Looking at Justin Gorhams highlights (done by @pesik), it got me wondering
Those first few years under CKS, we were more of an offensive team. But with better recruiting, these last 4 years we’ve been elite defensively. Alot of guys have just bought into the culture of defense and rebounding. Rank 1 to 10, toughest players or best defenders at UH under Sampson. Here’s my list.
1a. Justin Gorham
1b. Nate Hinton
3. Dejon Jarreau
4. Galen Robinson
5. Corey Davis
6. Fabian White
7.Chris Harris Jr
8. Brison Gresham
9. Devin Davis
10. Marcus Sasser
Other names: Leron Barnes, Devonta Pollard, Dameyean Dotson, Rob Gray, Armoni Brooks, Quetin Grimes, Caleb Mills, Tramon Mark, Reggie Chaney
Have to give some love to Leron Barnes. Stayed in the program when it wasn’t cool and was kind of Nate Hinton before Nate Hinton. He would definitely be somewhere in my top 10, maybe somewhere around 5-6. Honestly have to have Corey somewhere in there as well. I know we usually talk about his offense but he was a dog on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Didn’t know that but its great to hear. I feel like a lot of our fanbase won’t even know who he was ten years from now, but he and every other player that first year, really helped set the foundation for what our program has become.
I think that Rob Gray was tough and had a very competitive attitude. I liked his attack mode on offense and defense. I wish some our current players had that “give me the ball and I will kick their butts” attitude that he had. I remember a player said in a couple of games, they just said “Just go take it over Rob” and he did.
Dejon is going to be my #1. He was tough in general, which is why he got our first triple double in decades, but he went out in a must win game in the NCAA tournament with a hip pointer and played through it.
That right there puts him over the top of the others that might otherwise be ahead of him.
Definitely some recency bias for my list. Devonta and Leron, efforted and were unselfish players. And their games could’ve been even better if they had the Guy V Lewis Development Center during their tenure. Can’t argue against your list.
To be honest with yall, I’ve probably watched every Cougar basketball game these last 3 seasons. Before that though I probably watched only 60-75% games on TV. The seasons when Leron & Devonta played, I probably watched alot games, but the ole brain forgets things.