I'd go with Wall just because of the media hype and our ability to get the information in our current world. With increased coverage of all aspects of sports (games, recruiting, etc.) and our ability to get the information through sports channels, internet, magazines, etc., it creates a big difference between Wall and Chapman. Perhaps not as much with Mercer, but still, even then the coverage and such wasn't as prevalent as it is now, IMO.

Exactly what I was thinking...

I kinda forgot my favorite player of all time who should be included on this list Mr. Mashburn.

King Rex.

Voted for Rex, but agree with The Scribe in saying that Bowie was supposed to be THE GUY for UK.

I'm suprised that the Monster Mash hasn't been mentioned. He is at least in the running.

For us old timers Bowie would have to be pretty high on the list. Of the list given I'll have to go with Wall.

 

:thumb:

I'm suprised that the Monster Mash hasn't been mentioned. He is at least in the running.

 

Mashburn may have meant more to the UK program than any one anticipated recruit in my adult lifetime. He put UK WAY ahead of the rebuilding schedule that Pitino was working towards. But as far as anticipation, I would rank the top 5 (in no particular order) as:

 

Sam Bowie

John Wall

Rex Chapman

Ron Mercer

Dwight Anderson

We've had great players and high expectations/anticipation of a lot of players including Bowie. I've known none that have people talking and the expectations that folks have of John Wall. Time will tell where he ends up in history.... just as it did with Sam Bowie.

Mashburn may have meant more to the UK program than any one anticipated recruit in my adult lifetime. He put UK WAY ahead of the rebuilding schedule that Pitino was working towards. But as far as anticipation, I would rank the top 5 (in no particular order) as:

 

Sam Bowie

John Wall

Rex Chapman

Ron Mercer

Dwight Anderson

 

Mash turned out to be one great ball player but coming out of high school he was not as highly ranked as the other Five. Always though if Bowie had stayed heathly might have been best ever for the wildcats.

I think you can add Tom Payne to the list for several reasons although it didn't turn out the way those had hoped.

I'm suprised that the Monster Mash hasn't been mentioned. He is at least in the running.

 

He was mentioned in post# 17.

We've had great players and high expectations/anticipation of a lot of players including Bowie. I've known none that have people talking and the expectations that folks have of John Wall. Time will tell where he ends up in history.... just as it did with Sam Bowie.

 

One of the great expectations was not just Sam Bowie. It was Sam Bowie with Dirk Minnifield (AA), Derrick Hord (AA), and Charles Hurt. That talent was to be combined for one year with Kyle Macy, and then mixed with Dwight Anderson but it didn't work out that way.

 

Dwight was gone after about 10 games, Macy missed the jumper vs. Duke, Bowie got hurt and missed the Junior and Senior year, Hord never recovered from his nightmare vs. MTSU in '82 and Dirk was Dirk.

 

 

"there's many a slip, twinxt a cup and a lip."

King Rex

Rexington, KY

The Young and the Rexless

IREX

The Boy Wonder

 

Only the internet and mass media make Wall more anticipated IMO.

Sam Bowie

 

:thumb:

One of the great expectations was not just Sam Bowie. It was Sam Bowie with Dirk Minnifield (AA), Derrick Hord (AA), and Charles Hurt. That talent was to be combined for one year with Kyle Macy, and then mixed with Dwight Anderson but it didn't work out that way.

 

Dwight was gone after about 10 games, Macy missed the jumper vs. Duke, Bowie got hurt and missed the Junior and Senior year, Hord never recovered from his nightmare vs. MTSU in '82 and Dirk was Dirk.

 

 

"there's many a slip, twinxt a cup and a lip."

 

I loved Hurt! Yes, that was a highly anticipated "group" of players with things not going as folks expected. Hopefully the group this year that includes Wall.... will be exactly what we hope for!!