Kent State Golden Flashes

Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Author Message
fallsdog Online
All American
*

Posts: 3,882
Joined: May 2009
Reputation: 24
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #1
Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Figured I'd stay in the paint with the next player. John Whorton was my kind of basketball player. Listed at 6'8 in the program, I am not sure he was 6'7. But he played like it. His numbers were never eye popping but his floor game sure was.

He was team's leading scorer as a junior while playing in a front court that included Kyrem Massey, Geoffrey Vaughan and Rashaun Warren. In 1999 he was the MAC Tournament MVP. Those were two great games at the Seagate Center!
03-18-2020 02:28 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


Muskrat Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 2,283
Joined: Oct 2008
Reputation: 8
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #2
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Speaking of Flashes of old. I see that Jay Peters is retiring from high school coaching. He had a great W-L record. He was recruited out of Medina with Russ Kotolac. Before he played a game, he transferred to some small school. He came back to Kent State for his final semester in 1987. He had a great half-season. I always felt that they would have won the MAC tournament in 1987 if Bill Toole would have been anywhere near 100%. Toole had a very serious bout of meningitis late in the season. As it was, they only lost the finals to CMU and Dan Majerle by a couple of points.
03-19-2020 06:38 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
dannyb73 Offline
MAC CHAMPS
*

Posts: 6,102
Joined: May 2008
Reputation: 69
I Root For: Mem & Kent St
Location: Memphis
Post: #3
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
(03-18-2020 02:28 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  Figured I'd stay in the paint with the next player. John Whorton was my kind of basketball player. Listed at 6'8 in the program, I am not sure he was 6'7. But he played like it. His numbers were never eye popping but his floor game sure was.

He was team's leading scorer as a junior while playing in a front court that included Kyrem Massey, Geoffrey Vaughan and Rashaun Warren. In 1999 he was the MAC Tournament MVP. Those were two great games at the Seagate Center!

IMO 2 Kent State players got everything started. Big John and Ed Norvell.
03-20-2020 12:12 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
fallsdog Online
All American
*

Posts: 3,882
Joined: May 2009
Reputation: 24
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #4
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Norvell had a combination of skill, toughness and basketball IQ that you don’t find everyday.
03-20-2020 04:24 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Muskrat Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 2,283
Joined: Oct 2008
Reputation: 8
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #5
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Norvell, a Dave Grube recruit, really set the tone for Waters' first group of players.
03-20-2020 05:12 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
ksu315 Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,442
Joined: Feb 2003
Reputation: 6
I Root For:
Location:
Post: #6
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
(03-20-2020 12:12 AM)dannyb73 Wrote:  
(03-18-2020 02:28 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  Figured I'd stay in the paint with the next player. John Whorton was my kind of basketball player. Listed at 6'8 in the program, I am not sure he was 6'7. But he played like it. His numbers were never eye popping but his floor game sure was.

He was team's leading scorer as a junior while playing in a front court that included Kyrem Massey, Geoffrey Vaughan and Rashaun Warren. In 1999 he was the MAC Tournament MVP. Those were two great games at the Seagate Center!

IMO 2 Kent State players got everything started. Big John and Ed Norvell.

yes those 2 are the godfathers of KSU hoops. they got the party started.
03-20-2020 08:35 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


Muskrat Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 2,283
Joined: Oct 2008
Reputation: 8
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #7
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
And the 1999 champions were probably the deepest team in Kent State history, with Whorton, Calloway, Norvell, Mitchell and Massey starting, and the second team, that sometimes came in together, consisting of Huffman, Meers, Thomas, Warren, and Vaughn. Even Moore and the walk-on Lehrke contributed. Everyone played at least 21 of the 30 games. Everyone in the first 10 scored at least 100 points and even Moore and Lehrke scored 30 and 24 points.
03-20-2020 09:02 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
fallsdog Online
All American
*

Posts: 3,882
Joined: May 2009
Reputation: 24
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #8
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
The line changes were awesome.
03-20-2020 12:06 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
cleveland Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,978
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation: 19
I Root For: basketball
Location:
Post: #9
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
(03-20-2020 09:02 AM)Muskrat Wrote:  And the 1999 champions were probably the deepest team in Kent State history, with Whorton, Calloway, Norvell, Mitchell and Massey starting, and the second team, that sometimes came in together, consisting of Huffman, Meers, Thomas, Warren, and Vaughn. Even Moore and the walk-on Lehrke contributed. Everyone played at least 21 of the 30 games. Everyone in the first 10 scored at least 100 points and even Moore and Lehrke scored 30 and 24 points.


