#Hang5atHilton

[HFCS]

It was more than just a personal choice; it was a choice to save his family. IIRC, he went pro because his mom's house burned down in the offseason, and he decided he needed to make money for her. I feel like that's a pretty good example of the character ISU wants those rafter jerseys to have.

Big thing that gets ignored is he could have been a first rounder after his sophomore year and already forewent that. He doesn't do that, there goes ISU's biggest season. The more I think about it, it's really a no brainer.

It cheapens the other jerseys that are up there. You want to ask "Are these the best careers by Cyclone legends?". The answer is "No". It's mainly "No" yes because of Fizer and Tinsley. Fizer made two huge choices that put ISU above blue blood colleges and the NBA. That's more than enough to put in an all time great. Tinsley maybe more of a gray area. It's hard to think of another player who gave up more to help ISU than Fizer when you consider he could have played for a blue blood and went to the NBA an entire year or two earlier than he did.

 

[CarolinaCy]

Marcus Fizer's accolades at ISU:

97-98
Big 12 Freshman of the Year
3rd Team all-Big 12
Basketball Times Freshman All-American

98-99
Big 12 leading scorer
1st Team all-Big 12

99-00
Big 12 leading scorer
1st Team all-Big 12
Big 12 Player of the Year
Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Consensus 1st Team All-American
Runner Up AP National Player of the Year (Kenyon Martin)

There isn't a school in the country that doesn't hang that jersey in the rafters for those accomplishments.

 

[HFCS]

Marcus Fizer's accolades at ISU:

97-98
Big 12 Freshman of the Year
3rd Team all-Big 12
Basketball Times Freshman All-American

98-99
Big 12 leading scorer
1st Team all-Big 12

99-00
Big 12 leading scorer
1st Team all-Big 12
Big 12 Player of the Year
Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Consensus 1st Team All-American
Runner Up AP National Player of the Year (Kenyon Martin)

There isn't a school in the country that doesn't hang that jersey in the rafters for those accomplishments.

When Martin got hurt, any basketball expert would tell you ISU had the best player in the nation. Let that sink in.

I do think Tinsley really helped him that last year as a creative presence, but most of the best players play on good teams with other great players.

 

[Nuts4Cy]

Also, Fizer was planning to come back his senior year before he learned his parents house burnt down half way through his junior season.. Catching up with Fizer article from back in August http://iowastate.scout.com/story/1432751-in-retrospect-marcus-fizer

 

[Dingus]

If Fizer isn't qualified to have his jersey hung, I'm not sure we'll ever have another one who is.

On a general note, I'm always a little unsure about putting too much emphasis on voting awards by outside parties. Kane easily could have been POY last year, and if he had gotten it that should have zero affect on hanging Ejim's jersey.

 

[Cyclonesince78]

Also, Fizer was planning to come back his senior year before he learned his parents house burnt down half way through his junior season.. Catching up with Fizer article from back in August http://iowastate.scout.com/story/1432751-in-retrospect-marcus-fizer

Awesome read.

 

[bigdaddykane]

Also, Fizer was planning to come back his senior year before he learned his parents house burnt down half way through his junior season.. Catching up with Fizer article from back in August http://iowastate.scout.com/story/1432751-in-retrospect-marcus-fizer

Is fizer's son good?

 

[drlove]

I do believe that Fizer will likely get his number raised, but he will get inducted into the HOF first which hasn't happened yet.
With all that said, in my 30+ years of watching Cyclone basketball, Fizer was easily the best and that is saying something considering he is up against #44 who is second in my book.
As someone else said, he was a man against boys to the degree I hadn't seen before, or since.

 

[CTTB78]

This article says there are no formal requirements.
http://m.iowastatedaily.com/sports/article_8915e23a-e14a-53fc-8f30-5c05a7dcb934.html?mode=jqm

If this is the case, I would really wonder why #5 isn't retired. Clearly one of the best ever to wear Cardinal and Gold.

 

[Malone]

If this is the case, I would really wonder why #5 isn't retired. Clearly one of the best ever to wear Cardinal and Gold.

THE best.

 

[VeloClone]

I do believe that Fizer will likely get his number raised, but he will get inducted into the HOF first which hasn't happened yet.
With all that said, in my 30+ years of watching Cyclone basketball, Fizer was easily the best and that is saying something considering he is up against #44 who is second in my book.
As someone else said, he was a man against boys to the degree I hadn't seen before, or since.

I would still have to put Jeff first. Not only did he score over 2500 points in his career, but he was first team Big 8 all defensive team all four years. His senior year he led the league in scoring and rebounding at a generous measured 6'5". One knock on him is that he was first team all Big 8 only three years.

 

[CycloneNation18]

Marcus Fizer in my opinion is the greatest basketball player to wear an Iowa State uniform, and he was one of the reasons that I am an Iowa State fan. That 1999-2000 team got me into rooting for the Cyclones. His athleticism and playmaking ability was like none I've ever seen. The resume speaks for itself, and even if he didn't play here for four years and was an NBA bust, at the end of the day, he is the greatest. Hang his jersey.

 

[iacyguy]

Won't happen. Do it and then you gotta hang 11 and definitely hang 3. Before you know it we are out of numbers. There will be a starting pg wearing #50 which just doesn't make sense

 

[VeloClone]

Won't happen. Do it and then you gotta hang 11 and definitely hang 3. Before you know it we are out of numbers. There will be a starting pg wearing #50 which just doesn't make sense

What you did there, I see it.

 

[bigdaddykane]

Won't happen. Do it and then you gotta hang 11 and definitely hang 3. Before you know it we are out of numbers. There will be a starting pg wearing #50 which just doesn't make sense

We don't retire the number.

 

[HoraceGrant]

Won't happen. Do it and then you gotta hang 11 and definitely hang 3. Before you know it we are out of numbers. There will be a starting pg wearing #50 which just doesn't make sense

Not sure why 11 or 3 would be required. Especially, 3

 

[chuckd4735]

Won't happen. Do it and then you gotta hang 11 and definitely hang 3. Before you know it we are out of numbers. There will be a starting pg wearing #50 which just doesn't make sense

Tinsley is not even in the discussion, IMO.

 

[GTO]

Tinsley is not even in the discussion, IMO.

#hangtinsleysjersey

 

[ISUTex]

Carmelo Anthony is one of like 10 players to have their jersey retired at Syracuse and he was there one season. I loved Ejim but Fizer was way better in basketball and more deserving IMO

Is it too much to ask for both? Both are all time greats.

 

[ISUTex]

Fizer was an excellent player...loved watching his game.
Ejim was an excellent player as well, although not as much of a standout as Fizer in terms of statistics.
There are others I could name, but I'll stop there.

IMO, hanging the jersey is a very special thing, and there SHOULD be certain standards. For a player to receive the honor, I think they should be a) an alumnus, b) an excellent representative of the school on the court, in the classroom, in the community, and hopefully at the national level. I'm not as hung-up on the four year aspect but graduation from ISU would be a key factor to me to having them represent ISU in the rafters of Hilton. Receiving that honor should be about more than game/career stats.

Ok, so Ejim definitely gets his jersey hung. Fizer's should go up there just because he the best to ever play at ISU. Compare Fizer and Ejim to Hoiberg in terms of individual and team accomplishments. #3 and #5 need to be up there IMO.