To have a good time SLAM’s thirtieth anniversary, we’re spotlighting the 30 most influential males’s school groups from our previous 30 years. Stats, information and chips aren’t the principle issue right here, it’s all about their contribution to the sport’s cultural material.
For the following 30 days—Monday by Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full record right here. We’ve additionally acquired an unique retro collegiate assortment, out now, that pays homage to every squad’s threads. Store right here.
The Coney Island child and SLAM’s golden youngster. A blossoming nationwide expertise hailing from Cincinnati. A 6-5 dimer main this system in all-time assists. Stephon Marbury, Matt Harpring and Drew Barry formulated one of many biggest squads in Georgia Tech historical past. However their Candy 16 look and dominance within the ACC pales in comparison with the lasting imprint left by Starbury and the Yellow Jackets cohort.
Hailing from Lincoln Excessive Faculty, Marbury was shifting the tradition lengthy earlier than he got here to daybreak the gold and navy. Two-time SLAM All-American. The primary SLAM Diarist and a future nice who we’d honor as one of many 30 gamers who’ve outlined our 30 years. To place it into perspective, Marbury had dudes within the barbershop asking for a line reduce down the center of their heads. He had Alexander Memorial Coliseum rocking to a unique kind of rhythm. His imaginative and prescient was high tier, his type of play was ruthless, imply muggin’ as he trotted again down on protection.
The Yellow Jackets already had a strong core in place between Harpring, Barry and Michael Maddox, however the arrival of the wiry highschool sensation would put Tech excessive with an everyday season ACC Championship and a last No. 13 AP rating.
Led by ACC Coach of the 12 months Bobby Cremins, the Jackets appeared to their sharp-shooting sophomore in Matt Harpring for endless consistency. Good for 18.6 factors and eight.1 boards a sport whereas capturing 51 p.c from the sector and 42.9 p.c from past the arc, the 6-8 ahead would safe his second of three All-ACC honors through the 12 months. In the meantime, Drew Barry – the son of Corridor of Famer Rick Barry – fashioned the second half of Tech’s insurmountable backcourt.
The Yellow Jackets might not have discovered final success in March – regardless of reaching the Candy 16 – however they discovered it in cultural relevance. Starbury was born. A modernized swagger imbued the hardwood of Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Yellow Jackets weren’t all hype. They have been emphatic.
Pictures by way of Getty Pictures.