With the annual Blue and Gold game just around the corner it would be nice to take a look at some of the players that helped build this illustrious Buccaneer basketball tradition.
It is no surprise that Keith “Mister” Jennings tops the list of male basketball icons in ETSU history. Jennings was drafted to the NBA after his stellar career at as point guard for the Bucs. He was at the top of several NCAA categories during his tenure at ETSU, including assists, where he is best in school history.
Greg Dennis, the man that benefited the most from Jennings passes, comes in at No. 2 all-time. Dennis, one of the best centers to play at ETSU, knew what to do with the ball once he got it.
Another member of that 1990-91 squad, considered by some the best ever at ETSU, made the list. In at No. 3 is Calvin Talford. “The team we had was a special team,” Telford said.
I met up with Talford shooting some hoops with Nick Tuggle in the Mini- Dome last week. Talford said ‘Mister’ Jennings was one of the best players he has ever played with. “We would make eye contact and ‘Mister’ would put the ball where I could get it,” he said.
For Talford the ball could be above the square on the back board, he had hops.
The fourth selection goes way back in the day. Tom Chilton had the best points per game average out of the competition. He played for ETSU from 1959-61 and his name is all over the record books.
Rounding out the top five is Zakee Wadood. Heart and energy would be a great way to describe Wadood. His efforts on defense set him apart from the competition. He is No. 1 in blocks all-time and ranks third in steals for the Buccaneers.
Wadood played on what I consider the second best team in ETSU history. The 2003-04 team which also starred the most recent basketball break-out, Tim Smith.
Smith is my top selection to the all-time second team in school history. Smith had the best steal per game average in the nation (3.4) at the end of last year’s regular season.
The other crucial part of the 2003-04 team was Jerald Fields. The big body was not all Fields brought to the table. Talford said, “Jerald was like the glue to that team.” Fields did a lot of intangibles that made everyone better that’s why he makes my all-time second team list.
My No. 8 all-time Buccaneer, Tommy Woods still holds the rebound title at State. Woods is the Bucs’ version of Dennis Rodman.
There is a tie at No. 9. Troy Mikell and Harley ‘Skeeter’ Swift have a lot of hardware they earned as a Buccaneer.
Swift was ETSU’s lone player of the year in the Ohio Valley Conference, and Mikell was the first with the same honor in the Southern Conference.
Last but not least rounding out my all-time second team is Dimeco Childress.
This talented athlete held it down for a couple of years before Wadood and Fields came on the scene.
Childress once scored 42 points in a single game as a Buccaneer.
He is second only to Chilton in that category. It is interesting that they have a similar last name, yet their games were totally different.
With the new season almost upon us, maybe this year’s group will provide a player that can ascend to Blue and Gold greatness.

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