Dayton Flyers Top 10: Best players Larry Hansgen has seen

Voice of the Flyers ranks UD’s top players from the years he has called games

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

To kick off coverage of the 2017-18 Dayton men’s basketball season, David Jablonski will publish a series of top 10 lists on various topics between now and the season opener on Nov. 10.

Not many people know Dayton Flyers basketball history better than Larry Hansgen. He starts his 35th season of calling UD games on WHIO Radio with Bucky Bockhorn on Friday when the Flyers play Ball State.

For my series of top-10 lists, I asked Larry to rank the best players in UD history. He narrowed it down to the players he has seen play since he started in 1982. Here’s Larry’s list and descriptions of the players:

1. Roosevelt Chapman: Unbelievable athlete who played bigger than 6-4.

Most memorable play: Dunking over top of 7-3 Randy Breuer of Minnesota on a fast break.

2. Ryan Perryman: Pound for pound the best rebounder I ever saw, and a great competitor.

Most memorable play: Going coast to coast with a behind the back dribble on a fast break vs. George Washington.

3. Brian Roberts: Smooth shooter and the most-efficient scorer I have seen.

Most memorable play: Game-winning 3-point against Miami.

4. Negele Knight: Hampered by injuries his first three years, as a healthy senior he might have been the best guard in the country.

Most memorable play: Game-winning 3 at Marquette.

DAYTON TOP 10: Freshman seasonsA-10 wins; conference gamesbest recordsworst recordstop statsbest namesbest players from Detroitbest players from Chicago; fun facts; memorable openers; opponents and arenas

5. Ed Young: A high flyer his first two years before a knee injury, he could score inside and out.

Most memorable play: The Shot vs. DePaul.

6. Keith Waleskowski: A big-man version of Jim Paxson. Hard worker who wasn't afraid of anyone. Great scorer and rebounder.

Most memorable play: Drive from the top of the key and a throw-down slam against Hawaii in Maui Invitational title game.

7. Chris Wright: Dunker and shot-blocker extraordinaire.

Most memorable play: Jumping over the head of a Marquette player for a dunk.

8. Chris Johnson: Scorer, rebounder, whatever-it-takes kind of guy.

Most memorable play: Going for a 20/20 in a win over Duquesne.

9. Scoochie Smith: Best point guard since Negele Knight, and the craftiest layup shooter I have seen.

Most memorable play: His collegiate finale against Wichita State.

10. Anthony Corbitt: Best offensive rebounder I have seen and a consistent player game-to-game and year-to-year.

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