Calling Card: Notable Nicknames Necessary for Some Players to Be Known Better

Freshman Danrad "Chicken" Knowles, projected to possibly spark Houston to its first NCAA playoff victory since the Cougars finished runner-up to Georgetown in 1984, is academically ineligible this season. But there will still be a gifted guard with an entertaining nickname hoping to help a school shake off some postseason cobwebs.

Lamont "Momo" Jones, a transfer from Arizona, aspires to propel Iona to its first NCAA Tournament triumph since 1980 when the Jim Valvano-coached Gaels defeated Holy Cross before they were eliminated by Georgetown. Momo isn't 100% positive, but he thinks the origin of his nickname stems from him always being on the go as a child with his "mo(tor)" running. Jones joins the following long list of collegians over the years with distinctive monikers:

  • Forest (Frosty) Able, Western Kentucky
  • Greg (Cadillac) Anderson, Houston
  • Paul (Curly) Armstrong, Indiana
  • Raymond (Peanut) Arrington, Radford
  • William (Bird) Averitt, Pepperdine
  • Norwood (Pee Wee) Barber, Florida State
  • Jim (Bad News) Barnes, Texas Western
  • Amadou (Coco) Barry, Maine
  • Segado (Cookie) Belcher, Nebraska
  • Ralph (Stork) Bishop, Washington
  • Roderick (Moo Moo) Blakney, South Carolina State
  • Daron (Mookie) Blaylock, Oklahoma
  • Tyrone (Muggsy) Bogues, Wake Forest
  • Jermaine (Itchy) Bolden, Morgan State
  • Roylin (Boot) Bond, Pepperdine
  • Charles (Tub) Bradley, Wyoming
  • Frank (Flash) Brian, Louisiana State
  • Fred (Downtown) Brown, Iowa
  • Murray (Mule) Brown, Florida State
  • Luther (Ticky) Burden, Utah
  • Michael (Spiderman) Burns, UNLV
  • George (Chink) Busch, Creighton
  • (Pogo) Joe Caldwell, Arizona State
  • Bruce (Soup) Campbell, Providence
  • Bowyer (Ducky) Castelle, Xavier
  • Sam (The Bam) Clancy, Pittsburgh
  • Craig (Speedy) Claxton, Hofstra
  • Nathaniel (Sweetwater) Clifton, Xavier (La.)
  • Vernell (Bimbo) Coles, Virginia Tech
  • Derwin (Tank) Collins, New Orleans
  • John (Chubby) Cox, Villanova/San Francisco
  • Earl (The Twirl) Cureton, Robert Morris/Detroit
  • Adrian (Ace) Custis, Virginia Tech
  • Edwin (Greedy) Daniels, UNLV/Mississippi State
  • E.B. (Ox) Darby, Texas A&M
  • Anthony (Amp) Davis, George Mason
  • Arthur (Yah) Davis, St. Joseph's
  • McKinley (Deacon) Davis, Iowa
  • Louis (Pick) Dehner, Illinois
  • Alfred (Dusty) DeStefano, St. John's
  • John (Hook) Dillon, North Carolina
  • Julius (Daddy) Dolnics, Texas Christian
  • Clyde (The Glide) Drexler, Houston
  • Dwight (Dike) Eddleman, Illinois
  • LeRoy (Cowboy) Edwards, Kentucky
  • Theodore (Blue) Edwards, East Carolina
  • Eyo (Bubbles) Effiong, Winthrop
  • Emil (Box) Englebretson, Creighton
  • Julius (Dr. J) Erving, Massachusetts
  • James (Bruiser) Flint, St. Joseph's
  • Jackie (The Shot) Foley, Holy Cross
  • Arnold (Clyde) Gaines, Wisconsin
  • Lauren (Laddie) Gale, Oregon
  • Harry (The Horse) Gallatin, Northeast Missouri
  • Erin (Helicopter) Galloway, Hawaii
  • George (Iceman) Gervin, Eastern Michigan
  • Carlos (Bunny) Gibson, Marshall
  • Ward (Hoot) Gibson, Creighton
  • Jack (Goose) Givens, Kentucky
  • Bonnie (Country) Graham, Mississippi
  • Paul (Snoopy) Graham, Ohio University
  • Mike (Fly) Gray, Nevada-Reno
  • Ken (Tree) Green, Nevada-Reno
  • Kenneth (Apple) Green, Pan American
  • Harold (Happy) Hairston, New York University
  • Wade (Swede) Halbrook, Oregon State
  • Bill (Biff) Hall, Montana
  • Earl (Bus) Hall, Virginia Tech
  • Anfernee (Penny) Hardaway, Memphis State
  • Herbert (Hawkeye) Hargett, Mississippi State
  • Clem (The Gem) Haskins, Western Kentucky
  • John (Hondo) Havlicek, Ohio State
  • Robert (Bubbles) Hawkins, Illinois State
  • Clarence (Kleggie) Hermsen, Minnesota
  • Jermaine (Squirt) Hicks, Weber State/Chicago State
  • John (Babe) Higgins, Stanford
  • Clinton (Bread Truck) Hinton, UNC Charlotte/Oral Roberts
  • James (Lindy) Hood, Alabama
  • Tecumseh (Tee) Hooper, The Citadel
  • Alfredo (Tito) Horford, Miami (Fla.)
