creeksandzeeks wrote:

Auerbach, JJ, Holup, Shawnta is probably my call.

​Holup is the most dominant and complete player (statistically) GW has ever had. He averaged 21 and 19 for his career, and was picked fifth overall in the NBA Draft. Shawnta is the only A10 player of the year from GW.

As for others, Bill Reinhart meant a ton to getting GW basketball on the map, led the program to their only NCAA Tournament appearances before Jarvis arrived, and taught Red the fast break. Taj Abraham Ngongba probably would have occupied JJ's spot before JJ's professional career got rolling. Mike Jarvis is still the name locals think of first when you mention GW basketball, followed by Yinka and Pops. Mike Brown had by far the most illustrious NBA career. Carl Elliott is the all-time winningest GW player (or at least was), has the only triple-double, and was a key player for three straight tournaments and the 27-3 season. Joe McKeown deserves mention as well. Took a GW basketball team farthest to the Elite 8.

I was thinking Joe vs Jarvis for the 4th spot, Shawnta vs Holup for the 3rd spot

Side note, although there's a smattering of Red including the plaque, GW needs to dramatically increase the Red/GW profile, I've personally discussed this recently with CC

DC Native wrote:

I'll stick with only players. For MBB, my list is Holup, Mike Brown, Shawnta, and Yinka.
For coed, replace Yinka with JJ.
As famous and successful as Auerbach was, he is not known for his GW days. The vast majority of people out there have no idea he played for GW.

As tremendous a player as Holup was, and I understand you did players only, no Coaches, my case for a guy like Mike Jarvis over Holup was that Jarvis had a far bigger impact on the program as the Coach for nearly a decade bringing GW to new heights and heights we've not yet returned to (Sweet 16, playing the Fab 5 toe to toe on the national stage etc) than Holup, no fault obvi of  the great Holup who has a good case for the best ever GW men's player (but I'd vote Shawnta for that, Holup probably #2 and Yinka #3?)

Coach Joe I'd also would vote over Holup, but for players only I think your list is spot on, except that JJ has to have a spot and no player woman or man has had a career even close to on par with what JJ is doing in the WNBA.  JJ has to have one of the 4 spots for GW Basketball, this isn't "Men's only or players only" just "GW Basketball Rushmore"

All that being said, no one in basketball history has had a bigger impact on the sport than Red (I guess MJ has a case?) who is the mastermind and architect of the greatest franchise and dynasty in the history of the sport,  and did it over a span of 4-5 decades, albeit, what you said about how he's known nationally is undeniably true. Still, as a star player for GW with a pair of GW degrees BA and MA, got to find a spot on the Rushmore for the legendary Red Auerbach IMO.   Just my view, Rushmores are open for debate!

Gwmayhem wrote:

Put Red on a Boston Celtics Mount Rushmore or even an NBA Mount Rushmore.  A GW Mount Rushmore ought to speak to a person's contributions while at GW.  Personally, I'd be fine naming the court after Red to help strengthen that connection to the public.  That's about visibility.  But a Mount Rushmore should represent the greatest ever and that's simply not Red while he was at GW.

Agree with this. Also, I just don't think it is fair to compare players and coaches, as players can only be around for 4 years and coaches can be around much longer. Also, as much as I loved Shawnta, there is no way he was a better player than Holup. Holup is still second in rebounds in NCAA Division I history. He is one of only two players, along with Tom Gola, to score over 2000 points and have over 2000 rebounds.

Here is my Mount Rushmore of GW basketball coaches:
1) Bill Reinhart: 319 wins, which is almost double anyone else (Hobbs is next with 166). Reached No. 5 in the AP poll. Two NCAA Tournament berths, the first when there were only 16 teams invited (GW's first Sweet 16?).
2) Joe McKeown: 250 wins, one Elite 8, three Sweet 16s.
3) Mike Jarvis: 152 wins, three out of GW's four men's NCAA Tournament wins, one Sweet 16.
4) Karl Hobbs: 166 wins, GW's other NCAA Tournament win, GW's only two men's A10 Tournament champions. Reached No. 6 in the AP poll.

 

Ferd, Ferd, Ferd, and Ferd.