NCAA Mighty Mites: Shortest of Subjects Became Big-Time Playoff Performers
March 21st, 2024 - 10:22
Standing 5-8 in height and 8-5 in stature, Kansas State's Markquis Nowell (single-game playoff record of 19 assists) and Fairleigh Dickinson's Demetre Roberts (averaged 15.7 ppg/4 rpg/4 apg in three playoff contests) were the most entertaining players in last year's NCAA Tournament. In 2024, 5-8 Dallas Graziani (Samford's assists leader) could add immensely to the NCAA tourney's history of mighty mites.
When diminutive dandy Tyrone Bogues isn't on the list (scoreless in three playoff games as a Wake Forest freshman in 1983-84), you know the small packages are something big. A couple of North Carolina State playmakers - Monte Towe and Spud Webb - spearhead the following ranking of the 25 most impactful pint-sized players in playoff history even shorter than Nowell, Roberts and Graziani:
| Rank | Mighty Mite (Height) | School/Tourney Year(s) | Summary of NCAA Playoff Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Shawnta Rogers (5-4) | George Washington 96-98-99 | averaged 20.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5 apg and 2.7 spg in three defeats vs. power-league opponents |
| 2. | Monte Towe (5-7) | North Carolina State 74 | averaged 15.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg and 2 spg in four contests with national titlist |
| 3. | Anthony "Spud" Webb (5-7) | North Carolina State 85 | juco transfer averaged 17 ppg and 6.3 apg in four contests for regional finalist |
| 4. | Earl Boykins (5-6) | Eastern Michigan 96-98 | averaged 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 spg in three contests vs. schools winning national title at some point |
| 5. | Keith "Mister" Jennings (5-7) | East Tennessee State 89-90-91 | averaged 12 ppg and 8.3 apg in three defeats |
| 6. | Drew Lavender (5-6) | Oklahoma 05/Xavier 07-08 | averaged 10.9 ppg, 3 rpg and 5 apg in eight contests (four outings with > 5 assists) |
| 7. | Willie Worsley (5-6) | Texas Western 66-67 | averaged 10.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg in eight contests (scored game-high 24 points vs. Seattle in opener for defending NCAA titlist) |
| 8. | Demontrae Jefferson (5-7) | Texas Southern 17-18 | averaged 19.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4 apg and 2.7 spg in three contests |
| 9. | Tajuan Porter (5-6) | Oregon 07-08 | averaged 16.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2 apg in five contests (including 33 points vs. UNLV) |
| 10. | Jackie Crawford (5-7) | SW Missouri State 92 | juco transfer collected team highs of 16 points and 7 assists in defeat vs. Michigan State |
| 11. | Chico Fletcher (5-6) | Arkansas State 99 | scored team-high 21 points in defeat vs. Utah |
| 12. | Greg Brown (5-7) | New Mexico 93-94 | juco transfer averaged 11 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.5 apg in two losses |
| 13. | Jeremiah Dominguez (5-6) | Portland State 08-09 | Portland transfer averaged 12 ppg, 3 rpg and 3 apg in two defeats |
| 14. | Dick Hickox (5-6) | Miami (Fla.) 60 | scored team-high 17 points vs. Western Kentucky |
| 15. | Otto Petty (5-7) | Florida State 72 | averaged 8.2 ppg, 2 rpg and 5 apg in five contests for national runner-up (three outings with > 5 assists) |
| 16. | Junior Robinson (5-7) | Mount St. Mary's 17 | averaged 15 ppg, 3 apg and 1.5 spg in two contests |
| 17. | Jason Harrison (5-5) | Mississippi 99-01-02 | averaged 6 ppg, 4 apg and 1.3 spg in six contests (five outings vs. power-league opponents) |
| 18. | Chris Lykes (5-6) | Miami (Fla.) 18/Arkansas 22 | collected 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals with the Hurricanes in loss vs. Loyola of Chicago before averaging 3.3 ppg in four contests with the Hogs' regional finalist |
| 19. | Arnold Bernard (5-5) | SW Missouri State 90 | juco transfer contributed 7 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in reversal vs. North Carolina |
| 20. | Wat Misaka (5-7) | Utah 44 | averaged 6 ppg in three contests for NCAA titlist |
| 21. | Casey Jones (5-7) | Northeast Louisiana 90-91 | averaged 8.5 ppg and 2.5 rpg in two defeats (vs. Purdue and Duke) |
| 22. | Chuck Rolles (5-6) | Cornell 54 | averaged 5.5 ppg, 3 rpg and 1.5 apg in three contests |
| 23. | Gene Duffy (5-7) | Notre Dame 58 | averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.7 rpg in three outings |
| 24. | "Little" Johnny Campbell (5-6) | Arkansas 49 | averaged 5.5 ppg in two games for West Regional third-place team |
| T25. | Sherry Marshall (5-7) | Columbia 48 | averaged 4.5 ppg in two contests |
| T25. | Calvin Rayford (5-7) | Kansas 93-94-96 | collected total of 8 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists in nine tourney tilts |
| T25. | Jim Reilly (5-7) | Georgetown 43 | averaged 2 ppg in three contests |
| T25. | Eric Bell (5-6) | Stephen F. Austin 09 | supplied 3 assists and two steals in setback vs. Syracuse |