  • Greg (Stretch) Howard, New Mexico
  • (Hot) Rod Hundley, West Virginia
  • Jimmy (Snap) Hunter, Memphis
  • Hernell (Jeep) Jackson, Texas-El Paso
  • Frank (Spoon) James, UNLV
  • Arthur (Brownie) Jaquay, Creighton
  • Antonio (Scoop) Jardine, Syracuse
  • Keith (Mister) Jennings, East Tennessee State
  • Carldell (Squeaky) Johnson, UAB
  • Dana (Binky) Johnson, Canisius
  • Earvin (Magic) Johnson, Michigan State
  • Gary (Cat) Johnson, Oral Roberts
  • Gus (Honeycomb) Johnson, Idaho
  • Kevin (Butter) Johnson, Charlotte
  • Lynbert (Cheese) Johnson, Wichita State
  • Albert (Slab) Jones, New Mexico State
  • Byron (Snake) Jones, San Francisco
  • Gerald (Wimpy) Jones, Arizona State
  • Lamont (Momo) Jones, Arizona/Iona
  • Wallace (Wah Wah) Jones, Kentucky
  • Wilbert (Wibs) Kautz, Loyola of Chicago
  • Robert (Jeep) Kelley, UNLV/Hawaii
  • Bill (Pickles) Kennedy, Temple
  • Eugene (Goo) Kennedy, Texas Christian
  • Bob (Trigger) Kenney, Kansas
  • Bruce (Sky) King, Pan American
  • Raymond (Circus) King, San Diego State/California
  • William (Dolly) King, Long Island
  • Donald (Pinky) Knowles, Creighton
  • Cletus (Goob) Kuehler, West Texas State
  • David (Big Daddy) Lattin, Texas-El Paso
  • Albert (Cappy) Lavin, San Francisco
  • Hal (King) Lear, Temple
  • Arnold (Butz) Lehrman, Minnesota
  • Bob (Slick) Leonard, Indiana
  • Andrew (Fuzzy) Levane, St. John's
  • Lafayette (Fat) Lever, Arizona State
  • Eugene (Junie) Lewis, Pittsburgh/South Alabama
  • Brant (Pinky) Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
  • Lewis (Magic) Lloyd, Drake
  • (Jungle) Jim Loscutoff, Oregon
  • John (Dub) Malaise, Texas Tech
  • Karl (The Mailman) Malone, Louisiana Tech
  • (Pistol) Pete Maravich, Louisiana State
  • Floyd (Biggy) Marshall, Tennessee
  • Slater (Dugie) Martin, Texas
  • Cedric (Cornbread) Maxwell, UNC Charlotte
  • Ayome (Paco) May, Kansas State
  • Marvin (Moon) McCrary, Missouri
  • Ken (Mouse) McFadden, Cleveland State
  • Billy (The Hill) McGill, Utah
  • Eric (Cricket) McLaughlin, Akron
  • Don (Monk) Meineke, Dayton
  • Francis (Ick) Miller, Creighton
  • Ryan (Archie) Miller, North Carolina State
  • Roland (The Cat) Minson, Brigham Young
  • Earl (The Pearl) Monroe, Winston-Salem State
  • Ed (Britches) Montgomery, Tennessee
  • Bryan (Dinty) Moore, Stanford
  • Harry (Moo) Moore, West Virginia
  • Jonathan (Stitch) Moore, Furman
  • Javone (Bam) Moore, Canisius
  • Tony (Zippy) Morocco, Georgia
  • Charles (Stretch) Murphy, Purdue
  • Charlie (Feed) Murphy, Loyola of Chicago
  • Charles (Cotton) Nash, Kentucky
  • Sherman (Nemo) Nearman, North Carolina
  • Bill (Fig) Newton, Louisiana State
  • Bob (Bevo) Nordmann, St. Louis
  • Ken (Snake) Norman, Illinois
  • Martyn (Moochie) Norris, Auburn
  • Ralph (Buckshot) O'Brien, Butler
  • Garland (Mule) O'Shields, Tennessee
  • Bill (Fumbo) Ouseley, William & Mary
  • Carlton (Silk) Owens, Rhode Island
  • Horace (Pappy) Owens, Rhode Island
  • Togo Palazzi, Holy Cross
  • J.P. (Bubber) Farish, Auburn
  • William (Smush) Parker, Fordham
  • Choppy Patterson, Clemson
  • Herschel (Bones) Pedersen, Brigham Young
  • James (Scoonie) Penn, Boston College
  • Ray (Cookie) Pericola, South Carolina
  • Edward (Pancakes) Perry, Middle Tennessee State
  • Ron (Spider) Perry, Virginia Tech
  • Philip (Pap) Peyton, Texas
  • John (Squint) Phares, West Virginia
