Something has really bothered me over the last few years about the younger generation of hoopers. And no, I’m not even talking about play style or how the game is played now.
I’m talking about not knowing the history of the game. Not knowing the legends who came before them.
Now, I’m not saying every kid needs to know players from the 60s or 70s. But the more recent legends? Even college legends? You should know them. Especially if you grew up playing and loving the game.
I’ve seen way too many clips of younger players having no idea who certain guys are. And some of those names should just be common knowledge if you truly love basketball.
I also feel like a lot of kids aren’t sitting down and watching college basketball on a random Tuesday night. Or turning on an NBA game between two bottom-tier teams just because it’s on. I still do that to this day. I’ll watch a random mid-major matchup on a weekday or weekend. I’ll watch a regular-season NBA game with no playoff implications. I just love watching ball. Always have.
But this particular instance this past weekend really bothered me — because it involved one of my all-time favorite players: Jimmer Fredette.
Now, why Jimmer?
I sure as hell can’t shoot like him. But we’re actually from the same area in upstate New York. His high school was our rival school. I grew up playing against his school — and just to be clear, I’m younger than him, so I wasn’t out there matching up with Jimmer himself. But that rivalry was real, and being from that area, you felt his presence. You heard about him constantly.
I saw Jimmer in person. I even have a pair of my old basketball shoes signed by him from camp.
So yeah… I’m a fan.
As I said, Jimmer is one of my all-time favorite players. Part of that is because of where he’s from. But a bigger reason? He was that dude in college.
Nowadays, you hear “Steph range.” But before that? People would pull up from deep and yell “JIMMER!” or “Jimmer range!” He was pulling from way beyond the arc and splashing everything.
His senior season was special.
Someone even made a remix of “Teach Me How to Dougie” called “Teach Me How to Jimmer.” That’s how big he was. He had college basketball in a chokehold.
That was also the year Kemba and UConn went on that legendary run. It was just an incredible season of college hoops.
The whole world experienced Jimmermania.
And for me, being from the same area? I loved it. A dude from upstate New York becoming a star at the college level and winning National Player of the Year? I was so happy for him.
Did I want his NBA career to pan out differently? Of course. But we’re not here to dwell on that.
We’re here to talk about history.
Jimmer got his jersey retired at BYU this past weekend. Rightfully so.
But some of the current players had zero clue who he was. Their responses were basically, “They told us he was him,” or “They said he was that guy.”
Like… what?
You play for the school. His jersey is being retired. You didn’t think maybe you should look him up? Watch some highlights? Do five minutes of research?
These kids live on YouTube. It would’ve taken no time at all.
Yes, I understand most of them were babies when he was playing. But that goes back to my main point — it feels like a lot of them don’t love the game like that. Not all. But a lot.
Jimmer had at least 30 points in 15 games his senior year. He averaged 28.9 a night. He was on an absolute tear.
And it’s not like he came out of nowhere. His junior year, people started noticing. BYU went 30–6 and lost in the second round of the tournament to No. 2 seed Kansas State. That Kansas State team? Jacob Pullen. Memories.
Jimmer averaged just over 22 points per game that year and shot 44% from three. First Team All-Mountain West (again). Third Team All-American by NABC and TSN.
He was already a bucket. His senior year just took it to another level.
He entered that season as an AP Preseason All-American. Expectations were high — and he exceeded them.
BYU started ranked No. 24. They finished 32–5 and made the Sweet 16 before losing to No. 2 Seeded Florida. That team relied heavily on Jimmer’s scoring. Only two other players averaged double figures — Jackson Emery and Brandon Davies.
Jimmer swept National Player of the Year awards. Consensus First Team All-American. Mountain West Player of the Year. Mountain West Tournament MVP.
He averaged 28.9 / 4.3 / 3.4 on 45/40/89 splits.
He was pulling from DEEP.
I remember everyone trying to emulate his range. Kids were yelling “Jimmer!” from the parking lot.
And now? He’s almost an afterthought.
That’s wild to me.
Yes, he didn’t become an NBA star. But that doesn’t erase what he did at BYU. He wasn’t some random guy. He led the nation in scoring. He won National Player of the Year. No one at BYU has topped what he did since.
So to see current players basically say, “Yeah, they told us he was good,” was disappointing.
Especially when his jersey was going up in the rafters.
I just wish more kids would study the history of the game. Especially the history of the school they play for. Even if you’re one-and-done — you should know who built the foundation before you got there.
Those legends laid the groundwork.
Every player we admire today got something from someone before them. And it keeps going back.
All it would’ve taken was watching one mixtape.
One YouTube search.
Five minutes.
And you would’ve seen — he was really like that.
– Jett Garden
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