A Grip on Sports: Picking a ‘favorite’ basketball player can mean many things, but the main element may be how much fun they supplied to those watching

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s Saturday. Fun day. Cartoons, dates, golf, naps, depending on what state of your life you are in. So let’s have fun. Let’s stretch our memory and come up with a list of local college basketball players we loved watching back in the day – maybe even if that day was three of four weeks back.

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• Yesterday morning we worked our rear off. Hours of research. Studying the records, searching our memory. Writing. Finally, though, we were able to winnow a long list of outstanding basketball players that have passed through the Inland Northwest the past 50 years. We came up with a list of the 10 most accomplished men to have played the game around here. (If you are wondering, we will be doing a similar list at some point for the women, most of whom we have had the pleasure of watching.)

It was hard.

Today, however, isn’t as time consuming. But it is just as hard. How do you compare your memory of John Stockton playing in a charity game the summer after he graduated Gonzaga to your memory of Rodney Stuckey his one year at Eastern? And weigh the relative merits of their play?

The term “favorite” – as in the list represents my favorite players we’ve watched play at the college level around here – is nebulous in itself. It means one thing to me and another to you. But that’s OK. Mine are mine, yours are yours. There is no right-or-wrong answer here. And there is no right-or-wrong answer if you want to email me your list. We would love to see the two or three players (or more if you are ambitious) you would label “favorite.”

• We want to emphasis we are not alone in this time of a sports blackout – even as we practice social distancing. In that vein we asked a bunch of friends and colleagues their thoughts about this subject. Their lists follow. Now isn’t that fun?

Without any more time wasting, here is my list:

10: Paul Verret, Idaho and Gonzaga: You may not know this player but I do. Was one of those bigs Dan Fitzgerald recruited to GU to set screens. He did it well. Besides, he’s one of my best friends these days so he has to be one of my favorites.

9: Mark Spink, Gonzaga: You won’t find Mark’s name on many all-time lists at Gonzaga, except maybe one that really doesn’t exist. But if there were a list for “floor burns” he would be on top, ahead of Mike Nilson and Mike Hart. He spanned the transition years at GU at the turn of the century and was part of the teams that set the bar for all that followed.

8: Bobby Jack Sumler, CCS: I only got to watch this legend play a couple times, and he was spectacular in many ways. But the reason he’s on this list is I have a friend who played with him at CCS. And the stories he tells about Bobby Jack are spectacular as well. I don’t know if they are true, but that’s not important. They are believable.

7. Bryan Depew, Whitworth: If this Central Valley High graduate had grown a few more inches, he may have gone down as one of Gonzaga or Washington State’s best inside scorers. As it was, the 6-5 Depew was unstoppable inside at Whitworth. His array of post moves were as polished as anyone I’ve ever seen – as was his motor on the offensive end.

6: Jamie Bjorkland, Gonzaga: There have been innumerable Zag women who I could have picked for this list, from Stephanie Hawk to Heather Bowman to Courtney Vandersloot to Jill Townsend. But Jamie will have to represent them all. And she’s capable of it. Not the most physically talented player to wear the GU uniform, she was the consummate glue player, the one who kept things from coming apart when all seemed lost. Ask her to do anything and she never stopped trying to get it done.

5: Rodney Stuckey, EWU: I was sitting at the Tacoma Dome for a State playoff game one day, on the far end of the court. A Kentwood player caught a pass and rose up to shoot a game-winning 3-pointer. His feet were above my head. Well above it. That was Rodney Stuckey. I have never forgotten that. His two years at Eastern were as impressive as any player has ever had in this area.

4: Orlando Lightfoot, Idaho: OK, this is about one game. A night in the old Kennel. Idaho was in town to play the Zags. It wasn’t all that crowded, but more so than the usual games back then. Lightfoot was unstoppable. The 50 points came from everywhere. Wow.

