NCAA Basketball: Top 10 programs that can be called ‘Point Guard U’
By Amaar Burton
5. NCAA Basketball ” Point Guard U” programs – UConn Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies have a solid case to be called Point Guard U in men’s basketball, but when you include the women’s program, UConn might be Point Guard U for all of basketball regardless of gender.
Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Jennifer Rizzotti and Moriah Jefferson are some of the floor generals who have come through the UConn women’s program and had a hand in a legacy that boasts 11 national championships.
The UConn men’s program has won four national titles, and point guards were arguably the most recognizable players on three of those teams.
The Huskies’ first men’s national title in 1999 was due in large part to the efforts of shooting guard and leading scorer Rip Hamilton, but fan-favorite point guard Khalid El-Amin was its most TV-friendly standout.
El-Amin with his bowling ball build was a three-time All-Big East pick and Big East tournament MVP in 1998. He was especially key in the 1999 national semifinal win over Ohio State, posting 18 points, six assists and three steals.
The 2004 title team was led by center Emeka Okafor and shooting guard Ben Gordon, but then the 2011 championship run was all about point guard Kemba Walker.
Walker’s junior season was one of the greatest displays of clutchness and carrying a team in recent college hoops history. He averaged 23.5 points and 4.5 assists per game and led UConn on an incredible journey through the Big East tournament and NCAA Tournament.
Shabazz Napier was Walker’s backup in 2011, then in 2014, he was the starter and star of UConn’s national championship squad. Napier averaged 18.0 points, 4.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game, winning Conference Player of the Year, Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard in the country.
That 2014 team was coached by Kevin Ollie, a former UConn point guard.
Ollie was an All-Big East performer in his day, helping lead the Huskies to the Elite Eight in 1995 under head coach and mentor Jim Calhoun.
Other notables: Chris Smith, Wes Bialosuknia, Taliek Brown, Ricky Moore, Doron Sheffer, A.J. Price, Marcus Williams, Jerome Dyson