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Who are your all-time favorite Canes? A Discussion

Trinton Breeze

Trinton Breeze

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CIS is a place to stay up to date on all things Miami athletics related but more importantly it's a safe haven for us to get together and just be Canes fans. There isn't much more I like doing than discussing random topics with other Hurricane Friends. You know, just normal stuff that fans talk about, the silly meaningless topics that we care deeply about. Miami fans love to reminisce and talk about the things from the past they treasure most. Perhaps, one of the most recurring discussions is: who are your favorite Hurricanes of all time? Everyone who is a fan has had this discussion at some point. To me, it never gets old hearing other people's all-time list and why they chose it. It's interesting to hear the differences in opinions in each generation. And everyone has an opinion. So let's do that today. Let's all get together and discuss our favorite Canes to ever wear a Miami jersey. I'll share my list first to get the discussion started. Then, after you're done cutting down my list, share your own list in the comments. I'll start it off with my top.

Shane Larkin

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Isaiah Wong

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Sam Waardenburg

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Sheldon McClellan

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Chris Lykes

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Norchad Omier

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Julian Gamble

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JaQuan Newton

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strauzer said:
Being an original old school student manager from 85-89 I have to shoutout to my brothers who helped resurrect the program in 85. Many don't know this but Eric Brown is second in scoring all time behind only Rick Barry. Those were some fun days despite the highs and lows!
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Kevin Presto is one of my all-time favorites. When he was on, that guy could chuck 'em from the cheap seats. Dennis Burns was another one. I've got lots of fond memories of some of those late 80's teams playing in the James L. Knight Center.

I played the point during my heyday, so I'd be remiss not to mention Kevin Norris and Angel Rodriguez as a couple of all time favorites for me.

GO CANES!!!
 
strauzer said:
Being an original old school student manager from 85-89 I have to shoutout to my brothers who helped resurrect the program in 85. Many don't know this but Eric Brown is second in scoring all time behind only Rick Barry. Those were some fun days despite the highs and lows!
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Eric Brown was a truly great player. Out of Boys High in Brooklyn, home of Pearl Washington, Connie Hawkins, Lenny Wilkens and a bunch of other College and NBA HoFers. Our first blue chip recruit once the program was restarted. Later on, James Jones reminded me of Eric. Silky smooth Forwards.

Being a DC guy, I'm partial to Joe Wylie, a 6'9 Center who could jump out of the gym, as they used to say. A real crowd pleaser from The District who scored, rebounded and blocked shots at a high rate in the early 90s.
 
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98-99 team will always be the goat squad for me. I truly thought we were the best team in the country. Played at the old Heat arena and it was quintessential Big East ball although the only east coasters I remember were Hemsley and Salmons. Everyone else was from Miami or the Deep South. Tim James was our senior who later played for the Heat. Nice junior class with Johnnie Hemsley, Mario Bland and Vernon Jennings. We had two freshman who were pretty big recruits as well as roommates in Michael Simmons and John Salmons. Salmons had a great NBA career. Simmons was also a favorite of mine who never got enough credit imo.

We were 2nd in the conference to UCONN who went to win the NC. We should have beat UConn at home. One of the best Miami home games I remember. Salmons had a great game and took a game winning 3 pointer that went in and out.

Got upset in the 2nd round to Purdue who shot 40 free throws in the game. Whole team was in foul trouble.
 
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I just asked my old man and he said “Barry and Hickok”. No idea who Hickok is. Dad said, “he was a little guy, would dribble the ball through people’s legs.” Sure, why not.

To keep it short my immediate, written in ink list, would be: McClinton, Larkin, Tim James.

Edit: Google tells me the dude was named Richard “****” Hickox. He definitely would make my all-name team. Apparently was the Cane’s first all-American! Third team in 1960.
 
Given my profile picture you can probably guess I would go with Jack since a.) he was (imo) the best shooter to suit up for the Canes and b.) His time in Coral Gables corresponded with my time at UM (06-09) so I have some personal bias having watched those teams very closely.

Unfortunately I didn't follow much UM hoops prior to 2006 so don't know as much about the big east stars like Salmons, Jones, Rice, James etc. Post Jack though I really enjoyed Larkin (a true floor general), Sheldon McClellan (just an effortless three-level scorer), Bruce Brown (swiss army knife), and Jordan Miller (also swiss army knife). Durand Scott and Isaiah Wong have to be mentioned obviously as well for having long and very successful careers.

Crazy to think that potentially our best NBA player since Salmons will likely end up being Kyshawn George who didn't have much impact here.
 
Garnacho said:
98-99 team will always be the goat squad for me. I truly thought we were the best team in the country. Played at the old Heat arena and it was quintessential Big East ball although the only east coasters I remember were Hemsley and Salmons. Everyone else was from Miami or the Deep South. Tim James was our senior who later played for the Heat. Nice junior class with Johnnie Hemsley, Mario Bland and Vernon Jennings. We had two freshman who were pretty big recruits as well as roommates in Michael Simmons and John Salmons. Salmons had a great NBA career. Simmons was also a favorite of mine who never got enough credit imo.

We were 2nd in the conference to UCONN who went to win the NC. We should have beat UConn at home. One of the best Miami home games I remember. Salmons had a great game and took a game winning 3 pointer that went in and out.

Got upset in the 2nd round to Purdue who shot 40 free throws in the game. Whole team was in foul trouble.
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My boy Elton Tyler on that team was from Massachusetts.
 
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caneingville said:
My boy Elton Tyler on that team was from Massachusetts.
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****, yeah for sure. I remember him more in Johnny’s senior year. He had big games against St John’s that year. That St John’s team had Eric Barkley. They beat us in the Garden in the Big East Tourney and went on to win it which was kinda cool. We beat them at home and I think Elton had a block to seal the win. Those were great games. That St John’s team had a lot of personality. I’d give anything to go back and watch the tourney in the Garden one more time.
 
Garnacho said:
****, yeah for sure. I remember him more in Johnny’s senior year. He had big games against St John’s that year. That St John’s team had Eric Barkley. They beat us in the Garden in the Big East Tourney and went on to win it which was kinda cool. We beat them at home and I think Elton had a block to seal the win. Those were great games. That St John’s team had a lot of personality. I’d give anything to go back and watch the tourney in the Garden one more time.
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Yeah, he had a nice little run here at UM, and was a great contributor. He was also a really good dude. I knew him from the dorms and we used to hang out a little.

Someone must have those old games on YouTube somewhere, right?
 
I also really liked Kevin Norris. Wildly incosisntent but he was fearless and was big in some upsets in the early Big East days. Darius Rice made some huge shots too but overall he never quite lived up to the hype. Steve Edwards was a really nice guy and a pretty consistent shooter.

Someone mentioned Popa. I met him when he was a teacher/girls' basketball coach at Cypress Bay while I was subbing. Funny guy. Well-liked by teachers and kids.
 
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