Favorite RMU basketball players

[GoRMU]

Who are your favorite RMU basketball players of all-time?

I will start with Tony Lee who graduated in 2008. He was listed as 6'0" tall, but that was probably being generous to him by a couple of inches. He could out-rebound anybody, he could out-rebound guys a foot taller. He obviously had good athletic talent, but he was not extraordinarily gifted, he just had desire and toughness that allowed him to compete with anyone and made him one of the all-time RMU greats.

 

[RMU_Fan]

Who are your favorite RMU basketball players of all-time?

I will start with Tony Lee who graduated in 2008. He was listed as 6'0" tall, but that was probably being generous to him by a couple of inches. He could out-rebound anybody, he could out-rebound guys a foot taller. He obviously had good athletic talent, but he was not extraordinarily gifted, he just had desire and toughness that allowed him to compete with anyone and made him one of the all-time RMU greats. By the way, his attitude even jumps out from his picture.

I thought about Tony, and Karvel Anderson, when someone here mentioned Josh William's as an all time great. Check out their stats. Josh is an excellent player, but I don't seem him in the Tony, Karvel, Chipper Harris, Forest Grant league.

 

[GoRMU]

Keep in mind, this is not about who is the best player or players of all-time at RMU, it's about your personal favorite for whatever reason.

 

[GoRMU]

Mezie Nwigwe is one of my favorites. He had endless energy. He came in as a freshman needing to learn a lot about playing in a college system, but he still contributed coming off the bench with lots of energy. He would make something happen, good or bad, he would make something happen. Each year after that his skills and knowledge of the system improved to go along with his talent and energy. He was fun to watch and had an great career for the Colonials followed by a pro career overseas.

 

[GoRMU]

Karon Abraham had a spectacular freshman season capped off by a dazzling display in an NCAA tournament game against heavily favored Villanova. Karon was generously listed at 5'9". He could make shots from well beyond the NBA 3-point line. He was most consistent at making shots when under the most pressure, such as in the final minutes of a close game or in that NCAA game against 'Nova. Karon was an extremely likable kid off the court, unfortunately he had a couple of incidents that knocked his career off its tracks. He is still one of my favorite Colonials.

 

[RMU_Fan]

Karon Abraham had a spectacular freshman season capped off by a dazzling display in an NCAA tournament game against heavily favored Villanova. Karon was generously listed at 5'9". He could make shots from well beyond the NBA 3-point line. He was most consistent at making shots when under the most pressure, such as in the final minutes of a close game or in that NCAA game against 'Nova. Karon was an extremely likable kid off the court, unfortunately he had a couple of incidents that knocked his career off its tracks. He is still one of my favorite Colonials.

Abraham was very consistent. He had a great game against Nova and would have pushed RMU past a 2 seed if the refs hadn't taken over the end of regulation.

 

[GoRMU]

Aaron Thomas is one of my favorite all-time RMU players. He grew up in the State of Indiana. He was just what you would expect from a player from that basketball tradition rich State. He not only had a passion for the game but also had the basketball fundamentals and skills that made him ready for the college game. At 6'7" he played power forward and was one of the best 3 point shooters in RMU history. He would get his share of points, rebounds and assists, and although he was not a flashy player he always looked great putting up a 3 point shot from the corner. As the NCAA likes to point out about many former student/athletes he went on to be a pro, not on the basketball court but as an educator. He became one of the youngest principals in the area, and then one of the youngest superintendents in the area. He also went on to receive his master's degree from RMU and a Ph.D from the University of Pittsburgh. He is the superintendent of Cornell School District.

 

[RMU_Fan]

Aaron Thomas is one of my favorite all-time RMU players. He grew up in the State of Indiana. He was just what you would expect from a player from that basketball tradition rich State. He not only had a passion for the game but also had the basketball fundamentals and skills that made him ready for the college game. At 6'7" he played power forward and was one of the best 3 point shooters in RMU history. He would get his share of points, rebounds and assists, and although he was not a flashy player he always looked great putting up a 3 point shot from the corner. As the NCAA likes to point out about many former student/athletes he went on to be a pro, not on the basketball court but as an educator. He became one of the youngest principals in the area, and then one of the youngest superintendents in the area. He also went on to receive his master's degree from RMU and a Ph.D from the University of Pittsburgh. He the superintendent of Cornell School District.

I remember Aaron and looked at some of his stats the other day when you introduced this topic. On top of the obvious stats I was surprised to see that he played almost the entire game.

