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Biggest year-to-year jump

isucyfan

isucyfan

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Apr 21, 2006
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I was recently thinking about Lafester Rhodes, as we all do from time to time. We all know about the 54 point explosion against Iowa, but maybe people don't remember how great of a season he had that year, averaging 22.5 PPG and 7 boards per game.

Up until his senior season, he averaged about 3 PPG for his career in spot duty/mop-up minutes. Can anyone smarter than me come up with any other example of a player on any team taking that kind of leap from one year to the next?

I think we need some kind of ISU 30 for 30 to explore this. Did the coaching staff see that coming, or were they just as surprised as I was? What did Rhodes do to up his game? Did he sell his soul to the devil?
 
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Not quite the Lafester change but on the women's side one player that I can think of is Brittany Wilkins. She, too, did not do much until her senior year then averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds.
 
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CloneSt8 said:
Not quite the Lafester change but on the women's side one player that I can think of is Brittany Wilkins. She, too, did not do much until her senior year then averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds.
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Yep Brittany is reason to always have hope for a player. Until her Sr yr she would always come in and get quick fouls and go back out then her Sr yr the light turned on and she had a great yr. It's fun to see kids like that succeed.

The points aren't there but Rob Jones sure improved over the summer.
 
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Nik Stauskus. Dude came out his second year just straight balling on people. Tomahawk dunking on everyone off cross overs. Went to the league the next year.
 
isucyfan said:
I was recently thinking about Lafester Rhodes, as we all do from time to time. We all know about the 54 point explosion against Iowa, but maybe people don't remember how great of a season he had that year, averaging 22.5 PPG and 7 boards per game.

Up until his senior season, he averaged about 3 PPG for his career in spot duty/mop-up minutes. Can anyone smarter than me come up with any other example of a player on any team taking that kind of leap from one year to the next?

I think we need some kind of ISU 30 for 30 to explore this. Did the coaching staff see that coming, or were they just as surprised as I was? What did Rhodes do to up his game? Did he sell his soul to the devil?
Click to expand...
If we are talking about any team, I’d offer Troy Davis. Rushed for 187 yards his freshman year under Walden. Under McCarney he jumped to 2,010 yards his sophomore year.
 
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Doc was a scoring machine from day one. His second nickname was "point-a-minute." Johnny never let him off the bench for unknown reasons.
 
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Drew0311 said:
Actually it’s because Troy could not pick up the blocking scheme and was having trouble learning the plays. Dan simplified it for him and boom.
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Dan figured it out that Troy should carry the football. Let the other guys block for Troy. Stupid Walden wanted Troy to be the blocker.
 
Stormin said:
Dan figured it out that Troy should carry the football. Let the other guys block for Troy. Stupid Walden wanted Troy to be the blocker.
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Actually Troy ended up being a really good pass blocker once he figured out the easier blocking scheme. I can't remember but Maybe Steve Loney was responsible for that whole part of Troys game
 
isucyfan said:
I was recently thinking about Lafester Rhodes, as we all do from time to time. We all know about the 54 point explosion against Iowa, but maybe people don't remember how great of a season he had that year, averaging 22.5 PPG and 7 boards per game.

Up until his senior season, he averaged about 3 PPG for his career in spot duty/mop-up minutes. Can anyone smarter than me come up with any other example of a player on any team taking that kind of leap from one year to the next?

I think we need some kind of ISU 30 for 30 to explore this. Did the coaching staff see that coming, or were they just as surprised as I was? What did Rhodes do to up his game? Did he sell his soul to the devil?
Click to expand...
An old colleague of mine, who has since passed on, was responsible for discovering Lafester. He traveled for the university and spent a lot of nights watching local high school games, and he told Wesley, Hallihan, and Orr that they need to take a look at this kid from Memphis. The rest is history.
 
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