Reader Poll - Villanova's Greatest Forward

This is the third in our series of reader polls, this one to select our forward on Villanova’s all-time basketball all-star team. The full list of 35 nominees for all positions is provided at the end of this post. There is still time to vote in our prior polls by double-clicking on the following links:

• Greatest Coach
• Greatest Forward / Center

To come up with the nominees, we considered players whose Villanova jerseys have been retired, were among the all-time Villanova statistical leaders, earned All-America recognition, had success in the NCAA tournament, or were selected in the NBA draft. Active Villanova players are not eligible. The NCAA has made significant rule changes over the years that make statistical comparisons of players across generations difficult. To read more on this topic, see our post "Scottie’s Stats Under Howard’s Rules."

SELECT TWO NAMES from the nominees, listed chronologically on the next page, that represent the two best forwards in Villanova history. In a subsequent poll the readers will determine Villanova’s all-time starting five from the ten finalists.

Alex Bradley… 6’6” forward … played from 1977 to 1981 … scored 1,634 points (#15 all-time) over 111 games (14.7 ppg; #22 all-time), 797 rebounds (#12 all-time) … set the single-game freshman scoring record in 1978, a record that stood until it was eclipsed by Scottie Reynolds in 2007 … was the first three-year captain at Villanova since 1952 and was selected to the 1981 Big East All-Tournament Team … led the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament appearances … selected by the New York Knicks as the 86^thpick of the 1981 NBA draft, and played one season, averaging 3.5 ppg and 1.7 rpg ... inducted into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 1987.

Ed Pinckney… 6'9" forward … played from 1981-1985 … scored 1,865 points (#10 all-time) over 129 games (14.5 ppg; #23 all time), 1,107 rebounds (#4 all-time), 226 assists (#32 all-time), and 196 steals (#7 all time) and 253 blocks (#3 all-time) … “E-Z Ed” led Villanova to its only NCAA title, winning over the Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown Hoyas in 1985 in the “perfect game.” … awarded the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after scoring 16 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in the 66-64 victory … Consensus Third-Team All American in 1983 … #54 jersey retired by Villanova ... selected tenth overall in the 1985 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns … went on to play for the Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat over a twelve-year career … averaged 6.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg … went on to become a radio and television analyst for the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers … inducted into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 1991 ... served as an assistant coach for the Villanova from 2003-2007 before moving on as an assistant coach at the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Harold Pressley… 6’7” forward … played from 1982-1986 … scored 1,572 points (#19 all-time) over 135 games (11.6 ppg), 1,016 rebounds (#5 all-time), 213 steals (#2 all-time), 152 blocks (#6 all-time) and 300 assists (#21 all-time) … became the first player in Big East history to record a triple-double, with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots against Providence … was a member of their 1985 National Championship team, scoring 11 points in the Championship Game, and named to the 1985 NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team, 1986 All Big East First Team, 1986 Associated Press honorable mention All American, 1986 Big East All-Tournament Team, and the 1986 Big East Defensive Player of the Year … selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 1st round (17th overall pick) of the 1986 NBA Draft … played four years for the Kings averaging 9.0 ppg … inducted into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 1992 ... went on to co-host the Sierra Central Sports Roundtable TV sports show that aired in the Sacramento area … later became Director of Player Development for the Sacramento Kings

Tim Thomas … 6'10" forward … played one season (1996-97) before jumping to the NBA … known for his versatility and soft shooting touch, may have been Villanova’s all-time most touted recruit and at one point was considered better than future great Kobe Bryant … averaged 16.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.8 spg, as a freshman and earned AP Honorable Mention All-American honors … was drafted seventh overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 1997 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the Sixers' draft pick (Keith Van Horn) … now entering his 14^thseason in the NBA, Thomas has averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg over his NBA career.

Curtis Sumpter … 6'7" forward …played from 2002-07 … scored 1,651 points (#13 all-time) over 124 games (13.3 ppg;), 794 rebounds (#13 all-time), and 111 steals (#26 all time) and 70 blocks (#13 all time). … named to the All-Big East second team, and the first team All-Philadelphia Big Five in the 2004-2005 season … averaged 15.3 points per game and 7.2 rebounds in 2004-05 NCAA tournament, leading Villanova to the Sweet 16 … considered by many the most talented of the Nova players on that team, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the Cat’s 76-65 victory over Florida in the in that year’s NCAA Tournament, which necessitated Villanova’s move to the four-guard lineup … red-shirted during the 2005-2006 season returning for the 2006-2007 season … earned first team All-Big East honors … name was not called in the 2007 NBA draft, but he signed with the German team Köln 99ers and later with the French team JA Vichy.

Dante Cunningham … 6’8” forward … played from 2005-09 … finished his career with 1,334 points (#31 all-time) over 139 games (9.6 ppg), 118 blocks (#7 all-time), 819 rebounds (#11 all-time) and 162 steals (#12 all-time) … led the Cats back to their first Final Four appearance in 24 years, losing to eventual champion, North Carolina … named Big East Most Improved Player, Second Team All-Big East, and one of 15 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy … was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, where he scored 3.9 ppg and grabbed 2.5 rpg in 11 minutes per game in his rookie season.

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Full List of Nominees