  • Clarke (Pinky) Pittenger, Toledo
  • DeWayne (Pooh) Powell, Tennessee-Martin
  • George (Tic) Price, Virginia Tech/Virginia Commonwealth
  • Carl (Dusty) Pullian, UT-Chattanooga
  • Cal (The Hawk) Ramsey, New York University
  • Earl (Shadow) Ray, Wyoming
  • Bryant (Big Country) Reeves, Oklahoma State
  • Richie (The Cat) Regan, Seton Hall
  • Jesse (Cab) Renick, Oklahoma A&M
  • Angelo (Rock) Reynolds, Penn
  • Billy (The Kid) Reynolds, Northwestern (La.) State
  • Jerry (Ice) Reynolds, Louisiana State
  • Rudolph (Zip) Rhodes, Montana
  • Jerome (Pooh) Richardson, UCLA
  • Oscar (Big O) Robertson, Cincinnati
  • Glenn (Big Dog) Robinson Jr., Purdue
  • Alvin (Fats) Roth, City College of New York
  • Michael (Campy) Russell, Michigan
  • Forest (Aggie) Sale, Kentucky
  • Sebastian (Subby) Salerno, Creighton
  • Albert (Apple) Sanders, Louisiana State
  • Tom (Satch) Sanders, New York University
  • Frank (Pep) Saul, Seton Hall
  • Philip (Flip) Saunders, Minnesota
  • Nevil (The Shadow) Shed, Texas-El Paso
  • Emilio (Zeke) Sinicola, Niagara
  • Adrian (Odie) Smith, Kentucky
  • Robert (Bingo) Smith, Tulsa
  • Jermaine (Sunshine) Smith, UNLV
  • Vernon (Catfish) Smith, Georgia
  • William (Beaver) Smith, St. John's
  • John (Squeaky) Spanbauer, Niagara
  • Dave (Ditto) Sparks, George Washington
  • Marion (Odie) Spears, Western Kentucky
  • Dave (The Rave) Stallworth, Wichita State
  • Bob (Sweeper) Stephens, Drexel
  • George (Swede) Sundstrom, Rutgers
  • Harley (Skeeter) Swift, East Tennessee State
  • Anthony (Ace) Tanner, Davidson
  • Clarence (Babe) Taylor, Vanderbilt
  • Claude (Sleepy) Taylor, Middle Tennessee State
  • Roland (Fatty) Taylor, La Salle
  • Irv (Swede) Terjesen, New York University
  • Albert (Bobo) Thomas, Centenary
  • Blackstone (Blackie) Thompson, Alabama
  • Marvis (Bootsy) Thornton, St. John's
  • Nate (The Great) Thurmond, Bowling Green
  • Gene (Bumper) Tormohlen, Tennessee
  • Carlyle (Blackie) Towery, Western Kentucky
  • Victor (Slick) Townsend, Oregon
  • Robert (Tractor) Traylor, Michigan
  • Ernest (Kiki) Vandeweghe, UCLA
  • Charles (Chico) Vaughn, Southern Illinois
  • Mathias (Mutt) Volz, Nebraska
  • Malcolm (Sparky) Wade, Louisiana State
  • Chet (The Jet) Walker, Bradley
  • Vincent (Spotlight) Walker, Western Carolina
  • Adrian (Spike) Walters, St. Francis (Pa.)
  • Ray (Shag) Warren, Texas Christian
  • Duane (Pearl) Washington, Syracuse
  • Anthony (Spud) Webb, North Carolina State
  • Marvin (Human Eraser) Webster, Morgan State
  • Gawen (Bonzi) Wells, Ball State
  • Joseph (Jo Jo) White, Kansas
  • Milton (Bus) Whitehead, Nebraska
  • Charles (Hawkeye) Whitney, North Carolina State
  • Pookey Wigington, Seton Hall
  • Anthony (Scoop) Williams, Toledo
  • Donald (Duck) Williams, Notre Dame
  • James (Bug) Williams, Syracuse
  • James (Fly) Williams, Austin Peay State
  • John (Hot Rod) Williams, Tulane
  • Ron (Fritz) Williams, West Virginia
  • Sylvester (Sly) Williams, Rhode Island
  • Jim (Jiggy) Williamson, Rhode Island
  • (Super) John Williamson, New Mexico State
  • David (Poncho) Wright, Louisville
  • Gerry (Sir Jamalot) Wright, Southern California/Iowa
  • Joseph (Joby) Wright, Indiana
  • Desmond (Boggie) Yates, Middle Tennessee State
  • Paul (Hooks) Yesawich, Niagara
  • Max (Slats) Zaslofsky, University of Chicago/St. John's
  • Bob (Zeke) Zawoluk, St. John's