Since this is a list from the last half century, I would also include as honorable mention, Camden Wall from Los Gatos, and Dick Smith from Gilroy, both from the 1962 and 1963 teams, who both made all conference, I believe.

I’d have to disagree. Both Chenier and Charles Johnson were good if not great ballplayers, especially at Cal, but it was Chenier who blossomed more in the NBA. Chenier was the smoothest guard I ever saw at Cal, period. At Cal, Chenier averaged 26 ppg on the Cal frosh and on his two years on the varsity, he averaged 13.5 ppg. In 1971, as a junior, he made the all-conference team. With both seniors, Johnson and Ridgle graduating, Chenier chose to leave Cal for the NBA.

Chenier started off by making the NBA All Rookie team in 1972. In 1975, he was voted 2nd team all-NBA (Walt Frazier and Tiny Archibald were the two first team guards that year). He played in 3 NBA All-star games, and won one NBA title, with Washington in 1978. He had a 12 year NBA career, where he averaged 17.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.6 steals, in 36 minutes per game. He was 6th in steals one year, and 7th in another year.

At Cal, Charlie Johnson averaged 13.9 points for three years, and was a team captain. His NBA career spanned 9 years, where he averaged 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals, in 19 minutes per game. His teams won two NBA titles. It was a little ironic that in 1974, Johnson was a starter for the Warriors in the NBA Finals, while Chenier was an all-star guard for the Bullets, and the Warriors won. In that series, Chenier would score 21.8 ppg to CJ’s 10.9 ppg. In 1978, both Johnson and Chenier were playing for the Bullets, and they won the NBA title. Both were nearing the end of their careers and they came off the bench to play about 20-25 minutes each, Chenier scoring 14 ppg, and CJ scoring 8.3 ppg.

So, 2013 is where he needed to make his mark and he’s done it. This is a fantastic start. It might be one year too late for some, but let’s just be happy that it’s moving that direction.

For starters we have rodeos.

I would consider Salinas in the Bay Area but not Sacramento. This is supported by the definition of the San Francisco Bay Area in Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area

Are you organizing a pre-game get together of people who write for this column before a Cal game at Kips upstairs? I might attend, depending on the game.

Too bad not many people are as old as I am, as I have not seen any comments on my Johnson vs. Chenier issue.

You know I’m racking my brain to remember if any of the top bay area kids that “got away” from Montgomery are really ones that we would have wanted Everyone was up in arms when the other Jabari (Brown) went to Oregon, but I’m pretty sure I’m glad he didn’t end up at Cal. When he left Oregon, he wanted to go to SDSU. The Aztec blogs were on fire with the promise that the top hoops recruit in Aztec history would be headed to Montezuma Mesa. Word has it that Steve Fisher very quietly (and classily) passed. Not a good fit chemistry-wise. Pretty sure there would been issues here.

I have seen Bird play both on TV and in person. I LOVE his game. Ridiculously talented and VERY unselfish. He is a perfect fit for Cal and Montgomery, and he will be a huge impact player for us. He will be a leader and represent Cal both on and off the court in a manner that will make Cal alums and fans proud. As has been written, he is going to try his darndest to do what Zack Kline and Brian Treggs did in football- sell Cal to other top recruits. Lets hope he is successful.

Also, Midgely was from England and Modesto. Neither are the bay area.

Tedford will never make you eat crow. If he was going to, he would have already done it at some point in the past 6 seasons.