jamal was my all time favorite xu player. Not only was he amazinly quick and a great passer but he was a pressure player meaning the more important the game or situation the better he performed....aka michael jordan....i am shocked many others did not realize this