3 point shooters

[waterhead]

In light of the new rule for the 3 point line I thought it might be interesting to see who everyone thinks is the best 3 point shooter in UC history. Some of the candidates are listed below: Feel free to add to the list.

Burton
Flint
Van Exel
Bobbit
Durden
Williams
Levet
Logan

There are only 3 or 4 on this list that didn't require being "set" to launch a shot and make it and/or could drain a 3 pointer with a defender in the face. I give a lot more consideration to those shooters. I have my list of favorites but I will wait to list them.

The fact that they didn't have the three point line way back when unfairly excludes a few of the UC greats from this particular list. It sounds like Bonham would have made this list easy as well as some others that I wouldn't be able to comment on. Perhaps it should just be a list of pure long range shooters.

I am not sure which I like better the 3 point bomb or the slam dunk so maybe next we can break down the best slam dunkers in UC history.

[jplog]

Not based on any hard facts I'd go with Darnell Burton. I always loved seeing him come in off the bench. You knew he'd give the team an offensive boost every time. Plus, I don't recall him being as streaky as some of the others.

[jplog]

I'd also take a big "3" any time over a slam dunk. Nothing better to stop the other teams momentum or get the crowd on it's feet.

[Kindog202]

I think if you are talking overall 3-point ability, I like Logan. He could create his own shot, was accurate and could shoot from some distance. I will go a step further and list some sub-categories and who I feel was best at each.

Most Accurate: Logan
Catch and Shoot: Williams
Deepest Shooter: Durden
Shoot off the Dribble: Bobbit or maybe Burton (it's been a long time since I've seen him play)
Streakiest (is that a word?): Van Exel or Durden
Clutch: Logan or Van Exel
**Note that these rankings were done off the cuff with no research through game film or statistics.

[General Woundwort]

My list:

1. Steve Logan - The one guy who could shoot the three off the dribble or spot up and drain it with equal effectiveness.

2. LaZelle Durden - a quick release and nearly unlimited range.

3. Darnell Burton - He's kind of easy to forget, as he always played with more prominent guys. But he is #1 all time in 3-pointers, and second in percentage. Didn't really have the range of some of the other guys, but you don't get extra points for shooting from 25 feet.

4. Nick Van Exel - Not as accurate as Logan, but tremendous at creating his own shot. Questionable shot selection was mitigated somewhat by the lack of options his senior season (the second leading scorer was Erik Martin).

5. Tony Bobbitt - It was really only one year, but he gets extra credit for his ability, like Logan & Van Exel, to create off the dribble and hit them under pressure. Suffered from poor shot selection, even at his best.

6. Field Williams - a great shooter when he got a good look, but easily the worst at creating his own shot. Needed a lot of help to get free.

7. Steve Sanders - Won the first game in the Shoe on a last-second three. Only played one season, but was perhaps the most important player on that team, as he was the only credible threat from the outside.

8. Roger McClendon - Was hurt by playing on much poorer teams than the others listed here, but also benefitted from the newness of the three point line (it took a couple of years for defenses to adjust).

9. Herb Jones - Didn't shoot a ton of them, but he was very smart about it, and always hit at a good percentage. His ability to penetrate helped give him room to get his shoot off, something the guy below him on this list would have done well to learn.

10. Mel Levett (in the Shoemaker Center) - I have never seen anyone more affected by the arena he was playing in than Mel. In the Shoe, he was a solid player and a very good shooter (although he always had a slow release). Outside the Shoe, he was a liability, particularly from the perimeter.

11. Jihad Muhammed - When he was cold it was a nightmare, but when he was hot it was something to see. Never thought I'd see a guy streakier from behind the arc than Van Exel, then along came Jihad.

12. Charles Williams - just kidding.

[jbod403]

One thing about Logan was he had ice in his veins. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have take a shot with the game on the line. No matter what the range was.

On second thought, maybe I'd take Donald F'n Little....just kidding.

[Indy500]

I can`t believe Anthony Buford is not on anyones list , even though he was here only one year his 3pt shooting was awesome that one season.

[IKOTA]

One thing about Logan was he had ice in his veins. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have take a shot with the game on the line. No matter what the range was.

On second thought, maybe I'd take Donald F'n Little....just kidding.

That's because he was drunk or high half the time he was playing.......j/k...well sort of.

My pick would go to LaZelle Durden but I am biased as they used to call me gunslinger as my game was much like Durden's.

