Just like football I'll do the most underappreciated one, Tyrone Wallace, such a steady pacemaker and almost a Rajon Rondo style presence to keep the balance. It's a shame that he had the most untimely injury ever with his wrist (along with Jabari Bird too) otherwise would've made a run to at least a 12 round boxing match in the round of 32 against Maryland.
Jorge Gutierrez. Pac-12 player of the year and defensive player of the year, honorable mention All-American. He was 2x first team all conference and 3x all conference defensive team.
It's weird because of how the decade has gone for us, but some other players who spent only parts of their careers at Cal - Jaylen and Ivan Rabb. Kam Rooks for his growth over 4 years. Matt Bradley trying to drag a bad Cal team to mediocrity through sheer personal will.
Clicks at CGB at so low that including the Jaylen tweet/link to the Calvin Klein story drove enough traffic there for that story to be the ninth–most viewed post of the day.
Big Dog beat me to it, but for me it's definitely Jorge Gutierrez.
Great back story: Immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico to Denver as a teenager; was placed at a poor (91% school lunch eligible), Latino (90%), ESL-focused high school - and promptly took the basketball team to a state championship over richer, Whiter suburban schools.
Mike Montgomery's first recruit - the only member of Monty's first class.
He started out with a raw, defense-first skill set - and got better in every aspect of his game each year. Watching players develop over time is what I really enjoy about college basketball - and Jorge definitely got better, winding up being the Pac-12's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
Just like football I'll do the most underappreciated one, Tyrone Wallace, such a steady pacemaker and almost a Rajon Rondo style presence to keep the balance. It's a shame that he had the most untimely injury ever with his wrist (along with Jabari Bird too) otherwise would've made a run to at least a 12 round boxing match in the round of 32 against Maryland.
Jorge Gutierrez. Pac-12 player of the year and defensive player of the year, honorable mention All-American. He was 2x first team all conference and 3x all conference defensive team.
Does Jerome Randle qualify?...his last season rolled into 2010.
Pac-12 POY Allen Crabbe should also get a mention here.
It's weird because of how the decade has gone for us, but some other players who spent only parts of their careers at Cal - Jaylen and Ivan Rabb. Kam Rooks for his growth over 4 years. Matt Bradley trying to drag a bad Cal team to mediocrity through sheer personal will.
Clicks at CGB at so low that including the Jaylen tweet/link to the Calvin Klein story drove enough traffic there for that story to be the ninth–most viewed post of the day.
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2018/7/10/17551832/calvin-kleins-university-of-california-berkeley-golden-bears-raf-simons-fashion
Jorge
Big Dog beat me to it, but for me it's definitely Jorge Gutierrez.
Great back story: Immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico to Denver as a teenager; was placed at a poor (91% school lunch eligible), Latino (90%), ESL-focused high school - and promptly took the basketball team to a state championship over richer, Whiter suburban schools.
Mike Montgomery's first recruit - the only member of Monty's first class.
He started out with a raw, defense-first skill set - and got better in every aspect of his game each year. Watching players develop over time is what I really enjoy about college basketball - and Jorge definitely got better, winding up being the Pac-12's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
"Jorge to the line........... dos."