It's often hard to realize the exceptional nature of success while it's happening.
But with time, folks begin to recognize that some pinnacle moments are once-in-a-generation.
That's particularly true in sports.
In the aftermath of Larry Bird-led Indiana State's NCAA runner-up 1979 men's college basketball season, colorful NBC broadcaster and former Marquette coach Al McGuire came to Terre Haute for a celebration. McGuire gently told Sycamore fans that the season they'd just witnessed wouldn't come around again. Many locals, including this columnist, thought differently.
McGuire was pretty smart.
ISU has experienced some great, thrilling eras since then, and before 1979. Those, too, involved special collections of talent.
John Wooden coached two Sycamore seasons in Terre Haute, winning 44 out of 59 games from 1946-48 with a roster that included future NBA player Duane Klueh. Royce Waltman guided Indiana State to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2000 and 2001 — the only repeat trips in ISU history — with greats such as Nate Green, Michael Menser and Matt Renn in uniform. And, Indiana State reached the Big Dance in 2011 with guard Jake Odum leading his hometown Sycamores, coached by Greg Lansing.
Looking back, it's clear that this community was fortunate those stars aligned in those unique seasons.
Likewise with the 2023-24 Sycamores. They finished 32-7 as the National Inivitation Tournament runners-up, beating four major-conference foes in succession and powered by coach Josh Schertz's ingenious fast-paced, defense-triggered offense. Packed crowds in Hulman Center. Kids wearing Robbie "Larry Nerd" Avila goggles. Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indy brimming with rowdy Hauteans for the NIT Final Four.
It was all too brief, but amazing.
The talent level of that ISU team is proven by this month's NBA Summer League competition at Las Vegas. Three members of the '23-24 Sycamores played for NBA teams in the Summer League — a preseason proving grounds for rookies, second-year players and prospects from the NBA's developmental G League. In addition, another former Sycamore who played at ISU from 2017 through 2021, Tyreke Key, turned heads playing for the Toronto Raptors ' Summer League unit.
For a mid-major program like Indiana State, four former players seeing action on NBA courts simultaneously is rare.
A smooth-shooting lefty guard from the '23-24 team, Ryan Conwell , shined for the Miami Heat 's Summer League team after being picked in the second round of the NBA Draft. Conwel averaged 20.5 points, 4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in four Summer League games. He played so well, the Heat coaches kept him out of Miami's fifth and final game, figuring he'd already proven himself.
"He's a very confident player. And to his credit, he's gotten better every single day," Heat Summer League coach Wayne Ellington said of Conwell in comments relayed by the club. Ellington added, "He's got a natural shooting ability, and that's something you can't teach."
Sycamore flashback: Fans may remember, Conwell's career-high 27 points helped beat Utah in a thriller NIT semifinal to put the Sycamores in the '24 championship game against Seton Hall.
Jayson Kent , a versatile small forward, stood out for the Portland Trail Blazers in the Summer League games from July 9-19. In five games at Las Vegas, Kent averaged 11 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists, and hit 40 percent of his shots. The 6-foot-8 Kent delivered a 20-point, eight-rebound game against Orlando .
Kent actually already climbed his way into regular-season NBA duty, making his major-league debut for the Blazers in March after year with Portland's G-League team.
Sycamore flashback: Kent etched his name into ISU history with a 35-point night in a rout of SMU in the Sycamores' 2024 NIT opener.
Avila — a 6-10 center who can dribble, pass and shoot 3-pointers like a point guard — suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers ' Summer League team. Avila's two seasons in Terre Haute vaulted him to college hoops stardom as a fan-favorite leading scorer. While Avila's Summer League playing time was limited to a two-point, two-assist, one-rebound outing for the Lakers in a preliminary California Classic game, crowds at Las Vegas cheered his name as Avila sat on the LA bench. Scribes chronicling the Los Angeles big-league club (whose roster also includes fifth-year veteran Jake LaRavia , another former Sycamore) suspect Avila will get lots of G-League action with the Coachella Valley Lakers.
Sycamore flashback: Avila's 26 points and 10 rebounds complemented Conwell's big game against Utah in the NIT semifinals.
And Key, who transferred after four ISU seasons to play in the powerful Southeastern Conference with Tennessee, averaged 11.8 points in five NBA Summer League games for the Raptors this month. That included an 11-point, 10-rebound statistical "double-double" in a July 16 win over Miami (and Conwell).
Sycamore flashback: Key scored a cumulative 63 points for ISU in back-to-back wins over Evansville in February of 2020.
It's early, in terms of the upcoming season, so it's uncertain whether Avila, Conwell, Kent and Key will wind up on an NBA roster in 2026-27. But each has impressed those clubs' coaches and fans, as well as their former Sycamore mentors.
Reached Tuesday night, Schertz gushed about his trio of former standouts — Avila, Conwell and Kent.
Josh Schertz mugshot.jpg
"[I'm] so incredibly impressed but not at all surprised by the success and opportunities that Ryan, Jayson and Robbie have generated," Schertz said. "While they are all different types of players, they share similar traits in their work ethic, competitiveness, team orientation and professionalism."
As ISU fans know, Schertz now coaches the Saint Louis University Billikens. After coaching ISU from 2022-24, Schertz accepted an attractive offer from SLU to coach there, and Avilia followed his coach to play his final two college seasons as a Billiken. In fact, nearly every player with remaining eligibility from ISU's NIT finalist team transferred elsewhere afterward. That's the new reality in mid-major basketball.
Conwell later played at Xavier and Louisville, and Kent played his final season at Texas.
Soft-hearted Sycamore backers followed those players' exploits in their new opportunities. Schertz continues to keep an eye on them.
"All of us fortunate enough to be small parts of their journeys know how easy these three are to cheer for, and will continue to root for them as they pursue their careers at the very highest level," Schertz said.
Greg Lansing
GREG LANSING
Key drew praise this week for his Summer League play from Lansing, his former Sycamore coach who's now with the Arizona State staff. Key also spent last season with Toronto's Raptors 905 G-League club, averaging 14.8 points per game.
"Tyreke did a great job again in Summer League. Coming off a very good season on the G-League and getting called up to the Raptors of the NBA he just has continued to improve and excel," Lansing said Tuesday. "I know the GM and top scout for Toronto and they have always loved Tyreke. As I told them when they brought him on board, you will have no one that works harder and is in the gym more. He has absolutely earned everything he has gotten with pure dedication and hard work."
All the more reason for Terre Hauteans to appreciate those special ISU players and teams.
