Cleanthony Early Belongs in the Rafters

[Play Angry]

All American, leading scorer on teams that went F4 and then 35-1, NCAA All Tournament Team.

No brainer.





I also fully expect that we will retire FVV and Baker's jerseys. We aren't in any danger of running out of numbers.

[pinstripers]

He was selected All-American?

[wu_shizzle]

If Cle had four years, he could have gone down as the GREATEST Shocker ever.

I don't want to diminish a single thing that Cle did in his time at WSU, but what is your frame of reference?

Better than X?

[ciaomichael]

At WSU, do they retire the jersey or retire the number? As I understand, if the number is retired, it can never be used in the future. If the jersey is retired, it's a tribute to that athlete but the number can be used again. I know different schools handle it differently. Also, is Cheese Johnson's number/jersey hanging in the rafters?

[Shock Top]

I don't want to diminish a single thing that Cle did in his time at WSU, but what is your frame of reference?

Better than X?

I said could have. Who know what Cle would have done with two more years.

Is it possible he would have gotten even better?? Scary (yet sad) to think about.

[Shock Top]

At WSU, do they retire the jersey or retire the number? As I understand, if the number is retired, it can never be used in the future. If the jersey is retired, it's a tribute to that athlete but the number can be used again. I know different schools handle it differently. Also, is Cheese Johnson's number/jersey hanging in the rafters?

1) Number
2) No

[Play Angry]

He was selected All-American?

Yes. There are 4 sources that comprise the Consensus All-American List: AP, USBWA, NABC, and TSN

Cle was 2nd Team USBWA, FVV was 3rd Team TSN. NABC and AP have yet to release their All American teams.

[SHOXAAC]

If Cle had four years, he could have gone down as the GREATEST Shocker ever.

Easy there red ryder. You saved yourself with "could," however we will never know.

[Shock Top]

Easy there red ryder. You saved yourself with "could," however we will never know.

That was my point buck-o. He was the catalyst to the greatest two year run in WSU history. Two more years of him - with FVV and Baker mind you - would have been amazing.

WHO KNOWS WHAT HE COULD HAVE DONE!

[Play Angry]

For comparison's sake:

Cliff Levingston- 3rd Team AA by Basketball Times (who?), never higher than Honorable Mention AA by any of the Consensus sources, 3 year player, 1 NCAA Appearance
Antoine Carr- 3rd Team by AP in 1983, HM in 1982, unlisted by other 3 Consensus sources, 1 NCAA Appearance


AC obviously deserves to be up there without any doubt. Cliff was definitely a borderline selection. Unless you are measuring purely based on offensive stats during apples vs. oranges eras, I think Cle's case is very solid.

[SHOXAAC]

That was my point buck-o. He was the catalyst to the greatest two year run in WSU history. Two more years of him - with FVV and Baker mind you - would have been amazing.

WHO KNOWS WHAT HE COULD HAVE DONE!

Good job for having a point Red.
:-)

[Shock Top]

Good job for having a point Red.
:-)

He is obviously one of the best players to ever don a WSU uniform and in only two short years, catapulted this program to highs that we could have only dreamed of.

I don't see how it is so ludicrous to think he could have put himself in the #1 - at least #2 - spot with another two.

[SHOXAAC]

That was my point buck-o. He was the catalyst to the greatest two year run in WSU history. Two more years of him - with FVV and Baker mind you - would have been amazing.

WHO KNOWS WHAT HE COULD HAVE DONE!

...oh, another thing I just thought about in your "ifs and buts and candied nuts" line of thinking, just think of what Stallworth's value could have been "IF" he would have had that final semester in his holster. WSU could have won the national title. WHO KNOWS WHAT HE COULD HAVE DONE!

[SHOXAAC]

He is obviously one of the best players to ever don a WSU uniform and in only two short years, catapulted this program to highs that we could have only dreamed of.

I don't see how it is so ludicrous to think he could have put himself in the #1 - at least #2 - spot with another two.

Trust me, I get your point. And I wouldn't call it ludicrous, just trying to keep it real. You're one of the good guys...I'm just trying to have some fun after what happened yesterday. Give me some grace.

[1972Shocker]

What exactly are we honoring by retiring numbers/jerseys? Is this a career achievement or simply recognizing our All-Americans (from what I can tell you don't need to be a consensus AA -- any AA honor above honorable mention will work? Are we trying to recognize the best stats or the best players (usually one and the same but not always)?

These are serious questions because I'm not sure I know the answer.

Cleanthony's performances in the NCAA Tournament certainly stand out, not to mention a 65-10 win-loss record. His All-American honors already equal or surpass Cliff's.

College basketball has changed a lot since Dave The Rave's days. We just don't have the huge scorers like we used to. Too many good players and depth.

Cleanthony is no doubt a special player. Not sure it's a slam dunk but if I had a vote I vote for Cle to added to the rafters.

Maybe there are specific standards that allow you to just check the boxes and say, yes he's in or no he's out. I'm just not aware if that is the case.