RebKell's Junkie Boards

[Hoops9092]

Here are, in my opinion, the top 8 players in Stanford History - including notable records, achievements, season accomplishments and an argument for each...Vote for 1

What I am most interested in seeing is how you vote in terms of which accomplishment you place the most emphasis on. Whether that is Final Four Appearances (Nneka w/4) or National Championships (Whiting w/2 - Azzi w/1) or perhaps the most complete all-around successful individual careers, not necessarily multiple final four appearances (Powell/Wigginscome to mind).

Kayla Pedersen would be the obvious players missing from this list, however I didn't feel one would vote for her over the likes of Nneka, Chiney, Jayne, Candice - players she played alongside with. Kayla is listed in Honorable Mention.



Jennifer Azzi (86-90)
#2 in Stanford History: Career Assists (751)
#3 in Stanford History: Career Steals (271)
#8 in Stanford History: 3pters Made (191)
2 Pac-10 Championships
2 Elite Eight Appearances
1 Final Four Appearance
1990 National Championship
1990 Naismith National Player of the Year
1990 Wade Trophy National Player of the Year
1990 Honda Broderick National Player of the Year
1990 Women's Basketball News Service National Player of the Year
1990 USBW National Player of the Year
2 Time WBCA All American
Jennifer was the most significant recruit for Tara VanDerveer in early days at Stanford. In her Freshman season, Stanford didn't even making the tournament. As a Senior, Jennifer was the starting PG on the 1990 National Championship Team that went a School-Best 32-1 record. While she isn't atop many of the records, Jennifer did gain recognition for her role with 5 NPOY Awards in 1990. Does this make her the greatest of all time? Would her success in the late 80's/90's compare to the talent opposing teams have today?

Val Whiting (89-93)
#6 in Stanford History: Career Points (2,077)
#6 in Stanford History: Career Rebounds (1,134)
#3 in Stanford History: Career Blocks (201)
4 Pac-10 Championships
3 Elite Eight Appearances
3 Final Four Appearances
1990 National Championship
1992 National Championship
2 Time WBCA All American
Val is the Only member of BOTH National Championship teams on this list. If you are someone who values team success as much as personal success in terms of your vote for the "GREATEST" Cardinal of all time, then Val's combination of top 6 in points and rebounds plus 2 titles is second to none.

EDIT: EDITED: Kate Starbird removed from list as the poll only allows 7 candidates.
Kate Starbird (93-97)
#4 in Stanford History: Career Points (2,215)
#9 in Stanford History: 3pters Made (179)
#9 in Stanford History: Career Assists (437)
4 Pac-10 Championships
4 Elite Eight Appearances
3 Final Four Appearances
2 time WBCA All-American
1997 Naismith National Player of the Year
Had one of the most successful careers in school history with a 118-14 record in 4 years on the Farm including 4 Final Four Appearances (only other player on this list that can match that is Nnemkadi Ogwumike).

Nicole Powell (00-04)
#7 in Stanford History: Career Points (2,062)
#5 in Stanford History: Career Rebounds (1,143)
#5 in Stanford History: Career Assists (577)
4 Pac-10 Championships
2 Sweet Sixteen Appearances
1 Elite Eight Appearance
3 time WBCA All-American
Nicole had 6 Triple Doubles in her Career at Stanford. While she didn't have as much team success as others on this list, Nicole was one of the most dynamic all around players to ever play in the Pac-12. Even more significantly, had Stanford not signed Nicole, would the program have had the foundation to have the success it had in the late 2000's?

Candice Wiggins (04-08
#1 in Stanford History: Career Steals (281)
#2 in Stanford History: Career Points (2,629)
#1 in Stanford History: 3pters Made (295)
#1 in Stanford History: FT's Made (556)
#10 in Stanford History: Career Assists (436)
4 Pac-10 Championships
3 Time Pac-10 Player of the Year
3 Elite Eight Appearances
1 Final Four Appearance
1 National Championship Game Appearance
2008 Wade Trophy National Player of the Year
2008 Senior Class Award
Candice is Stanford's only 4 Time WBCA and AP All-American; Perhaps Led the Resurgence of the Stanford Program with 2008 Final Four Appearance, the First in 11 Years. Impacted the Program from Day 1


Jayne Appel (06-10)
#1 in Stanford History: Career Blocks (273)
#3 in Stanford History: Career Rebounds (1,263)
#5 in Stanford History: Career Points (2,125)
4 Pac-10 Championships
2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year
3 Final Four Appearances
2 National Championship Game Appearances
2 time WBCA All-American
Jayne played a significant role on some of Stanford's most successful teams, including the 2008 resurgence of the program with a National Title Game Appearance. As a Senior, Jayne led Stanford to a 36-2 record.


