| #1 Emeka Okafor – (2001-2004) by Peter Bard In Rd 1, Okafor defeated #16 Edmund Saunders, 188-3 Emeka Okafor and I were freshmen at UConn at the same time, though he gained notoriety a bit faster than I. My most-told stories about Okafor were the time he walked past me in the cafeteria while I read a magazine that featured him on the cover, and the time he walked through my dorm building in West to see the on-duty RA while Dick Vitale was talking about him on my television. It was a rather surreal experience for me, having grown up feeling like UConn players were legitimately famous stars. In Okafor’s case, though, he really was a star. Despite being robbed of the 2004 National Player of the Year award, Okafor was the best player in the country, and the best player on (I believe) the best UConn team ever. Opponents had to game-plan for Okafor at both ends of the floor, with his shot-blocking dominance starting a run in which UConn led the NCAA in blocks per game every season for nearly a decade. Due to lingering back injuries, Okafor’s college dominance didn’t exactly translate to the NBA, though he has had several very strong seasons. Despite this, his UConn legacy is secure as one of the all-time great.
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 Career Points: 1426 Career Rebounds: 1091 Career Assists: 81 Career Steals: 91 Career Blocks: 441 _____ UConn all-time leader in blocks |
#9 Billy Corley – (1965-1968) by Meghan Bard In Rd 1, Corley defeated #8 Walt Dropo, 64-63 Bill Corley, who was a three-time All-Yankee Conference First Team player in the 1960s, currently holds the record for the most points scored in a single game, with 51 against New Hampshire in 1968. Corley played under Coach Fred A. Shabel for two seasons, and Burr Carlson (who only lasted a couple season, after a posting dismal records) in his senior year. UConn went to the NCAA tournament his junior year. Corley racked up more than 1,200 points, averaging a double-double (16.9 points and 13.7 rebounds per game) in three seasons with the Huskies. Career Points: 1219 Career Rebounds: 986 Career Assists: Records not kept Career Steals: Records not kept Career Blocks: Records not kept _____ All-time high single game point total (51) |
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It’s kind of ridiculous that I thought he ONLY had 441 blocks.
Yes. You are ridiculous.
I was the 1 & only that voted for Corley 😉 My dad played with him & the night Corley scored 51 points was his 21st birthday. You grow up hearing about these guys and how ridiculously excited & honored they were to be a part of UConn history, you can help but vote for them 🙂
I mean, I get the sentiment, but Okafor is incredibly important to the history of the program. Graduated in 3 years with like a 6.0 and oh yeah, was the best big man ever to come to Storrs.
With the records that are kept, Corley isn’t far behind at all and only played 3 years as well . I love Okafor, don’t get me wrong, just stating that there is something to be said do the guys that played early days of UConn bball, were smaller, and had just a different style of play.. When the #’s are so close imagine what the #’s would be today. All great players – then & now.
With the records that are kept, Corley isn’t far behind at all and only played 3 years as well . I love Okafor, don’t get me wrong, just stating that there is something to be said do the guys that played early days of UConn bball, were smaller, and had just a different style of play.. When the #’s are so close imagine what the #’s would be today. All great players – then & now.