3: Taylor Rochestie, WSU: This is a selfish choice. Taylor was just so honest and open as a player with the Cougars, he made my job easier. I’m sure he didn’t appreciate some of the questions I asked, especially after losses. But he answered them. He was also a consummate point guard who, by the time he was a senior and the Cougars featured him, Aron Baynes and a freshman named Klay Thompson, actually knew how to run blocker/mover as well as any of the coaches, including Tony Bennett. True story: The most ticked off I ever made Bennett was when I compared Rochestie’s shooting form with Tony’s, mainly because they were both left-handed. Bennett, who still is the NCAA’s all-time 3-point percentage leader (for a certain amount of attempts), seemed to be a bit offended.

2: Robbie Cowgill, WSU: How the heck did someone with Cowgill’s frame compete at the level Washington State reached his last two seasons in Pullman? The 6-foot-8, one-hundred-and-nothing forward from Texas just didn’t look as if he could compete. But he could. Because he would never back down. A completely committed Christian, Robbie never turned the other cheek on the basketball court. And never got mad. He just played hard every second of every game.

1: David Pendergraft, Gonzaga: Full disclosure here. I have (jokingly) committed to serving as David’s campaign manager if and when I can talk him into running for mayor of Spokane. His skills on the basketball court translate into what I consider those needed to be the perfect public servant. Plus he’s more than smart enough to be mayor – and smart enough to always ignore my pleas. Dick Bennett thought Davey (as some call him) was the perfect player for his system and year’s after regretted neither he nor Tony could attract the Brewster star to Pullman. But Davey was always going to be a Zag. He also was part of the best high school basketball matchup I ever covered, when Brewster played Snohomish (and Jon Brockman) in the old Kennel. What a game.

• That’s my list. But I also asked others and a few came through. We start with S-R sports editor Ralph Walter’s list. Two key facts about Ralph. He once worked for me and he also was once a high school basketball assistant. The former probably should disqualify him (for anything) though the latter balances out his credentials for the following list. By the way, he did his backward of the prescribed assignment. But he’s my boss now, so what can you do? Here his list with comments:

1. Isaac Fontaine, WSU: I actually road-tripped to Yakima to watch him play in the old CBA. Sadly, when I waved to him, he gave me a look like I was a creep. Note: I recognize the look – I’ve seen it often over the years.

2. Rodney Stuckey, EWU: I argued endlessly with former GU coach Dan Fitzgerald, who said he didn’t like his body language for the next level, that he was the next Dwyane Wade. Shows what I know. 

3. Jay Humphrey, Whitman: Taught me everything I know about basketball. And in his prime, was nearly unguardable the way he ran off screens and made every mid-range jumper. Also a reliable teammate for post-game beverages.

4. Alvin Snow, EWU: Godfather of modern Eastern hoops. And he’s a great guy.

5. Jerry Skaife, Idaho: The king of the old SFCC 4-on-4 league, the former Mr. Idaho basketball was our version of Jerry West.

6. Shann Ferch, Montana State: He singlehandedly ruined my handpicked basketball tournament several years ago by being too good.

7: David Pendergraft, Gonzaga: I actually LOST a tiny 3-on-3 tournament with the former Hoopfest Open Division champion as our captain. (How bad am I?)

8: Matt Brunell, EWU: (See above)

9. Marc Axton, EWU: Such a pro. I don’t play much anymore, but if I did, I’d love have him captain the next 3-on-3 losing team that I could be part of.

10. Gregg “Mullet” Smith, EWU: Big man’s two memorable performances in 2004 carried Eagles to their first NCAA tourney. Hard not to love him.

• Dennis Patchin has been around the Inland Northwest longer than I have. He’s served as Gonzaga’s radio voice, as KXLY’s sports director and now hosts the only sports radio talk show in town. Here’s his list with his comments:

To pick just 10 would is really hard. That’s like asking you to pick your two favorite kids and I have three. (There are some days I could do this, and there are other days I couldn’t come up with one). But here goes:

HM. Laron Griffin: Played three years at Eastern Washington and was just a fun guy to be around. He was a role player for sure, but he is the guy I point to when something happens to guys in the last 10 games of their senior year. They figure out that time is running out and they better do something. His final 10 games at Eastern (which I did broadcast), he played like a guy heading to the NBA. He averaged 15 points in almost 10 rebounds in those games. He helped Eastern into the playoffs and then helped them win a Big Sky Tournament game. LaRon was just a happy guy, and an amazing finish to his career at EWU. 