Nnemkadi Ogwumike (08-12)
#3 in Stanford History: Career Points (2,491)
#4 in Stanford History: Career Rebounds (1,226)
Member of team that ended UConn's 88 Game Win Streak
4 Pac-10 Championships
2 Time Pac-10 Player of the Year
4 Final Four Appearances
1 National Championship Game Appearance
2012 Senior Class Award
3 time WBCA All-American
Nneka had one of the most successful careers in NCAA History with 4 Final Four Appearances, Nearly 2,500 Career Points, Over 1,200 Career Rebounds. Don't forget her 38 point, 16 rebound final four game as a Sophomore. Finished her career with Stanford's 2nd greatest 4 year stint (137-12) only behind the class of 2009 which had 10 losses total

Chiney Ogwumike (10-14)
#1 in Stanford History: Career Points (2,737)
#1 in Stanford History: Career Rebounds (1,567)
#2 in Stanford History: Career Blocks (202)
Member of team that ended UConn's 88 Game Win Streak
4 Pac-12 Championships
2 Time Pac-12 Player of the Year
3 Final Four Appearances
2014 Wooden Award Winner for National Player of the Year
3 time WBCA All-American
Simply re-wrote the Stanford record book with nearly 2,800 career points and 1,600 career rebounds. Played in 3 Final Fours although it never felt like Chiney had the supporting cast in her upper classman years to truly take a swing at the National Championship.


Honorable Mention:
Kayla Pedersen (07-11)
Jeannette Pohlen (07-11)
Brooke Smith (04-07)
Jeanne Ruark Hoff (78-83)
Trisha Stevens (87-91)
Olympia Scott (94-97
Sonja Henning (87-91)
Jamila Wideman (93-97)
Molly Goodenbour (89-93)
Bethany Donaphin (98-02)
Virginia Sourlis (82-86)
Milena Flores (97-00)
Katy Steding (86-90)
Vanessa Nygaard (93-97

[summertime blues]

I'm a Tennessee girl.....I had to vote for Jennifer Azzi. I remember being sad when she went to Stanford and not UT, but I respected her reasons for doing so.

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[myrtle]

Nneka or Chiney may eventually be there, but yeah, now I have to go with the old timer, Azzi. That was really the turnaround point for the program.

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[toad455]

Bethany Donaphin.....J/K.

Azzi, followed by the Ogwumike sisters, Wiggins then Appel.

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[Hoops9092]

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_12549778

[GlennMacGrady]

I voted for Azzi by giving a lot of weight to her being the initial turning point for TV's program, and secondarily for being a top guard in the competition of her times.

However, if I were picking one Stanford player in her college prime to be on the Earth team against the Klingons, I'd pick either of the star ripping, cloud tipping, sky sipping O sisters over Azzi. I also have fond memories of staying up late at night to watch Nicole Powell, playing out of position at point guard on an injured team, putting up triple doubles.

I'd include Susan King on the honorable mention list for her defense alone.

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[taropatch]

Kristin Folkl belongs on the honorable mention list and tops most on that list. I'm somewhat biased in looking at total athleticism as she was known as the "recruit of the decade" -- AA in volleyball too. To this day, people still speculate, "What if Folkl hadn't fouled out?" -- the momentum killer against Old Dominion in the FF semi 1997.

[loneycafe]

I voted for Azzi. The game-changing recruit for Stanford. And, personally, she was the player I aspired to be.

Speaking of Azzi, it looks like she has turned the corner with the San Fran program. Anybody who follows the team has any insight? Are things on the upswing as they appear?

[ClayK]

As far as I can tell, the improvement at USF is real (and by the way, the real USF is not South Florida; USF was winning national championships in men's basketball before South Florida existed).

Azzi has worked hard to upgrade her talent level, instilled a completely different mentality in a program that was basically not competitive, and there's no reason to think she can't keep it up.

That said, the limitations at USF are significant. The facilities aren't great, the competition for players with the Pac-12, the rest of the WCC, the Big Sky and the Big West is intense, and I don't know that USF can ever match Gonzaga and BYU for year-in, year-out success.

Which leads me to believe Azzi will move on at some point -- and one has to wonder how long TVD will stay at Stanford.

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[Dennis1361]

Clay is correct about USF.
Kate Paye will be next head coach at Stanford

And it is most difficult to name a "greatest " Stanford bb player.
Folkl would be a candidate however she was only a part time bb player. She was a consensus AA Vollyball player and while she was an AA bb player she never pursued it

[summertime blues]

If you think Holly Warlick got a lot of crap after taking over for Pat Summitt....I predict Kate Paye will get more and worse. Particularly if Stanford stalls out or doesn't improve significantly.

_________________
Don't take life so serious. It ain't nohows permanent.
It takes 3 years to build a team and 7 to build a program.--Conventional Wisdom

[Howee]

For me? It's a toss-up between Brooke-The-Hook Smith and....lemme see....Tess Picknell.

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