I’ve refrained from writing about Hokie basketball until the end of the season, because I’ve been waiting for the perfect thing to write about. I know the season isn’t quite over yet–we’ve still got the ACC tournament–but this idea struck me and I couldn’t wait. I didn’t want to risk losing my inspiration, because that would have been terrible.
And for once, I’m not totally fan-girling. I’m being serious.
So I present to you my tribute to the nation’s leading scorer, one heck of a basketball player and athlete, ACC Player of the Year, all-around incredible person and a true Hokie.
O Erick, our Erick, your Cassell ride is done! Four years have passed, you’ve played your last, and now we bid adieu.
Okay, English major moment done.
No but seriously, do I have to? Because I really don’t want to.
You started playing behind guys like Malcolm Delaney and Dorenzo Hudson, averaging only 2.6 points and 12 minutes a game. Crazy to think about when your numbers this year ranged somewhere around 25 and 36, respectively, isn’t it? That 81.6 free-throw percent is nice, too.
Oh, and you’re also the nation’s leading scorer. Did you know the only other player from the ACC to accomplish that feat was Grady Wallace from South Carolina? And you know that’s been a long time ago, because South Carolina hasn’t been in the ACC since 1971.
So there’s that.
During the Duke game on March 5th, ESPN showed a stat that you had 27 games scoring 20+ points, while individual players on the entire Duke–sorry, Dook–team have had 28 20+-point games. You. By yourself. Over all those pasty snoots from Durham. I don’t care if it’s a silly stat, it’s still awesome.
Anyway…remember that time you dropped 30 on Miami? Or even better, 35 on UVA and Wake Forest? I do. And I’ll remember them forever, along with every other game I watched in Cassell.
But my favorite thing about you runs much deeper than your statistics and athleticism on the court. You not only wear the word “Hokie(s)” on your uniform, but you are a walking embodiment of what it means to be a Hokie.
Exhibit A: you take the time to respond to your fans. I’m sure you receive a thousand or more mentions and tweets each day, but the fact that you respond to so many, if not all of them, astounds me. I love it.
Like this time:
And this time:
And that was the best birthday present ever. That and the ACC-Big Ten Challenge win, of course.
Exhibit B: you held open a door for me at Hokie Grill once. That was so nice of you.
Exhibit C: in your last game in Cassell, you took only twelve field goals. Twelve. The rest of your 29 points that game came from free throws.
Exhibit D: after that same game, you stayed out to sign autographs for fans, students and families. I wish I had known you’d come back out, not because I wanted an autograph, but because it would have been fantastic to thank you in person.
And believe me, I, along with the rest of Hokie Nation, cannot thank you enough for the four years of basketball and Hokie spirit you have given us. I don’t think my words can do it justice, but my goodness I’m trying.
Come back and visit us every once in a while, promise? Say hey to J.J. and give us in the Cassell Guard a salute again, for old time’s sake.
But more than anything, Erick, thank you, and good luck in the NBA. I can’t wait to see where life takes you and how you grow as a person and player.
And last but not least…
But seriously, from all of Hokie Nation, adios Erick, and as always, let’s go…Hokies.
