The fourth edition of UConn coach Jim Calhoun's all-star game is nearly upon us.
Calhoun and almost all of his legendary players from the last 22 years will gather at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday for a game that will be light on defense and heavy on showmanship.
Jake Voskuhl, Donny Marshall, Nadav Henefeld and Doron Sheffer are among those who probably won't be in town, but nearly everyone else is slated to come back. Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Rudy Gay and Donyell Marshall have all said they will participate.
The reunion of many different eras of Huskies has created some debate about which team was the greatest in the Calhoun era (1986-present). And the national title teams of 1999 and 2004 are not the automatic winners in that category.
In addition to the team ques-tions, many have wondered aloud who the best players were at various disciplines. Here then, is one longtime viewer's opinion of the best UConn has had to offer:
BEST DUNKER: 1. Donyell Marshall -- When UConn basketball really started hitting the big time, Marshall was there to give it a face along with a thunderous dunk. His 360 against Seton Hall in 1994 at Gampel Pavilion nearly knocked out the 8,241 assembled fans.
2. Rudy Gay -- If there was one thing Rudy Gay was good for (there were plenty of things, actually), it was securing a spot in ESPN's nightly top 10 plays with his acrobatic dunks.
3. Toraino Walker -- Toraino's gone through some tough times since leaving UConn but his one-handed windmill dunk might have been the best dunk in school history.
Honorable Mention -- Tony Robertson. For his size, Robert-son was among the best in the college game at the time. His flush against Boston College at the Civic Center in 2002 remains an all-timer. ... Stanley Robinson would have made the list but active players are exempt.
BEST SHOOTER: 1. Ray Allen -- During a game against Rutgers in 1996 Allen spent nearly 70 percent of the game nailed to the floor in the far corner of the Gampel Pavilion court. He hit nine 3-pointers that night and the Scarlet Knights are still trying to find him.
2. Richard Hamilton -- Before he reintroduced the mid-range jumper to the NBA, Hamilton made nearly every one he took at UConn.
3. Ben Gordon -- When he was hot, there was no one bet-ter from beyond the arc.
Honorable Mention -- Rashad Anderson doesn't have a conscience, and that's a good thing when it comes to shooters. He could miss six straight but would keep firing from the outside. And often, such as his unconscious night against Alabama in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, the next few would go in.
BEST PASSER: 1. Marcus Williams -- If Williams had played four years of basketball at UConn he might have become the NCAA's all-time leader in assists.
A tricky left-hander who thought he could squeeze the ball into any hole, and was usually right.
2. Scott Burrell -- The former Hamden High quarterback had the most famous assist in UConn history, hitting Tate George for a touchdown against Clemson with one second left in the 1990 Regional Semifinal.
3. Kevin Ollie -- He had plenty of options during his playing days, as Donny Marshall or Ray Allen or Doron Sheffer were often ahead of the field on the break. Still, Ollie developed into a terrific floor general.
Honorable Mention -- Nadav Henefeld was over 6-foot-7 but had passing skills better than any guard.
BEST DEFENDER: 1. Ricky Moore -- He was often matched up against the opposition's top gun during his UConn days. And it's no coincidence that gun often misfired.
2. Emeka Okafor -- Okafor redefined the way the Huskies played defense. And he may have changed the way coach Calhoun and company recruited.
3. Lyman DePriest -- He guarded everyone from BC guard Dana Barros to LSU center Shaquille O'Neal during his UConn career, with plenty of success in doing so along the way.
Honorable Mention -- Donyell Marshall for leaving his man at the drop of a hat to block the shot of your guy's attempt.
BEST REBOUNDER: 1. Emeka Okafor -- Size helps, and Okafor had plenty of it. But he also had great technique and gave a good effort.
2. Caron Butler -- No one wanted it more than Butler. Though not the tallest player and not the greatest leaper, he was a tremendous rebounder.
3. Jake Voskuhl -- When others were trying to drive the lane and avoid contact Voskuhl was busy boxing out the likes of Elton Brand to secure a miss.
Honorable Mention -- Nadav Henefeld. Something else Henefeld did well that sometimes gets lost.
BEST WINNER (LEADER): 1. Khalid El-Amin -- The stories of El-Amin organizing and directing everyone else during his visit to UConn as a high schooler may be slight exaggerations. But there's no doubt El-Amin knew how to lead a five-some on the court.
2. Tate George -- He's known for the shot but George gave his teammates plenty of direction when they needed it.
3. Taliek Brown -- He was often chastised during his UConn career for what he couldn't do but Brown was among the best motivators of others Calhoun has coached.
Honorable Mention -- Caron Butler had plenty of that "get on my back and I'll carry you to victory" type swagger.
BEST WHINER: 1. Jim Calhoun -- No. 1 is a no-brainer. There aren't many whistles that go unquestioned in a Calhoun-coached game. The officials know it's part of his charm, however, and often take his antics with a grain of salt.
2. Donny Marshall -- From the sarcastic clapping to that familiar scowl. Marshall always thought he knew better than the officials, which is perhaps why they gave him something of a hard time.
3. Charlie Villanueva -- Maybe it's maturity, maybe it's seniority. Villanueva never seemed to get a good whistle as a freshman, and never seemed sorry about complaining to the refs. Then as a sophomore, as his game developed, Villanueva seemed to get all the calls.
Honorable Mention -- We're leaving current players out so Jeff Adrien will have to wait to make the list.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Jim Calhoun Charity All-Star Game
WHEN: Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mohegan Sun Arena
WHO: Most of Calhoun's former UConn stars are scheduled to play, including Ray Allen, Cliff Robinson, Caron Butler.
