The greatest BB player in A&T history

[aggierattler]

Oct 19, 2011 7:36:27 GMT -5 saabman said:

June Harris was a gamer but who was the guy that played the other guide with him. I remember him getting injured on a Dunk but I can't think of his name. Dude could Sky.

Al Carter. He was awesome, too. I believe that he is the AD at Shaw (not 100% sure on that one, though).

The Carter-Harris backcourt was the best one that I personally saw at Ayantee. Another one was Corbett's Stinchcomb-Doc Anderson backcourt around 1980.

[AggieGroove]

Oct 18, 2011 9:22:03 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

James "the Bird" Sparrow at this year's homecoming game (photo courtesy of Michael Simmons):

My man, Bird! What a wonderful roommate, line brother and most importantly the best BB player ever at A&T!

[DECKS]

Oct 19, 2011 13:04:04 GMT -5 AggieGroove said:

Oct 18, 2011 9:22:03 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

James "the Bird" Sparrow at this year's homecoming game (photo courtesy of Michael Simmons):

My man, Bird! What a wonderful roommate, line brother and most importantly the best BB player ever at A&T!

I ran into Bird right after the game was over. Definitely the highlight of homecoming for me. BTW, is there any video of his games with A&T? He was a little before my time so I never got to see him play. I do remember reading about him in JET Magazine when I was in high school.

[oleschoolaggie]

i didn't see him play, but what about al attles? after all, he did make it to the nba and won a championship as an nba coach...

[saabman]

Jag lady and I saw Coach Attles after a Golden State Warriors game at a jazz show. He yelled out Hi Aggie because I had and A&T sweatshirt on. That made my day we talked a bit. Man Dud had gloves for hands and he still looks good. Had is Ring on to.

[aggierattler]

When I first started working in the NBA (1988), Al Attles took me under his wing and became my mentor. Just a fantastic person. He has a mainly symbolic role with the Warriors now, but he has earned it many times over.

In talking to Mr. B (Thomas Bynum), he says that Al Attles was not the most-talented Aggie ever, but was by far "the smartest of the most-talented."

[saabman]

Mr B a great man! Tell him Ford said Hi and thanks for the Encouraging Words that he gave!!!!

[aggierattler]

Oct 20, 2011 11:03:00 GMT -5 saabman said:

Mr B a great man! Tell him Ford said Hi and thanks for the Encouraging Words that he gave!!!!

Will do!! Mr. B was my Dad's roommate while they were athletes at Ayantee.

[bigpeete1]

BIRD END OF DISCUSSION! NEXT ?.

[aggie2ru]

The more I think about it it's gotta be Al Attles. Al is the only ex-A&T NBA playa who has his jersey retired.

He is one of 6 ex-SF/Philly Warriors (including Wilt Chamberlin) to have their jersey retired.

[aggiedoe1]

I know we ain't revisiting this subject again. Everyone knows "Scooby Doo" was the greatest.
End of conversation!!

[aggierattler]

Folks can make a strong argument for Al Attles.

Because there is not a lot of film on him from this A&T days and he was not in a "scorer's role" in the NBA, we tend to dismiss how great he was. But I listen to the old timers who saw him in school and in The Association, and they say that he was absolutely a force to be dealt with. He completely controlled the game.

[oleschoolaggie]

i didn't see attles play, but i think he was the best. i saw bird play in his prime and he was a very "cocky" ball player who could back up his trash talking with his offensive game. he always showed his azz against wssu and nccu! but he never played a lick of defense though. fortunately, we had sinclair colbert (6'10"), ron johnson (6'8"), and lj pimpkin (6'9") on bird's teams and all 3 of those guys were outstanding defenders who compensated for bird's lack of defensive play.

but as you can see, back in those days we had "major d1" size. bird was 6'6" and played the 2 and 3. i forgot our point guard's name back in those days but i can see his face in my memory. anyway, we had a 6'6" shooting guard with 6'10", 6'9", and 6'8" across our front line. when was the last time a&t had that kinda size in their starting lineup? man, it was a great time to be an aggie undergrad! we always won the meac championship and it was so much fun traveling with the team because we'd talk so much trash in other folks' gym! beating folk in their own gym is the best feeling in the world!

[Aggie77]

I could be wrong, but I think AggieGroove's intent was limited to an Aggie uniform. If you broaden it to a post Aggie career, then Al Attles is second to none.

I have been watching Aggie Basketball since the late 60s and have seen alot of players in Blue & Gold. There may have been better dribblers, better shooters, better defenders, but none better all-round than "The Bird" and the excitement/embarrassment factor was off the scale, especially on the break.

[aggierattler]

Mar 21, 2012 11:00:18 GMT -5 Aggie77 said:

I could be wrong, but I think AggieGroove's intent was limited to an Aggie uniform. If you broaden it to a post Aggie career, then Al Attles is second to none.

I have been watching Aggie Basketball since the late 60s and have seen alot of players in Blue & Gold. There may have been better dribblers, better shooters, better defenders, but none better all-round than "The Bird" and the excitement/embarrassment factor was off the scale, especially on the break.

Taking his NBA career out of the equation, some of the old timers are still saying that Al Attles was the best Aggie cager ever.