Redhawks Hoops: Moments In Time
Most of NWSB’s demographic probably doesn’t realize that Seattle University was a modern-day Duke, as the school was a regional basketball powerhouse from 1955-1970, before losing Division I status in 1980.
In order to stay up with our readers, the article will not feature any players from the 1950′s or 1960′s.
Therefore, Elgin Baylor, Ed & John O’Brien, Stan Glowaski, Dick Stricklin and Tom Workman are off the table.
I took into account two major factors in developing this team: Personal success in relation to the Seattle University all-time statistical categories and the team’s success in their respective tenures.
The players mentioned on this list played during Seattle University’s Division I eras (1950′s-1980; 2009-Present).
PG: Carl Ervin (1976-1980)
Hailing from Seattle’s Cleveland High School, Irvin ranks in the top five in school history in career assists (534) and assist average (5.0 per game). His season average of 6.4 assists per game in 1977-78 currently ranks third on the all time list.
Over the course of his career, Irwin averaged 12.3 points per game.
He was taken in the 7th round (158th overall) of the NBA draft by the SuperSonics.
SG: Frank “Magic” Oleynick (1972-1975)
A 6’2″ combo guard with a scoring average of 22.6 ppg sums up what you need to know about Magic.
His 1974-75 campaign may have been his finest when the Honorable Mention All-American averaged 27.3 ppg and led the country at the charity stripe, shooting 88.8 percent.
After finishing with 1,696 points in his career, Oleynick was drafted 12th by the SuperSonics, where he played 102 games in two seasons.
SF: Clint Richardson (1975-1979)
Any player that leads a school in scoring all four years is going to get an automatic birth on this list.
Charles Garcia led the Redhawks with 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2009-2010
A product of O’Dea High School in Seattle, Richardson did just that, averaging 17.5 ppg for his career. The 6’3″ guard / forward scored 1,823 points, which ranks in the top five on Seattle’s all-time scoring list.
An eight-year pro, Richardson was drafted in the second round (36th overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers and won a title with the team in 1982-83.
PF: Charles Garcia (2009-2010)
This pick is one based on what should have been, but wasn’t.
In his one season at Seattle after transferring from Riverside (Calif.) Community College, the Los Angeles-native (Dorsey High), led the team with 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2009-2010. His signature game was against UC-Irvine, where Garcia went off for 29-points and 13-rebounds.
NBA draft insiders tabbed him as a potential NBA lottery pick based on his early season play. The hype led the 6’10″ Garcia to hire an agent and declare for the draft at season’s end, a draft that ultimately did not call his name.
C: Jawann Oldham (1976-1980)
The 7-footer out of Seattle (Cleveland High) scored 1,530 points in his career as a Chieftan. His 965 rebounds trails only Elgin Baylor on Seattle University’s all-time list.
His 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocks against Yugoslavia helped the United States earn gold in the U.S. World Games during the summer of 1979.
Following his performance, Oldham shot 56.5 percent from the field in the 1979-1980 campaign.
Drafted in the second round (41st overall) by the Denver Nuggets, Oldham’s NBA career spanned parts of 11 seasons, ending with a short stint in Indiana in 1991.
Agree? Disagree? Hit me back below. I’d love to hear from you on who your starting 5 are! Remember these are MY starting five! Let’s hear yours!
