Blogger's Picks for MAAC's All-Time Small Forwards

Here's the continuation of the series looking at the MAAC's all-time best players by position

Up now, in alphabetical order ....

SMALL FORWARD


- DARRELL BARLEY, 6-foot-5, Canisius (1992-93 through 1995-96): A key performer on the first Canisius team in 39 years to advance to the NCAA tournament in 1996 when he was the conference's Player of the Year.. His 1,594 career points is 47th best in MAAC history, despite playing just seven games as a freshman. Barley, though, was about far more than scoring. One of the conference's most-efficient players ever, his career field-goal percentage (60.1) is third-best in league history. And his 7.28 rebounds-per-game average is 31st best all time among MAAC players.

- TARIQ KIRKSAY, 6-foot-5, Iona (1996-97 through 1999-2000): A flashy (he often wore two different colored socks), but effective player who is 10th on the MAAC's career-rebounding list (926), the only player below 6-6 in the top 10. His 1,815 career points is 21st all-time, and his 1.68 steal-per-game average is 45th-best in league history. He also put up a a career field-goal percentage of 49.4, 31st-best all time. And, his teams won, accumulating 85 victories over his four seasons in an Iona uniform. Twelve years after his graduation, he continues to play professionally overseas and was once a member of France's national team.

- TIM LEGLER, 6-foot-4, La Salle (1984-85 through 1987-88): We all know him as the well-versed, well-informed NBA analyst for ESPN, but before that he was a pretty darned good player during La Salle's glory days. His 1,699 career points puts him 35th all-time in the MAAC, and he probably would have had at least 150 more except the three-point shot wasn't in place until his last two seasons. Still, those final two years established him as the conference's all-time best from long range (45.6 percent), a trait that served him well as a 10-year NBA performer. He won the NBA's 1996 3-point shooting competition, hitting 23-of-30, 22-of-30 and 20-of-30 in the event's three rounds. He is also one of three players in NBA history to finish a season shooting better than 50 percent on field goals and three-pointers and 80 percent on foul shots (Steve Kerr and Detlef Schrempf are the others).

- LIONEL SIMMONS, 6-foot-7, La Salle (1986-87 through 1989-90): The conference's gold standard and without any question the best player ever to play in the MAAC. Ranks No. 1 on the league's career scoring (3,217) and rebounding list (1,429), but those numbers transcend the conference. He is No. 3 all-time among all Division I scorers (only Pete Maravich and Freeman Williams scored more) and seventh all-time in rebounding since 1973. Also on the conference's career record list for blocks (1.89 per game, 9th), steals (1.82, 32nd) and field-goal percentage (50.1, 26th). His team was all but unbeatable his final three seasons, accumulating a 43-1 record against conference opponents. He is the only player in conference history whose teams won 100 games overall during his career (100-31). He was the seventh overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft and averaged more than 17 points in his first four pro seasons. He played seven years in the pros before knee issues forced to out.

- EDWIN UBILES, 6-foot-6, Siena (1996-97 through 1999-2000): A silky smooth, always under control player who ranks No. 3 on Siena's all-time scoring list (1,939 points) and No. 13 in the MAAC. He also ranks 22nd all-time with his 49.7 percent field-goal accuracy. A key figure on Siena's three-year stretch of NCAA tournament appearances who has tasted success on the professional level. This past season he became the first Siena player to appear in an NBA game, and was the NBA Developmental League's Rookie of the Year averaging 19.6 points per game at that level. He is currently on the Chicago Bulls' Summer League roster.

- CRAIG WISE, 6-foot-5, Canisius (1991-92 through 1994-95): A multi-talented performer who remains the only player in Canisius history to accumulate more than 1,500 points, 700 rebounds and 350 assists over his career. His1,799 total points is 23rd-best all time in the MAAC while his 789 rebounds puts him at No. 24. And, his 1.80 steals-per-game average is 35th best. He helped lead the Golden Griffins to the 1995 NIT's semifinal round and scored 32 points in a loss there to Virginia Tech. That point total remains the highest by a Canisius player in a post-season event.