Each week in March we will cover a GOAT (greatest of all time) of the NCAA shoe game. Four champions will be named. A few factors play into the equation:
1. team success; must reach the NCAA Tournament to qualify
2. diversity and/or rarity of shoes worn
3. individual statistics and accolades
Our first winner is easily recognizable to early 2010s’ NCAA fans; Kemba Walker was on ESPN constantly and rocking heat for days. We were treated to three years of Jordan Grails, killer crossovers and buzzer-beaters and for that, we name Walker our first NCAA sneaker GOAT. Here’s why…
During his tenure at UConn Kemba won a National Championship (2011) with an additional Final Four appearance (2009). The team’s greatest moment was the 2011 Big East Championship. The Huskies won five games in five days ending with a game winning buzzer-beater by Kemba against Pitt in the championship game. NOTE: that game winner was setup with the most savage crossover/step backs combo ever.
Some college players pull out kicks only because they’re ‘hyped’, Kemba rocked everything during his college career. The New York native wore Kobes, team Jordans, retros… ‘no stone left unturned’ type kick game. See for yourself below.
In vintage college basketball fashion Walker evolved and grew every year. Killer Kemba averaged over 23 points per-game during his junior year and won the Bob Cousy Award (given to the nation’s top point guard). Prestigious awards like the Big East MVP, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and All-American First Team followed.
Where would you rank Kemba Walker? Are there other players you’d like to see? Tell us in the comments below and check back next week!
photos via Nicekicks
Mike Guillory
Nick Engvall
Aaron Nojima
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