 

[RMU_Fan]

One of my favorites was local player Joey Falletta. I remember him at a RMC game in his South Park letterman's jacket as a HS senior. Watching him and Wade Timmerson at Roundball practices, and then come to RM step in as an unheralded freshman and help show the team how to get it done with desire and determination. Without looking it up I believe he is a member of the exclusive 1000 point 500 rebound club.

 

[GoRMU]

One of my favorites was local player Joey Falletta. I remember him at a RMC game in his South Park letterman's jacket as a HS senior. Watching him and Wade Timmerson at Roundball practices, and then come to RM step in as an unheralded freshman and help show the team how to get it done with desire and determination. Without looking it up I believe he is a member of the exclusive 1000 point 500 rebound club.

Without a doubt Joe was a special player for the Colonials. You have to be passionate about the game to play D-1, but Joe's passion for basketball and his desire to win were at a entire another level. As I recall Joe played a key role in leading the Colonials to wins two consecutive years against WVU in Morgantown at a time when WVU rarely lost on its home court.

 

[RMU_Fan]

As I recall Joe played a key role in leading the Colonials to wins two consecutive years against WVU in Morgantown at a time when WVU rarely lost on its home court.

I also remember that Joe got the team fired up on the bus ride to Morgantown and had the team ready for an upset. My memory is that one of those years WVU was ranked preseason and we beat them, however I've never been able to substantiate that recollection. The school says the Colonials have never beaten a ranked team.

 

[GoRMU]

I have really enjoyed watching Josh Williams play these past two years. Not only is he a smart and all around good player, he is an outstanding 3 point shooter. He tied the NCAA record for most 3 pointers in a game last year. One aspect of Josh's game that I really enjoy is how he gets rid of defenders to create an open shot. He will start to put up a shot with a defender bearing down on him. As the defender jumps to block the shot, Josh will hold up the shot and lean to the side and the defender flies past him, he then puts up a wide open shot. You can see a great example of this at the 50 second mark on the NEC Championship video. Josh is one of my favorite all-time RMU players. I just enjoy watching him play the game of basketball.

 

[RMU_Fan]

I have really enjoyed watching Josh Williams play these past two years. Not only is he a smart and all around good player, he is an outstanding 3 point shooter. He tied the NCAA record for most 3 pointers in a game last year. One aspect of Josh's game that I really enjoy is how he gets rid of defenders to create an open shot. He will start to put up a shot with a defender bearing down on him. As the defender jumps to block the shot, Josh will hold up the shot and lean to the side and the defender flies past him, he then puts up a wide open shot. You can see a great example of this at the 50 second mark on the NEC Championship video. Josh is one of my favorite all-time RMU players. I just enjoy watching him play the game of basketball.

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While 3 point shooting is Josh's calling card, in addition he has a high basketball IQ which shows up in other areas like rebounding and passing. He's a well-rounded player.

 

[GoRMU]

Velton Jones, of course, is one of my all-time favorite RMU basketball players. No doubt he would be at or near the top of any Colonial fan's list. He was the starting point guard for one of the most exciting and successful periods in RMU basketball history being capped off by the Kentucky win. In any D-1 game, Velton was not the most talented player, certainly not the tallest player, but he had the strongest will to win of probably any player in any game that he played in. In the final minutes of a close game, especially if the Colonials were down by a few points, Velton would not accept the possibility of losing. By shear willpower he would lift himself and his teammates to play above their abilities to assure the win. It was a special experience to be a fan watching those games knowing, that in those final minutes and seconds of really hard fought games, Velton somehow would assure a Colonials' victory.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Karvel is probably my favorite player out of the”great ones” from RMU. I remember when he dropped a ton (38 points) on Saint John’s in the NIT his senior year. Was an incredible game & he lit it up from 3 point land.

Players that aren’t greats but I enjoyed watching tho we’re players like Rodney Pryor, Elijah Minnie, Koby Thomas, Marcquise Reed. 3/4 listed here could really throw down some dunks and were aggressive offensively.

 

[GoRMU]

All great choices R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n. Certainly, Karvel Anderson would be at or near the top of any Colonials fans' list. A combination of unbelievable shooting ability, athletic ability and intense competitiveness. Probably the greatest shooter in RMU history, including his outstanding ability to create his own shot. With Karvel, the Colonials were always a threat to higher level opponents. He came from a challenging childhood, grew into a outstanding young man and has gone on to an excellent pro career in Europe.