[waterhead]

My favorite shooter of all time was Burton. He had the quickest release of anyone I can remember and accurate as well. He could make a shot with a hand in his face too. He ended up with the most 3 pointers but he probably played more games than most of the rest too with the exception of maybe Logan. We use to call him "butter" because his shot cut through the net like a hot knife through butter.

I like the clutch performers or in other words guys that didn't mind taking a shot when the game was on the line and a defender in their face. Van Exel, Logan, Bobbbit come to mind. I think the best pure set shooters may have been F. Williams and Durden.

There were some others at honorable mention like Levett and Flint. As someone mentioned Buford, Jones, White, Muhammad, N. Williams, Johnson, Wingfield are some other names. Most of these guys weren't 3 point specialists though.

I love the three point shot and we've been blessed with some pretty good shooters. I hope we can continue that tradition with these new kids. Mitchell and Davis are the heir apparents right now maybe Vaughn.

[FleXcursion]

Tony B.--his senior year was funnn to watch.

Melvin - I'm pretty sure he still holds the UC record for most 3 pointers in a game (8?)...when he was hot, he was sweet.

[UCbball21]

Eric Hicks...no doubt;)

[Mick's Da Man]

Keith Legree was pretty good too.

[Bearcat98]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Ron Allen???? :D hehe...

[joe]

My favorite shooter of all time was Burton. He had the quickest release of anyone I can remember and accurate as well. He could make a shot with a hand in his face too. He ended up with the most 3 pointers but he probably played more games than most of the rest too with the exception of maybe Logan. We use to call him "butter" because his shot cut through the net like a hot knife through butter.

I like the clutch performers or in other words guys that didn't mind taking a shot when the game was on the line and a defender in their face. Van Exel, Logan, Bobbbit come to mind. I think the best pure set shooters may have been F. Williams and Durden.

There were some others at honorable mention like Levett and Flint. As someone mentioned Buford, Jones, White, Muhammad, N. Williams, Johnson, Wingfield are some other names. Most of these guys weren't 3 point specialists though.

I love the three point shot and we've been blessed with some pretty good shooters. I hope we can continue that tradition with these new kids. Mitchell and Davis are the heir apparents right now maybe Vaughn.

How can everyone forget D'Juan Baker.....deadly. He'd hit the three and then put that big ole' exagerrated scowl on his face like a bull blowing air out of his nostrils. Baker was deadly in big games and at the right time IMO.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

How can everyone forget D'Juan Baker.....deadly. He'd hit the three and then put that big ole' exagerrated scowl on his face like a bull blowing air out of his nostrils. Baker was deadly in big games and at the right time IMO.

He didn't didn't 3 points credit (in his day) but Ron Bonham could ring up buckets from deep in the corner.

I'd go with LaZelle Durden.

[loshow22]

Levett dropped 10 against EKU en route to a 42 point explosion!

Logan was about as clutch as anyone I have seen play.

Burton was automatic.

Durden was my favorite growing up, so of course he was money!

In terms of setting and shooting, I don't think Field could be beaten. That's where my money goes.

What about Fletch?? Nothing made opponents question their preparation more than when Fletch knocked down a couple. That always made me smile. I'm biased toward Fletch for a reason.

[red_n_black_attack]

I would have to go with Darnell Burton on a daily and consistent basis. In the clutch, game on the line, all of the pressure - Steve Logan got you the neededpoints.

The deepest three I can recall in normal offensive mode was the three Damon Flint made against Marquette - I believe that was the game the lights went out:eek: , but that was not due to Damon shooting the lights out as he would not make my top 20 three point shooters, but he did one one dandy of a game!

[loshow22]

Bobbit against Oregon and Louisville were games to behold just because when he got going, so did his mouth. I hate Louisville so seeing them come into the Shoe all high and mighty and watching a mediocre UC team glaze them over made me smile for a year!

[waterhead]

I use to love watching Van Exel pull up from 25' with a man in his face and just shread the net. Yes, he was streaky but how do you get consistent taking shots like that? The 3 point percentage for guys like that would no doubt be a lot higher if all they did was shoot open set shots like Nick and Field Williams or even Levet. Not that there is anything wrong with that approach. I just love the confidence of guys like Van Exel, Logan, Burton, Bobbit, and even Durden. No fear!

[waterhead]

This race was a little closer.

It was so close that I'm not sure there is a winner yet or should be.

Burton, Logan, Durden, Van Exel, Bobbit, Williams, Levett were all mentioned multiple times. That is about the order I would list them right now. Maybe we have someone on the team now that can take the crown without question.