Most Important MU Recruits Ever

[Dickthedribbler]

Anyone on here actually see George play?

Yes.

[4everwarriors]

I agree with George Thompson, without him we wouldn't get to our first NIT championship game, which led to Jim Chones recruitment and some of the best recruiting years.

#22 was already a freshman when the Warriors won the 1970 NIT Championship, hey?

[Nukem2]

Anyone on here actually see George play?

George was huge for this program. He put us on the map, plain and simple. Saw him play and he was an unusual talent given his height. Gave Al the inside road to the NYC area. Cannot dismiss his importance to our program Hard to imagine now, but it was significant.

[Viper]

I believe most older fans such as myself would say George Thompson in1965. It was the McGuire signing of Thompson out of Brooklyn from which everything else, and I mean everything, flowed for the next 15 years. Even beyond.

100% yes

[Viper]

George was huge for this program. He put us on the map, plain and simple. Saw him play and he was an unusual talent given his height. Gave Al the inside road to the NYC area. Cannot dismiss his importance to our program Hard to imagine now, but it was significant.

also 100% yes

[Gato78]

Anyone on here actually see George play?

Yep. 6’2” but best playing at low post. Huge thighs like Quadzlla. Had ability to hang in the air—like he almost defied gravity, at least temporarily. Not a shooter. So powerful and tough—very difficult to defend. In those days, we were all judged by moves and he had multiples.

[avid1010]

George...then Wade

[dyckesville]

#22 was already a freshman when the Warriors won the 1970 NIT Championship, hey?

I was talking about when they lost the NIT championship to the Salukis

[Lennys Tap]

Anyone on here actually see George play?

I was a freshman when George was a sophomore (and first eligible) so I saw all of his home games. Every road game of his that I didn’t see in person I watched on TV or listened to on radio.

I’m with Goose on this - he was our most important recruit,  DWade was our greatest.

[MU82]

So little love for Wally Ellenson.

[Dickthedribbler]

#22 was already a freshman when the Warriors won the 1970 NIT Championship, hey?

But a freshman who didn't play in that 1969-70 season.

[BCHoopster]

Anyone on here actually see George play?

First game I saw was George scored like 40 points as a freshman,  6’2” forward that could jump out of the gym.  Insane hops, good shooter, most exciting player in MU history not called DWade.  He got me excited about hoops!

[Dickthedribbler]

As an aside, George's final game at Marquette was a 2 point overtime loss to Purdue at the UW Field house in the 1969 Elite 8 game, on a Rick Mount jumpshot at the buzzer. An eyelash away from a first final four. Ouch. I still have a headache.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

As I understand the question I would rank them:

1. Brute Force
2. Wade
3. Ellis
4. The Class of 1990
5. The Three Amigos

The stories of Oso, F 'Em, O-Max, Kam, and crew are still being written. Could easily find themselves in the top 5 when it is all said and done.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

I was a freshman when George was a sophomore (and first eligible) so I saw all of his home games. Every road game of his that I didn’t see in person I watched on TV or listened to on radio.

I’m with Goose on this - he was our most important recruit,  DWade was our greatest.

1000%   Saw every home game as well. Listened religiously to radio broadcasts. Knew George personally and he was an outstanding person.

[Goose]

BC

I agree that losing Scooter was equally as big as losing Mark Aguirre. Both loses caused MU to miss out on future recruits and it changed the program in a very big way.

Good news, I would rather be talking about the current state of the program and future recruits than recruits from decades ago. Shaka has brought this program an awfully long way in a short period.

[ATWizJr]

Biggest missed recruit? Jeenathan Williams('s neck)

. Mark Aguirre biggest miss. If Al stayed Mark was in.

[Goose]

TAMU

Shaka retaining everyone, aside from Omax,  might end being the most important recruiting job ever.

[StillAWarrior]

Shaka retaining everyone, aside from Omax,  might end being the most important recruiting job ever.

No offense to Wrightsil, Ellis, or Itejere, of course. 

I've gotta admit, I really would have liked to see Wrightsil back on the roster. I think he did a lot for the team last year from his seat on the bench and in the locker room.

[MuggsyB]

. Mark Aguirre biggest miss. If Al stayed Mark was in.

Would have we gotten Isaiah Thomas, Aguirre, and Terry Cummings?  Smh. 

[Lennys Tap]

As an aside, George's final game at Marquette was a 2 point overtime loss to Purdue at the UW Field house in the 1969 Elite 8 game, on a Rick Mount jumpshot at the buzzer. An eyelash away from a first final four. Ouch. I still have a headache.

Two nights earlier we had beaten Adolph Rupp and Kentucky - the biggest win at that point of the McGuire era.

We planned on staying in Madison after the Purdue game to party. Turned out to be the most quiet 80 mile car ride back to Milwaukee instead.

[dyckesville]

That Purdue loss was a killer. The game I remember most was a game with Detroit where it sounded like Brute Force just dominated Spencer Haywood. Granted it was on the radio.

[swoopem]

Would have we gotten Isaiah Thomas, Aguirre, and Terry Cummings?  Smh.

I’ve heard about Aguirre and Terry Cummings but Isaiah Thomas was considering MU also? Never heard that

[Coleman]

James/McNeal/Matthews was a turning point class.

This is the correct answer

[Galway Eagle]

I’ve heard about Aguirre and Terry Cummings but Isaiah Thomas was considering MU also? Never heard that

I don't want to call bs on all the stories because I wasn't there but sometimes the stories make it sound like every great that went to anywhere else after 77 was 100% coming to MU. I think I've found one article where a player mentioned that so it's all here say from what I can gather.