I know several MAC coaches back then who said Al Moore would start for them. ... The depth of that team, and 2002, is probably unmatched at KSU.
03-21-2020 04:39 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
GFlash68 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,265
Joined: May 2002
Reputation: 15
I Root For: Kent State
Location: Ohio

Crappies
Post: #10
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Waters had to have that depth. Those teams played the full 90 feet game with tight pressure. No body complained about being given a bench rest. In fact, more often than not, players were taking themselves out. If you were not playing that hard, Coach would sub you. That was the birth of what we came to love as Kent State Basketball. I can not remember all of the games that were close til the last 5 minutes. Other teams had their tanks running dry by then. Heavy legs.
03-22-2020 11:53 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Muskrat Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 2,283
Joined: Oct 2008
Reputation: 8
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #11
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
That's true, GFlash68. There were several games where that they didn't pull away until the last few minutes. It seemed like they always made big plays on both ends of the court in those last few minutes.
03-22-2020 01:49 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


GFlash68 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,265
Joined: May 2002
Reputation: 15
I Root For: Kent State
Location: Ohio

Crappies
Post: #12
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
At times when applying pressure, I would swear that Huffman's and Mitchell's bodies were connected to the same brain. They defended the passing lanes the best of any pair of players I have seen. Then add the intensity of D Shaw and I could be entertained for hours.
03-22-2020 03:24 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Muskrat Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 2,283
Joined: Oct 2008
Reputation: 8
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #13
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Yes, GFlash68, they really did. The play of several players and KSU teams of that era spoiled me.
03-22-2020 03:55 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
cleveland Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,978
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation: 19
I Root For: basketball
Location:
Post: #14
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
(03-22-2020 03:55 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Yes, GFlash68, they really did. The play of several players and KSU teams of that era spoiled me.

To change the subject a bit ... but still in the same vein. What Kent State game sticks out in your mind from over the years?

I can't recall the date, but it was a rare Sunday night MAC TV game when Kent played a really good Marshall team at Marshall. And The Herd pulled out all the stops for that one, filled the arena and everything.

One of Marshall's better teams, too, with Slay, Van Hoose, Jackson and a couple of other guys I can't remember.

Huffman got in foul trouble early and Whorton-Vaughn struggled all game with Van Hoose.

The only thing that kept the game close was Haut with a couple of threes and Massey, who scored just nine points with nine rebounds.

But those nine points were three dunks, each coming every time it looked like Marshall was about to pull away, and a late-game 3-pointer that helped to send the game into OT. I swear it was the best game Massey ever played.

In OT, Huffman and Warren - who always had his way against Van Hoose - took over. I remember the TV camera kept showing Waters, not on the bench but kind of sitting casually on the edge of the scorers table while Kent pulled away for the win. Like he knew what was coming.

If you recall, talent-wise, those Marshall teams were double-barrell loaded. But that game convinced me Kent BB was special, no matter who was on the other team.

Should have taped that game, but I didn't.

But since then, I always think Kent has a chance to win, against anybody.
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2020 05:03 PM by cleveland.)
03-22-2020 05:01 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
fallsdog Online
All American
*

Posts: 3,882
Joined: May 2009
Reputation: 24
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #15
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
(03-22-2020 11:53 AM)GFlash68 Wrote:  Waters had to have that depth. Those teams played the full 90 feet game with tight pressure. No body complained about being given a bench rest. In fact, more often than not, players were taking themselves out. If you were not playing that hard, Coach would sub you. That was the birth of what we came to love as Kent State Basketball. I can not remember all of the games that were close til the last 5 minutes. Other teams had their tanks running dry by then. Heavy legs.

Hell yes!! God I could go for a bourbon, a cigar and a rerun of the 1999 MAC semi and final.
03-22-2020 06:02 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
GFlash68 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,265
Joined: May 2002
Reputation: 15
I Root For: Kent State
Location: Ohio

Crappies
Post: #16
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
This is just toooo good. If I had replays, stay at home would not be so bad.
03-22-2020 06:54 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


burden Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 5,257
Joined: Nov 2005
Reputation: 13
I Root For:
Location:
Post: #17
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
(03-22-2020 05:01 PM)cleveland Wrote:  
(03-22-2020 03:55 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Yes, GFlash68, they really did. The play of several players and KSU teams of that era spoiled me.

