WKU Basketball: Jared’s 2010’s All-Decade Team
While WKU wasn’t selected as one of Andy Katz’s March Madness Teams of the Decade, it made me think about what would WKU’s team of the…
While WKU wasn’t selected as one of Andy Katz’s March Madness Teams of the Decade, it made me think about what would WKU’s team of the decade look like?
Looking from 2010 all the way to now, WKU has gone to two NCAA Tournaments thanks to the automatic bid from winning back to back Sun Belt championships in 2012 and 2013.
But who deserves the spot on the all-decade roster? I’ll argue my selections in no particular order. I’m only selecting players that played two or are about to play for two or more seasons this decade (sorry Darius Thompson, A.J. Slaughter, Derrick Gordon, etc.).
T.J. Price (2011–2015)
It’s hard to not think of this man when thinking of some of the best Hilltoppers we’ve had in a long time.
Price played all four seasons of his college ball at WKU and averaged 14.3 points and 4.6 rebounds during his illustrious career on the Hill. He was a major factor and leader on both of the teams that won the back-to-back Sun Belt titles and was one of the most reliable three-point shooters the team has had in recent memory.
He shot 41% from deep his senior year and the fact that he was robbed of playing in the NCAA Tournament his last season on the Hill (screw you, UAB. I will never forgive you) still makes my blood boil to no end. Regardless, T.J. Price definitely deserves to be on the all-decade team.
Sergio Kerusch (2008–2011)
It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since Kerusch was on the Hill but his impact was definitely felt when he was here.
While only playing at WKU for three seasons, Kerusch was able to be an impact player each year he played averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds for his career and had one NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009. He played alongside some of the recent greats with A.J. Slaughter, Jeremy Evans, OMV, etc. and always produced. Kerusch earns his spot on the roster.
George Fant (2011–2015)
He may be in the NFL now but the man was a force to be reckoned with on the court back in the day.
Bowling Green’s own George Fant was another reason WKU made two NCAA Tournament appearances (alongside T.J. Price) in 2012–2013 as he finished his Hilltopper career averaging 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds.
Fant and Price both will always have a special place in my heart because they were the best players on the team when I first became a student at WKU so I’ll always respect them for what they were able to accomplish during my time as a student. They kindled the fire for WKU Sports that I have today and for that, I’m thankful.
It’s impossible to think of “greatest Hilltoppers” without thinking of Fant to me. Not only did he rep the #44 for his whole career (RIP Jim McDaniels) but the man has to be one of the only people in the NCAA’s history to win a conference title in more than one sport (2 Sun Belt titles in basketball and one C-USA title in football).
I know that reasoning technically doesn’t make him more of a shoe-in for the all-decade team in basketball but he was still a vital frontcourt player on two extremely successful teams in his time at WKU. Fant succeeded in everything he did at WKU and is the definition of a Hilltopper to me so he most certainly deserves the spot.
Justin Johnson (2014–2018)
Another in-state, high motor forward that have left a longing impact at WKU in their time.
Johnson was a player that everyone loved and whose impact was missed almost immediately the following season. Despite having a slow start his freshman year, Johnson still finished his career at the Hill averaging 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds (take away his freshman season and it’s closer to 15 points and 8 rebounds).
Not only was he a workhorse in the paint, but he was also a major leader on the team toward the end of his career and despite the program going through several major changes, he was still there ready to play regardless of all the noise from outside the locker room.
Watching him grow up before my eyes into the player he became is what college basketball is supposed to be, as far as I’m concerned. He came to WKU and looked scared at times in the paint as he slowly adjusted to college play and by his senior year, he transformed into a poised leader with confidence, carried the team on his back when they needed him, and even drained some three-pointers every now and then.
Johnson stuck with this program through thick and thin and his loyalty alone is worthy of being on the all-decade team, in my opinion of course.
Charles Bassey (2018-???)
I know what you’re thinking, reader of this article: “but he hasn’t even played his second year yet!” and you would be correct.
But looking at Charles Bassey, if he stays healthy and produces like we all believe he will in a second year, will most likely end up well-deserving of this spot. I will speak this into existence.
Being the first consensus five-star recruit in program history is a good feat to have right off the bat but Bassey showed out in his freshman campaign last season averaging 14.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks and collected a slew of C-USA honors to go with it.
I definitely thought he would be one-and-done but after his draft stock fell, he’s back with more experience, more training, and hopefully a fully healed knee to go with it. He still participated in the NBA combine and trained in Los Angeles this summer and I’m hoping that with this upcoming season he’ll prove to all the scouts that he is who we all thought he would be.
You guys can argue amongst yourselves whether you agree or disagree with my list but looking back in another ten years, we’ll get more clarity on who will stand the test of time as a legendary Hilltopper from this decade. There are still other players such as Trency Jackson, Taveion Hollingsworth, Josh Anderson, Jamal Crook and more that can end up in discussion at the end of next season but as things stand now, I’ll stick with the five I’ve selected.