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BY MIKE VORKUNOV
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
A look back at the decade that was in college basketball:
ALL-RUTGERS TEAM
G Quincy Douby -- Douby produced what was arguably the greatest individual season in Rutgers history in 2005-06 by averaging 25.4 points per game to lead the Big East. In three years at RU he averaged 17.8 ppg and led the Knights to the finals of the NIT in 2004. He was drafted 19th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft.F Rashod Kent – Kent was an undersized but overpowering 6-6 forward for the Knights from 1998-2002. He averaged 9.5 ppg and 7.8 rpg and over a steal and a half per game during his four years.
In his senior season Kent averaged a double-double with 10.8 ppg and 10.2 rpg, along with 1.8 blocks and 1.9 steals per.F Herve Lamizana – The wiry Lamizana had career averages of 10.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks a game. During the 2003-04 season the 6-10 forward put together a fine all-around season, averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and just under a steal a game on what was the best Rutgers team in a while.
G Ricky Shields – Shields' numbers topped out in his junior season at 15.5 ppg, but he still averaged 13 ppg for his career.
G Marquis Webb – Webb's offensive numbers aren't exceptional but he made his name with his defense. He averaged 8.3 ppg for his career and only once broke double figures, but many regarded him as the best defender in the Big East, which more than makes up for what he couldn't do.
Honorable Mention: Jerome Coleman
ALL-SETON HALL TEAM
F John Allen – Allen may not have owned the limelight during his time at Seton Hall but he was an integral part of the 2004 NCAA Tournament team and one of the finest scorers in Pirates history, averaging 12.3 ppg for his career and ending up 15th on the all-time scoring list.
G Andre Barrett – Barrett was small in size but not production. Both a scorer and a playmaker, he led the Pirates to the 2004 tourney, where they beat Arizona in the first round as he averaged 17.3 ppg, 5.9 apg and 1.4 spg. Barrett's name is littered all over the Hall's history, where he is seventh all-time in scoring, first in minutes, seventh in steals and second in assists.
G Jeremy Hazell – Hazell is one of college basketball's best scorers, averaging 22.7 ppg last season for second-best in the Big East and 20 ppg this season.
F Brian Laing – Just beating out Eddie Griffin, Laing worked himself into a leader and scorer, increasing his average by more than 10 ppg from his sophomore to junior season. While his career numbers are mediocre, he averaged 18.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg his senior year.
C Kelly Whitney – Whitney was a rugged rebounder and a part of two Tournament teams in his four years as a Pirate. He averaged 15.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg his senior year when the Hall made it as a No. 10 seed.
Honorable Mention: Eddie Griffin
ALL-NEW JERSEY TEAM
This final team was the toughest of all. Annually Jersey produces top-notch talent and spreads it across Division I so narrowing it down to a five-man roster took some work.
The criteria were that you had to have played at least a year of high school ball in the state. That eliminates Xavier's David West, who is from Teaneck but didn't play HS basketball here. Obviously this will leave room for debate but our All-Decade team of Jersey's best in college basketball is as follows:
F Earl Clark – The Plainfield native was a multi-talented matchup nightmare for Louisville. He stayed for only three years before becoming a first round pick in the NBA Draft. In his junior year he averaged 14.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, and more than a block and a steal per night. He also led the Cardinals to a Big East championship and to an Elite Eight trip.
G Randy Foye – Foye was the lead man for the 2006 Villanova team that earned a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Elite Eight. That year Foye also won Big East Player of the Year. The Newark native averaged 20.5 ppg, and 15.0 ppg for his career. He eventually became the seventh overall pick in the 2006 Draft.
F Troy Murphy – Murphy's career spanned this decade and the prior one, but because half of it occurred in the oughts, he makes the team. Murphy, from Sparta, twice won the Big East Player of the Year award while at Notre Dame, back-to-back in 2000 and 2001. His career stats of 21.4 ppg and 9.8 ppg aren't too shabby either. Neither was being selected 14th overall in the 2001 Draft.
C Joakim Noah – Noah makes this team, despite being a native New Yorker, because he played high school ball at The Lawrenceville School. As for his college resume, it is impressive. Two national titles, one Most Outstanding Player honor for the 2006 Tournament, and a sophomore season in which he averaged 14.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.4 blocks and shot 62.7 percent from the field.
G Jason Williams – His recognition needs no explanation. The Metuchen native led Duke to a title, won the 2002 Naismith College Player of the Year award, among a slew of others. Really the only debate was what we called him, but ultimately his college name won out. Williams had career averages of 19.2 points, 6.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In his final two seasons he averaged over 21 points a night. He goes down as the MVP of this team.
Don't agree with the selections for any of the teams? Say something about it. Email Mike Vorkunov at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tweet him on Twitter.
Anthony Farmer is my No. 7... Webb's D makes him the starting PG as you said.