8. 2005 Niagara Falls (N.Y.)When people think of the great basketball played in the Empire State, the playgrounds and cramped gyms of New York City often come to mind.
Before Syracuse, Johnny Flynn
first shared the court with Paul Harris
at Niagara Falls.
Photo by Kevin Yen
And rightfully so, as the Big Apple has produced more than its share of trophy players and teams.
Located nearly seven hours from Manhattan, Niagara Falls also lays claim to some high caliber hoops. Never was this more evident than in 2005, when Johnny Flynn and Paul Harris led one of the state's best teams ever.
Playing an extremely rigorous schedule, the Wolverines finished 28-1, with victories over teams from Florida, Ohio and Louisiana. The team's only loss came by one point against Vashon (Mo.), which later had to forfeit the victory due to use of ineligible players.
Conventional wisdom says that teams with outstanding guard play survive in March. If that's the case, Niagara Falls may have survived two rounds. The country already knows what type of player Flynn is, and Harris is finally exhibiting the excellence he showed in high school.
Adding further depth to the 2005 Niagara Falls team were guards Rob Garrison, now a junior at Niagara, and Greg Gamble, a senior at Buffalo who was able to help underneath with his 6-4 frame. James Starks (6-2) was also a valuable Wolverine; he is now Buffalo's all-time leading rusher in football, and provided toughness at the guard spot.
Tyrell Lynch, a 6-9 forward, was a junior who garnered all-state honors as a senior, and is now at Massachusetts. Miguel Respress, a Division I-caliber forward, was yet another scoring threat; tragically, he passed away suddenly the next summer.
Simply put, the Wolverines had outstanding talent in the backcourt, amazing depth and a strong interior presence. Even in 2005, Flynn and Harris were both physically mature, and could've matched up against some round-one guard combinations. Respress and Lynch would've held their own underneath, with Harris and Gamble dropping down to provide help and doubling on real post threats.
A very tight-knit, cohesive unit with the requisite talent, Niagara Falls would have found a way to win a March Madness game.
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