Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-la: Exploring La Salle's Versatile Tom Terrific

January 28th, 2014 - 22:25

"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin

Some people talk a good game while others actually play a good game. With each of the 40 exclamation marks in this headline representing 100 points and rebounds, there is no doubt about which side of the fence the premium players in the 4,000 Club are on. Atop the well-done list in this distinguished group is recently-deceased Tom Gola, a terrific scorer/rebounder for La Salle ranking 11th among premier players in history by CollegeHoopedia.com. The Explorers supplied the top two and three of the first 13 major-college players amassing at least 4,000 career points and rebounds. Creighton's Doug McDermott, two inches taller than the 6-6 Gola, joined Gola in early March in the group of seven white players among the 14 individuals on the following list:

Player School College Career Points Rebounds Total
Tom Gola La Salle 1951-52 through 1954-55 2,462 2,201 4,663
Lionel Simmons La Salle 1986-87 through 1989-90 3,217 1,429 4,646
Elvin Hayes Houston 1965-66 through 1967-68 2,884 1,602 4,486
Dickie Hemric Wake Forest 1951-52 through 1954-55 2,587 1,802 4,389
Oscar Robertson Cincinnati 1957-58 through 1959-60 2,973 1,338 4,311
Joe Holup George Washington 1952-53 through 1955-56 2,226 2,030 4,256
Doug McDermott Creighton 2010-11 through 2013-14 3,150 1,088 4,238
Pete Maravich Louisiana State 1967-68 through 1969-70 3,667 528 4,195
Harry Kelly Texas Southern 1979-80 through 1982-83 3,066 1,085 4,151
Danny Manning Kansas 1984-85 through 1987-88 2,951 1,187 4,138
Larry Bird Indiana State 1976-77 through 1978-79 2,850 1,247 4,097
Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina 2005-06 through 2008-09 2,872 1,219 4,091
Elgin Baylor College of Idaho/Seattle 1955-56 through 1957-58 2,500 1,559 4,059
Michael Brooks La Salle 1976-77 through 1979-80 2,628 1,372 4,000