MACwood Squares is our summer reading series on the best athletes in Mid-American Conference sports history. This week features Central Michigan. Looking for your MAC school? Consult our schedule for other teams and please submit your nominees as well.
For a historic .500 team, it's pretty amazing how many memorable characters have been produced out of Mount Pleasant. And I think that's the right word: characters. These guys have more personality than the average alumni, it seems.
So what's your preference: Sugar or Thunder? Dr. Rounds or the Caveman? So many nicknames, so few squares.
Melvin "Sugar" McLaughlin (1980-83) — He's the all-time leading scorer (2,071 points) and second in steals. And he did it by shooting three-point shots before they were worth three points. But with being just a sixth-round pick in 1983 by the Cavaliers, he never suited up.
Dan Roundfield (1972-75) — Top rebounder (1,031) and did it in three seasons; also the 1975 MAC POY. He scored more in the pros than any other Chippewa with the Pacers/Hawks/Pistons/Bullets (11,657). Known for his defense, he was listed on five NBA All-Defensive teams, three times as a first-teamer.
Ben Poquette (1974-77) — The career leader in blocks. One of 38 NBAers to record 10 blocks in a game, him and Nate Thurmond are the only MAC players who have done this. He scored and rebounded a bit. But mostly blocks.
Dan Majerle (1984-88) — Second all-time leading scorer (2,055 points) as well as fifth in rebounds, third in steals, and, uh, fifth in blocks. as well. Tannest player MAC alum and probably — especially at this time — the most popular player ever for the Miami Heat, even though the previous year he did play for the Cavaliers. He's best known with the Phoenix Suns, especially that 1992-93 team that tried to dethrone Jordan's Bulls. This didn't happen.
Chris Kaman (2000-03) — 2003 MAC Player of the year; he and Bonzi Wells are the only two players in MAC history to win both POY and Defensive POY in a career; they both did this in the same year. Also second in career blocks. He did all this before being drafted by the Clippers with the sixth overall pick and starting to look like the guy who blew up the capsule in Contact. An All-Star Game selection in 2010 has been the pinnacle of his hard-to-define NBA career. I mean, he's good, but ... the Clippers, man.
Giordan Watson (2004-08) — Not only fourth in points, but also the career leader in assists and steals. A true point guard and had a nice spot of defense in him. He's currently playing basketball in Iceland. Freaking Iceland. That's hardcore.
I'll keep it to this six for now, but convince me of others: Ben Kelso? Nate Huffman? Could Trey Zeigler surpass them all someday? Or is it really Nate Huffman? Vote and discuss.
Who are your nominees for Central Michigan's MACwood Squares? Comment below, tweet us at @HustleBelt or submit a FanPost making your case. The final nine will be revealed Friday.