10. Darci Wellsandt: Might be the greatest high school athlete I ever saw. Talented in so many things she did, she could have been a star at any sports she tried and the one she did, she was amazing at. The many times I talked to her, she always wanted to talk about her teammates or coaches. If you never saw her play, you really missed out. Great kid and came from a great family. I just loved watching here play anything.

9. Carl Crider: First watched him at Tekoa-Oakesdale and he was as good a State B Player as I ever saw. Led the Nighthawks to State titles in basketball and football. (By the way, he might be the best quarterback on our list). He was like most great point guards as he looked further ahead than most players do in controlling the game.  Spent time at Eastern Washington and then finished at Gonzaga. My first year doing Gonzaga games on the radio was his final year playing in college. Might be the smartest guy I’ve met while in Spokane. He comes from a great family and is just great to hang around with. 

8. Brian Quinnett: He was the first person I ever interviewed working at KXLY-TV. His team was going to State his senior year at Cheney. I always marvel when a big man can shoot it like he could. I was there in the Spokane Arena when he blew his knee out - like 6-feet away. I really got to know Brian after his playing days were over and I consider him a good friend today. Great guy who could really, really, really shoot it. 

7. David Stockton - His is an amazing story.  Really good high school player (good quarterback as well) but when he went to Gonzaga not many thought he ever play but in garbage time. He turned himself into a really good player, and help Gonzaga continue the string of tournament runs. Keith Osso and I call him Mr. Vegas for his play in the WCC Tournament and he would always laugh at us. I can’t imagine the pressure he played with at Gonzaga in the shadow of his dad, and at least to all of us, it never got to him. That takes a very special person. 

6. Courtney Vandersloot: Loved to watch here play, and loved to she how she changed as a person while at Gonzaga. Was a great player when she got there, no doubt but was shy. Midway through her sophomore year she just started to open up and every time we went to Gonzaga to talk to players, she was a must. Really like watching here play, but really like just talking with her. Gave us great insight on the game, but was just fun to talk about almost anything with.  

5. Mike Nilson: I might have a theme going about liking players who overachieved. Mike really had no business playing on an Elite 8 and Sweet 16 team. His basketball skills were limited, but boy did he play hard. Defensive player of the year in the WCC and when he locked you down, you were done. I felt so bad for him when he blew out his Achilles in the WCC Tournament in Santa Clara. I heard it pop and I will never forget the faces of his teammates when he went down. Played on heart, grit and toughness. Great person too and one of the first Zags to come here and never leave. 

4. Ronny Turiaf: Changed everything at Gonzaga in terms of bringing in foreign players. Sure there was Axel Dench, Paul Rogers and John Rillie – the Zags were St. Mary’s before St. Mary’s was – from Australia, but this was different. Ronny was a guy you asked, “How did they get this guy?” But what really set him apart was how he opened his arms to Spokane and jumped right in to being part of the community. He was everywhere, and schools, visiting with kids in hospitals. I bet if you ask ever Gonzaga student who went to school when Ronny was there, “Were you a close person friend of Ronny?” they would say yes. He was bigger than life and made you feel like the most important person in his life. Nothing like a Ronny Turiaf smile. 

3. David Pendergraft: People who didn’t see him play at Brewster don’t know how good he really was. At Gonzaga he took on a role that most players won’t do. He sacrificed his game to do all the dirty things. He could have led the team in scoring and been a starter, but that is not what the Zags needed. When people ask me which Gonzaga player is the greatest Zag (using coach Steve Hertz’ definition) it is David Pendergraft. And it isn’t even close. 

