A season after... Does Melvin Ejim's jersey still deserve to be in the rafters?

[NorthCyd]

If we only honor players that go on to have careers in the NBA, then you might have a point.
If we are honoring them for their time as a student athlete here at ISU, Ejim is level with Niang & Morris...maybe even a step ahead.

I think they should be honored for the time spent in the jersey, not necessarily for the time spent after they no longer wear it.

-All American
-Academic All American
-Big XII POY
-Big XII scholar athlete of the year
-Shares Big XII single game scoring record with Trae Young (48 points)
-Big XII single game points and rebounds record in a single game (48 points and 18 Rebounds)

There's more. Maybe most importantly he set the player culture that led to one of the most successfull periods in ISU. Ejim deserves to be in the rafters more than any other recent player IMO. He is everything you could want in a student athlete.

 

[mynameisjonas]

Out of his four years, which year was Ejim the best player on his team?

Spoiler Alert: None

still an awesome player and a great clone, just doesn’t reach that level, imo.

 

[CydeofFries]

Out of his four years, which year was Ejim the best player on his team?

Spoiler Alert: None

still an awesome player and a great clone, just doesn’t reach that level, imo.

Never the best player on the team, but the best player in the conference for a year is a bold take.

 

[cyfan964]

I get that probably makes people feel all warm and fuzzy, but if we want to start cheapening the meaning of having a players jersey in the rafters, then we can start hanging them all.

The alternative is apparently waiting to hang them or recognize them until after they have died... That seems to be the way we do it now. I'm personally not a fan of that.

 

[houjix]

Out of his four years, which year was Ejim the best player on his team?

Spoiler Alert: None

still an awesome player and a great clone, just doesn’t reach that level, imo.

Unassailable logic. Somebody tells the Chicago Bulls to pull Scottie Pippen's jersey out of the rafters.

 

[CycloneErik]

Yeah, I don't get this unwritten rule. Just seems dumb.

It's just an excuse not to hang the jersey(s).

 

[cmjh10]

For anyone who doesn’t think we should hang their jerseys, I will take your ticket for the game it happens. You know, since you think they aren’t worthy.

 

[istater7]

I get that probably makes people feel all warm and fuzzy, but if we want to start cheapening the meaning of having a players jersey in the rafters, then we can start hanging them all.

How would hanging the jersey of a CPOY winner, 2x All-Big 12 selection, 2nd team all-american, and 1st team academic all-american cheapen the meaning of it??

 

[CycloneErik]

-All American
-Academic All American
-Big XII POY
-Big XII scholar athlete of the year
-Shares Big XII single game scoring record with Trae Young (48 points)
-Big XII single game points and rebounds record in a single game (48 points and 18 Rebounds)

There's more. Maybe most importantly he set the player culture that led to one of the most successfull periods in ISU. Ejim deserves to be in the rafters more than any other recent player IMO. He is everything you could want in a student athlete.

That seems like a big deal. It's honestly an open and shut case for Ejim. Hang the jersey, JP.

 

[JM4CY]

How would hanging the jersey of a CPOY winner, 2x All-Big 12 selection, 2nd team all-american, and 1st team academic all-american cheapen the meaning of it??

Because it would give stop giving Jonas something to ***** about.

 

[bsaltyman]

Out of his four years, which year was Ejim the best player on his team?

Spoiler Alert: None

still an awesome player and a great clone, just doesn’t reach that level, imo.

Of his four years at ISU, these were the best players on the team each year in my opinion:
2010-11: Diante Garrett
2011-12: Royce
2012-13: Clyburn
2013-14: Kane

Despite that, he may still deserve his jersey being retired. I would base that decision on career stats and accomplishments rather than who was the best player in a given year. Niang and Morris both 100% deserve to have their jerseys retired at least. Maybe Ejim too.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Of his four years at ISU, these were the best players on the team each year in my opinion:
2010-11: Diante Garrett
2011-12: Royce
2012-13: Clyburn
2013-14: Kane

Despite that, he may still deserve his jersey being retired. I would base that decision on career stats and accomplishments rather than who was the best player in a given year. Niang and Morris both 100% deserve to have their jerseys retired at least. Maybe Ejim too.

I actually think Melvin was the best player on the team in 2013-14. Kane was important, Melvin was integral. Georges and Monte were still young and figuring things out.

 

[HFCS]

I actually think Melvin was the best player on the team in 2013-14. Kane was important, Melvin was integral. Georges and Monte were still young and figuring things out.

Melvin definitely deserved his Big 12 MVP. Kane could have an argument too but it was Ejim's team.

Big 12 stat rankings on that team in top 20:

Ejim:
Scoring: 1st
Rebounding: 3rd
Steals: 10th
FG%: 11th
FT%: 10th
Blocks: 19th

Kane
Scoring: 8th
Rebounding: 10th
Assists: 1st
FG%: 14th
3pt%: 9th
Steals: 8th

Hogue:
Rebounding: 2nd
FG%: 5th

Niang:
Scoring: 10th
Assists: 10th
FG%: 17th

Naz:
3pt%: 6th

Morris:
Assists: 9th
Steals: 9th

 

[Clark]

Unassailable logic. Somebody tells the Chicago Bulls to pull Scottie Pippen's jersey out of the rafters.

welllll technically Scottie was the best player on the team during the year Jordan played baseball

 

[CoachHines3]

Niang is a for sure. Ejim and Morris.. meh.

Ejim more than morris.

If you do Ejim then you have to do Fizer and possibly Tinsley.

 

[UnlimitedRange]

Even if Ejim's number is not retired, there still needs to be a place in the rafters to honor any athlete that has won conference POY and even All-American. Hang a banner like conference championships and NCAA appearances. At the minimum get Fizer, Tinsley, Ejim and Carleton up there.

 

[bsaltyman]

Melvin definitely deserved his Big 12 MVP. Kane could have an argument too but it was Ejim's team.

Big 12 stat rankings on that team in top 20:

Ejim:
Scoring: 1st
Rebounding: 3rd
Steals: 10th
FG%: 11th
FT%: 10th
Blocks: 19th

Kane
Scoring: 8th
Rebounding: 10th
Assists: 1st
FG%: 14th
3pt%: 9th
Steals: 8th

Hogue:
Rebounding: 2nd
FG%: 5th

Niang:
Scoring: 10th
Assists: 10th
FG%: 17th

Naz:
3pt%: 6th

Morris:
Assists: 9th
Steals: 9th

That was one hell of a team.

 

[HFCS]

Even if Ejim's number is not retired, there still needs to be a place in the rafters to honor any athlete that has won conference POY and even All-American. Hang a banner like conference championships and NCAA appearances. At the minimum get Fizer, Tinsley, Ejim and Carleton up there.

Haven’t we only had like three cpoty in mbb?

 

[Fitzy]

The argument against Ejim not making it because he wasn't the best player on any one team in his career is dumb.

Jeff Hornacek's name hangs in the rafters and he was second fiddle to Barry Stevens for three years and Jeff Grayer for one year.

 

[HFCS]

Niang is a for sure. Ejim and Morris.. meh.

Ejim more than morris.

If you do Ejim then you have to do Fizer and possibly Tinsley.

Morris is in the big 12 record books and stat leaders as much as any player, not Cyclone, players of all teams.

Morris rank in Big 12 all time:
Points: 34th
Assists: 3rd
A/T ratio: 1st
Field Goals: 22nd
Effective FG%: 38th
Games: 19th
Minutes: 1st
+/-: 28th
Offensive rating: 1st
Offensive win shares: 1st
Points Produced: 3rd
Steals: 8th
Win Shares: 3rd