To change the subject a bit ... but still in the same vein. What Kent State game sticks out in your mind from over the years?

I can't recall the date, but it was a rare Sunday night MAC TV game when Kent played a really good Marshall team at Marshall. And The Herd pulled out all the stops for that one, filled the arena and everything.

One of Marshall's better teams, too, with Slay, Van Hoose, Jackson and a couple of other guys I can't remember.

Huffman got in foul trouble early and Whorton-Vaughn struggled all game with Van Hoose.

The only thing that kept the game close was Haut with a couple of threes and Massey, who scored just nine points with nine rebounds.

But those nine points were three dunks, each coming every time it looked like Marshall was about to pull away, and a late-game 3-pointer that helped to send the game into OT. I swear it was the best game Massey ever played.

In OT, Huffman and Warren - who always had his way against Van Hoose - took over. I remember the TV camera kept showing Waters, not on the bench but kind of sitting casually on the edge of the scorers table while Kent pulled away for the win. Like he knew what was coming.

If you recall, talent-wise, those Marshall teams were double-barrell loaded. But that game convinced me Kent BB was special, no matter who was on the other team.

Should have taped that game, but I didn't.

But since then, I always think Kent has a chance to win, against anybody.

I remember another Marshall game, the 2002 MAC quarterfinal. That was a tough one. Marshall probably should have won but they had a guard (his name slips my memory) who liked to shoot from 30 feet. He was an early example of what we tend to complain about now. Eric Thomas playing center due to foul issues and doing ok helped a lot too.
(This post was last modified: 03-23-2020 02:27 PM by burden.)
03-23-2020 02:27 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
cleveland Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,978
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation: 19
I Root For: basketball
Location:
Post: #18
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
(03-23-2020 02:27 PM)burden Wrote:  
(03-22-2020 05:01 PM)cleveland Wrote:  
(03-22-2020 03:55 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Yes, GFlash68, they really did. The play of several players and KSU teams of that era spoiled me.

To change the subject a bit ... but still in the same vein. What Kent State game sticks out in your mind from over the years?

I can't recall the date, but it was a rare Sunday night MAC TV game when Kent played a really good Marshall team at Marshall. And The Herd pulled out all the stops for that one, filled the arena and everything.

One of Marshall's better teams, too, with Slay, Van Hoose, Jackson and a couple of other guys I can't remember.

Huffman got in foul trouble early and Whorton-Vaughn struggled all game with Van Hoose.

The only thing that kept the game close was Haut with a couple of threes and Massey, who scored just nine points with nine rebounds.

But those nine points were three dunks, each coming every time it looked like Marshall was about to pull away, and a late-game 3-pointer that helped to send the game into OT. I swear it was the best game Massey ever played.

In OT, Huffman and Warren - who always had his way against Van Hoose - took over. I remember the TV camera kept showing Waters, not on the bench but kind of sitting casually on the edge of the scorers table while Kent pulled away for the win. Like he knew what was coming.

If you recall, talent-wise, those Marshall teams were double-barrell loaded. But that game convinced me Kent BB was special, no matter who was on the other team.

Should have taped that game, but I didn't.

But since then, I always think Kent has a chance to win, against anybody.

I remember another Marshall game, the 2002 MAC quarterfinal. That was a tough one. Marshall probably should have won but they had a guard (his name slips my memory) who liked to shoot from 30 feet. He was an early example of what we tend to complain about now. Eric Thomas playing center due to foul issues and doing ok helped a lot too.


Remember that game, too. Blackshear was his name, and yes, he shot Marshall out of what should have been a victory.

One trait that KSU team had, among many, was letting opposing teams beat themselves.
03-23-2020 02:34 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
fallsdog Online
All American
*

Posts: 3,882
Joined: May 2009
Reputation: 24
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #19
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
Made a strange decision not to skip class and go to that game. Tuned in on 100.1fm if I remember correctly. I’m going to that box score now...
03-23-2020 04:37 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
fallsdog Online
All American
*

Posts: 3,882
Joined: May 2009
Reputation: 24
I Root For: Kent State
Location:
Post: #20
RE: Golden Flashes of Old: John Whorton
I remember Tamar Slay as well.
03-23-2020 04:39 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.