2. Taylor Rochestie: My favorite Cougar from all the Tony Bennett guys. I enjoyed Robbie Cowgill, Daven Harmeling and Caleb Forrest, but this guy was my favorite. Again, another point guard. Taylor Rochestie was going to do everything he could to make sure his team won. He was funny to be around and would joke around with his teammates, but when it came to basketball, he was all business. Made what ever play needed to be made, including hitting that big shot against Arizona State to this day I say was a bad shot. Should have never taken that one, but it went in so how can you argue with it? I think he was the key player for Tony in the Cougars making it to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. 

1. Matt Santangelo: Matt was the guy that changed everything at Gonzaga. He was the best recruit to date, and from the time he stepped on the court after red-shirting, the best player. He was all business on the court, and while other guys were happy go lucky on that team, Matt was different. I like the way he played and I loved his intensity. I was so lucky to broadcast his final three years at Gonzaga. There is no surprise that Hoopfest has taken another step with him in charge.  

• Finally, I touched base with Steve Bergum, who not only covered the Zags as they were beginning their NCAA runs, but covered Washington State prior to that as well. He wanted everyone to know some of the players below made the list because “they were good interviews.” It’s a sentiment anyone who has ever written for a newspaper understands really well. Here is Steve’s list, in no particular order: Mark Hendrickson (WSU) … Isaac Fontaine (WSU) … Tony Harris (WSU) … Adam Morrison (GU) … Dan Dickau (GU) … Ronny Turiaf (GU) … Casey Calvary (GU) … J. P. Batista (GU) … Blake Stepp (GU) … Orlando Lightfoot (UI).

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Gonzaga: It was a fun Friday for Filip Petrusev, who was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. Jim Meehan has that story as well as one on the Zags scheduling a nonconference matchup with Texas Tech for next December. The game will be Dec. 19 in Phoenix. … It didn’t end the way anyone would have liked, but Lisa Fortier believes this was one of the Zags’ best seasons. The numbers in Jim Allen’s story back her up. And as someone who saw most of their home games and some from the road, we would agree. Especially considering how well they pivoted after losing Katie Campbell to a knee injury. … This story in Sports Illustrated about Spokane and the loss of events, including GU and the NCAA Tournament, is worth reading. … There were some local ties for this G-League team. … Elsewhere in the WCC, Loyola Marymount reached into the Midwest Catholic university ranks for its next head coach. The Lions hired Marquette assistant Stan Johnson yesterday. … Dalton Nixon came all the way back for BYU this season.

WSU: Though its rival across the state has already canceled all spring sporting activities, Washington State athletic director Pat Chun didn’t go that far in a teleconference yesterday. As Theo Lawson’s story relays, the Cougars are still waiting to see what happens over the next few weeks before deciding the fate of spring football. Theo also transcribed the entire interview if you want to read it. … Around the Pac-12, I’m sure those of you who are scraping to get by right now will be sad to hear about this. … Payton Pritchard is Oregon’s first AP first-team men’s basketball All-American. … Let’s break down Oregon State’s season by the numbers. … There are two Colorado basketball players in the transfer portal already. … Utah has a lot of talent returning next season. … In football, will Arizona State really be a contender in the fall? … A former star Sun Devil running back died this week.

EWU: We recently mentioned how good Eastern’s basketball team could be next year with what the Eagles have returning. Now someone who actually knows, Ryan Collingwood, has sat down and examined what could be ahead for EWU, He even talked with coach Shantay Legans and his players.

Idaho: Larry Weir is looking forward to next college basketball season in the area, previewing what will be ahead for each of the local four-year schools. He starts with the Vandals on the latest Press Box pod.

Chiefs: With no games to play, many of Spokane’s players are healing up while they wait out the COVID-19-induced layoff. Dan Thompson talked with a few and has their thoughts in this story.

Seahawks: There is another highly valued pass rusher on the market if the Hawks can’t sign Jadeveon Clowney. … But that might cost other veterans their spots.

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• I saw a clip of California Gov. Gavin Newsom talking about social distancing the other day and someone asked him if it was OK to play basketball under the state’s guidelines, guidelines that are similar to Washington’s. He looked incredulous with the question. His answer, and I am paraphrasing here, focused how it is impossible to stay six feet away from others while playing hoop. I wonder ifNewsom has ever watched James Harden play defense? Until later …