September 24, 2018,  Basketball  No comments

Herd Fans’ Favorite Basketball Player

By Michael Morgan

The 2018 Marshall Thundering Herd Men’s basketball team will finish the season having perhaps the greatest player in the school’s history according to fans.

This fan favorite, senior guard Jon Elmore returns to the Herd for his senior season. Elmore led the Herd and Conference USA in points per game and assists last season, resulting in consideration for being the C-USA player of the year, just slightly being edged by Middle Tennessee forward Nick King.

The Charleston, West Virginia native declared for the NBA draft after the 2017 season with teammates C.J. Burks and Ajdin Penava. Herd fan Taylor Perry was sad about the three leaving Marshall, but wished for their success. “I knew that the team would not be the same without them, but I knew that whatever happened, it was for the best,” Perry said. Two of the three withdrew from the draft just before the deadline, so that they could return for their senior seasons.

In 2018, Elmore is likely to become Marshall’s all-time leading scorer. Elmore needs just 686 points to pass Skip Henderson, a total that he has surpassed each of his last two seasons. Former Marshall student Eddie Adkins believes Elmore is already the greatest player that the Herd has had. “I have watched him play nearly every game since he has been here, and he never ceases to amaze me,” Adkins said.

Elmore led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 33 years, and was a crucial part in their upset win over the Wichita State Shockers. Former college basketball player, and avid Marshall supporter Katie Fuller claims it was the best game she ever watched. “I lost my voice cheering for the Herd and I wasn’t even there. I think that upset will go down as the biggest win since the upset over #23 ranked Wake Forest in 1997,” Fuller said. In the game against the Shockers, Elmore scored 27 points, accompanied by four rebounds and four assists.

Marshall student Haley Harber can attest to Elmore’s mannerisms off the court. “He may be a great player on the court, but he is an even nicer person off the court. I’ve seen him walking around and just joking with new people like they’re his best friend and he always has a smile on his face,” Harber said.

The Herd opens up Nov. 7 against Eastern Kentucky University and conference play begins Jan. 3 against Old Dominion University. Elmore’s legacy continues to grow as he plays in his last season as the leader of the Thundering Herd.

After graduating, Elmore will likely land with an NBA team, says amateur NBA writer Ethan Chapman. “Elmore has all the intangibles of a potential NBA prospect, he shows almost unlimited range with great ball-handling skills. I heard that he was being looked at strongly by the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Chapman said.

After the upcoming season, Elmore will be immortalized in Marshall record books, with the likes of Skip Henderson, Jason Williams, and NBA Hall of Famer Hal Greer.