Saturday, October 31, 2009

Hoyaween: Focus on John Bay Bay Duren

Halloween is always special at Georgetown as we look down the Exorcist steps. Today we focus on former Hoya great John "Bay Bay" Duren. John was perhaps the greatest pure point guard to ever play on the Hilltop. In the earlier days of the JT Jr. era before GU became ""Big Man University," John Duren along with Craig Shelton came from the #1 ranked high school team in the nation, Dunbar High School. John received many awards, e.g. ECAC Holiday Festival tournament MVP, all Big East and All-American honors, as well as becoming the first Big East Player of the Year in 1979-80. John played a few injury shortened seasons in the NBA after being a first round draft choice. Bay Bay's career really catapulted into the national spotlight after making the Pan American team coached by Bob Knight and playing in those famous games in Puerto Rico.

However, to truly understand the greatness of John Duren you needed to have seen him play for the Hoyas. Although he was an excellent shooter both from the outside and the free throw line, that was not his strength. He was powerfully-built, a strong defender, a sure ball handler, and the perfect quarterback for the Heart Attack Hoyas. John did all of the little things like dive on the floor to steal a pass. He did the things that won games, but did not necessarily show up in the box score. On this Halloween 2009 we honor a former Hoya great John, "Bay Bay" Duren. I still remember the great Red Auerbach marvelling over his play. Red did not do that often. I can still hear his voice echoing down the cafeteria line at New South. John was the leader of those Hoya teams.

To read more about John Duren go the Georgetown Basketball History Project at:
http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/j_duren.htm

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong
Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President and Director of Communications
Proud Member of Generation Ewing


1 comment:

Unknown said...

Excellent story on Bay Bay!