Is Jimmer the best ever at BYU?

[jay santos]

This season might put Jimmer over Ainge. POY and Sweet 16 could go a long ways in this debate. I hope he goes down as the BYU greatest.

[pellegrino]

This season might put Jimmer over Ainge. POY and Sweet 16 could go a long ways in this debate. I hope he goes down as the BYU greatest.

I do too, I think he makes a great poster boy for BYU and the program.

[Santabarbara]

Jimmer vs. Danny

I sat in a folding chair courtside in Providence in 1981 and saw Ainge personally destroy UCLA (when they were still good) scoring 35 in the NCAA tournament. And followed his career in the pros as well. I agree with PAC that he was excellent as he introduced the "getting bitten at the bottom of the scrum." He also used and excellent double leg take down of Tree Rollings in the same fight. However, he had an incredible whiny face when things didn't go his way. I heard many people say that he was a disgrace because of it. Bird was always annoyed with him. But his skill was undeniable. He had a fine, if not stellar career in the pros.

I suspect that Jimmer is a better shot, and less of a head case. At BYU, He and Danny were equal IMHO, in their impact on the team, school and the NCAA. In the pros, we will see. Expect Jimmer to have a career similar to Ainge if he lucks out and gets on a good team. If not, he may langish in obscurity

[snowcat]

He is good enough that it is at least debatable.

I am fortunate enough to have seen Kosic, Ainge and now Fredette.

Kosic was pure fun to watch play. A guy that big doing what he could do was way out of the ordinary back then.

Ainge, well he was Ainge. BYU was down when he showed up. He was by far the best player when he arrived as a Freshman. Then some awfully good talent was added to the mix while he was there and they made a deep run in the NCAA's. Think about it. He still holds the scoring record at BYU and if you like defense, Jackson just beat his steals record.

Fredette, well he is awfully fun to watch too. Better shooter than Ainge, IMHO. He carries this team in a way Ainge didn't carry his. Perhaps Ainge carried the team emotionally, but he had a way better supporting cast. Fredette's supporting cast is good, but not as good as Ainge's. If Fredette takes this team deep into the NCAA's, then I might have to reaccess how I feel.

Right now I would take Ainge, but ask again at the end of the year.

I am old enough to know it was Cosic not Kosic. I actually have an old autograph of his somewhere. My older sisters were at BYU at the time.

I was a freshman when Ainge made his historic end to end run against ND in the NCAA's. You would not believe the spontaneous celebration that erupted on campus after that game.

Right now I would give the edge to Ainge. But Jimmer may overtake him in my mind with a strong run in the tourney.