Sean Singletary's Legacy

Sean Singletary arrived at Virginia the year after I graduated. I remember talking to Benny on the eve of the 2004-05 college basketball season and asking him what he had heard of the new recruits. He simply told me, “I’ve heard this Singletary kid can play.”

By all standards, the Wahoo Men’s Basketball program was in disarray when Benny and I left to seek gainful employment. Save for some Todd Billet sharp shooting heroics, our bubble seemed to continuously burst every February. They played sloppy, uninspired, plodding basketball. Our big man was talented but ate too much, now he’s an NBDL All-Star which is like winning the sack race at summer camp. It’s an accomplishment, sure, but you’re back to sleeping on a cot at the end of the day. Our point guard notoriously got into fist fights at bars and regularly told every woman in earshot that he had something for them to do... “this dick” (true story). He finished his collegiate career playing at Murray State and fervently followed the specifics of statutory consent laws within the great state of Kentucky. The coach was gregarious and had a great Brooklyn accent, but his likability could only serve him through so many losing seasons. Therefore, it’s ironic (I’m not sure if I’m using that right, I gotta consult Alanis) that Pete Gillen’s best contribution as coach of the Cavs was to recruit Sean Singletary.

Last night Sean Singletary had his Senior Night. He had his jersey retired, scored his 2,000th point and led his team to victory over the Maryland Terrapins. In my 18 years of watching Virginia basketball, there has never been a more beloved player and better ambassador for the University. He carried this program to new heights with his gritty, yet understated leadership. He embodied Tom Landry’s mantra, “Act like you’ve been there before”. After a sensational drive to the basket or circus shot, he’d very rarely pound his chest or gesture to the crowd. The closest he came to posturing was when he pointed at the ESPN camera after beating Duke last year with a baseline fallaway, but that wasn’t him being cocky, that was just him being awesome:

What I loved most about the Singletary era of Virginia basketball was his heart. He played through hip pointers, sustained flus and questionable supporting casts with determination and resolve. He CARED about the team and was humble enough to understand the dynamic of winning basketball. After an emotional Senior Night, he joked that he had cried so much after the team’s loses this season that he didn’t have any tears left. I think a defining moment for Sean came at the end of the Tennessee game in the NCAA tourney last year. He had a chance to send the game to overtime and possibly propel UVa to their first Sweet Sixteen since 1995. His last second three-pointer drew the back iron and he collapsed to the floor, sobbing. For me, this was a disappointing outcome, but based on his reaction, you could see that Sean was forever changed. His best shot at a winner was gone and in that moment you could see how bright his fire burned for this team, for this game.

My hopes are that he gets drafted in the late first round by a playoff team because many perennial lottery teams will be scared off by his size. I think he’ll be a liability on defense against bigger guards, but could be used very effectively as a change of pace floor general much like Earl Boykins or Devin Harris. Either way, he’s a legend in Charlottesville no matter what his NBA career ultimately becomes. It’s going to be difficult to face next season without him, but underclassmen like Lars, Baker, Diane, Tucker and Scott have shown enough promise to settle the initial fear of life without #44. Chris Long and Sean Singletary both moving on in the same season, it’s truly a sad year in Hooville.