Lessons Learned: Will All-American Voters Stop Shunning Mid-Major Stars?

February 23rd, 2013 - 15:39

It's that time of year when BracketBuster games prove more entertaining than marquee conference contests and schools begin to intensify promotion of All-American candidates. Mid-major players should have a banner year but they need to be wary based on the past performance of low-information voters.

Questioning the qualifications of voters quickly comes to mind when assessing the list of standouts who weren't acknowledged as All-Americans. Despite stellar collegiate careers, including player of the year acclaim in a mid-major conference, a striking number of individuals didn't generate sufficient national recognition to be chosen as an All-American. For instance, Paul Millsap of Louisiana Tech led the nation in rebounding three straight seasons from 2003-04 through 2005-06 but wasn't accorded All-American status. Paul George, Mr. Versatility for Fresno State in 2009-10, was shunned before also going on to become an NBA All-Star like Millsap this year.

The overlooked features two prominent floor generals who went on to lead the NBA in assists a total of 14 times - John Stockton (nine) and two-time MVP Steve Nash (five) - plus Tim Hardaway, who averaged 8.2 apg during his 13-year pro career; Joe Dumars, a six-time NBA All-Star guard and 1989 NBA Finals MVP, and Derek Fisher, who received five championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first decade of the 21st Century. Among shunned frontcourters, two-time conference MVPs Chris Gatling, Brian Grant, Popeye Jones and Rik Smits each played at least 11 seasons in the NBA.

Whether they are coaches who need to come out of the film-watching closet or members of the lame-stream media, many incompetent voters should be deep-sixed for overdosing on the premier leagues while looking condescendingly upon mid-level players. Following is an alphabetical list of Division I conference MVPs left behind in regard to securing All-American status before they enjoyed NBA/ABA careers of at least six seasons:

Player Pos. School Mid-Level Conference League MVP Season(s)
Mark Acres F Oral Roberts Midwestern City 1982-83 and 1983-84
Rick Adelman G Loyola, Calif. West Coast Athletic 1967-68
Jim Ard C Cincinnati Missouri Valley 1969-70
Vin Baker C Hartford North Atlantic 1992-93
Jose Juan Barea G Northeastern Colonial Athletic Association 2005-06
Anthony Carter G Hawaii Western Athletic 1996-97
Terry Catledge F South Alabama Sun Belt 1983-84 and 1984-85
Chris Childs G Boise State Big Sky 1988-89
Doug Christie G-F Pepperdine West Coast 1990-91 and 1991-92
Craig "Speedy" Claxton G Hofstra America East 1997-98 and 1999-2000
Wayne Cooper C New Orleans Sun Belt 1977-78
Antonio Daniels G Bowling Green Mid-American 1996-97
Bryce Drew G Valparaiso Mid-Continent 1996-97 and 1997-98
Joe Dumars G McNeese State Southland 1984-85
Ledell Eackles F New Orleans American South 1987-88
Blue Edwards F East Carolina Colonial Athletic Association 1988-89
Melvin Ely C Fresno State Western Athletic 2000-01 and 2001-02
Derek Fisher G Arkansas-Little Rock Sun Belt 1995-96
Fred Foster F Miami of Ohio Mid-American 1967-68
Winston Garland G Southwest Missouri State Mid-Continent 1986-87
Chris Gatling C-F Old Dominion Sun Belt 1989-90 and 1990-91
Kenny Gattison F Old Dominion Sun Belt 1985-86
Mike Glenn G Southern Illinois Missouri Valley 1975-76
Brian Grant F-C Xavier Midwestern Collegiate 1992-93 and 1993-94
Willie Green G Detroit Horizon League 2002-03
Bob Gross F-G Long Beach State PCAA 1974-75
Tim Hardaway G Texas-El Paso Western Athletic 1988-89
Trenton Hassell F Austin Peay Ohio Valley 2000-01
Armond Hill G Princeton Ivy League 1975-76
Tyrone Hill F-C Xavier Midwestern Collegiate 1989-90
Roy Hinson C Rutgers Atlantic 10 1982-83
Lindsey Hunter G Jackson State Southwestern Athletic 1992-93
Avery Johnson G Southern (LA) Southwestern Athletic 1987-88
Eddie Jones F-G Temple Atlantic 10 1993-94
Ronald "Popeye" Jones C Murray State Ohio Valley 1989-90 and 1990-91
Chris Kaman C Central Michigan Mid-American 2002-03
Joe Kleine C Arkansas Southwest 1984-85
Larry Krystkowiak F Montana Big Sky 1983-84 through 1985-86
Jim Les G Bradley Missouri Valley 1985-86
Reggie Lewis F Boston University ECAC North Atlantic 1984-85 through 1986-87
Grant Long F Eastern Michigan Mid-American 1987-88
Pace Mannion G-F Utah Western Athletic 1982-83
Aaron McKie G Temple Atlantic 10 1992-93
Steve Mix C-F Toledo Mid-American 1968-69
Steve Nash G Santa Clara West Coast 1994-95 and 1995-96
Johnny Newman F Richmond ECAC South 1983-84
Norm Nixon G Duquesne Eastern Collegiate Basketball League 1976-77
Michael Olowokandi C Pacific Big West 1997-98
Anthony Parker G-F Bradley Missouri Valley 1995-96
Robert "Sonny" Parker G-F Texas A&M Southwest 1974-75
Tim Perry F Temple Atlantic 10 1987-88
Kurt Rambis C-F Santa Clara West Coast Athletic 1979-80
Dan Roundfield F Central Michigan Mid-American 1974-75
Brian Shaw G UC Santa Barbara PCAA 1987-88
Reggie Slater C Wyoming Western Athletic 1991-92
Larry Smith F Alcorn State Southwestern Athletic 1979-80
Rik Smits C Marist ECAC Metro 1986-87 and 1987-88
Ricky Sobers G UNLV West Coast Athletic 1974-75
John Stockton G Gonzaga West Coast Athletic 1983-84
Rodney Stuckey G Eastern Washington Big Sky 2005-06
George Trapp F Long Beach State PCAA 1969-70 and 1970-71
Gary Trent F Ohio University Mid-American 1992-93 through 1994-95
Ronny Turiaf F Gonzaga West Coast 2004-05
David Wesley G Baylor Southwest 1991-92