Ten Greatest VMI Basketball Players: Number 10

Before I even start this list, let's go over some candidates for honorable mention:

• Jason Conley. This one was more of a moral issue, as I found it difficult to include a man who didn't even finish two years at VMI. Not to take away from his stats, though; Conley is still the only freshman to lead the NCAA in scoring with 29.3 PPG in 2001–02, as well as 8.0 rebounds and 2.9 steals whilst shooting 47% from the floor. He then bolted for Missouri after three semesters and saw his numbers, and career, disintegrate.
• Keith Gabriel. You see one of the problems with the high-tempo system we run is that is skews statistics, often misleading people into thinking players are better than they are. I mean it's not a problem for the team, but it is for me when I do lists like these. I think Keith was one of the benefactors of a run-and-gun system; he scored 1,925 career points, which is 6th all-time, though his average isn't even in the top 10. The only major statistical category he appears in the top ten of is blocks (we know all about that), and 3-pointers made (he also holds the record for most attempted). Not trying to diminish his stats, but he wasn't quite good enough to sneak on this list.
• Charlie Schmaus. He's more notable as a coach than a player for his NCAA tourney appearance, but Schmaus scored 1,328 points (19th all-time) and averaged 10.5 rebounds per game for his career (4th all-time).

Ok, this article is long already. Anyway, #10 on the list is pointguard Austin Kenon.

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

High School: First Colonial

Years at VMI: 2007-11

Position: Guard

-2011 First Team All-Big South

-All-time VMI leader in 3P FG made

-6th all-time in 3P FG percentage

-7th all-time in career points scored

The little man from Virginia Beach is widely recognized as the greatest three-point shooter in the school's history. You could make an argument for the Williams twins, or Chavis Holmes, who all had better percentages, but Austin simply made the most, and when the ball left his lethal right hand with a couple feet of room, you knew it was going in.

Austin had a career average of (ironically) 3.3 treys made per game, and made a living from beyond the arc. In fact nearly 60% of his points came from distance, and he was finally voted to the Big South First Team All-Conference in his senior year. By the end of his career he connected on a school record 349 three-pointers in 910 attempts (second only to Gabriel in that category, but a 38% mark is stellar).

Austin's freshman year was one to forget. He was benched in the beginning of the second semester, apparently due to poor grades, after playing 16 games. Despite missing nearly half the season, he still finished third on the team in total three's while averaging 12.3 points. His sophomore year, in which the Keydets went 24-8, Austin led the Big South in three pointers made, and dumped 26 on Charleston Southern (6-9 from 3), as well as a career-high 34 points (eight 3's) against Radford in the championship game in a losing effort. He hit seven three-pointers in a game twice that year.

Of course the next year we stunk it up on the court (10–19, barely qualified for BSC tourney) but Austin managed to shine; 18.4 PPG (season career high), 3.6 assists (career high as well), Second Team All-Big South. Senior year he averaged similar numbers, and the percentages went up, although he took fewer shots. And at long last he earned All-Conference First Team (which he really could have had three times, but the competition was stiff).

So over four (actually, 3.5) years, Austin left a great legacy and solidified VMI's reputation as a free-wheeling, runnin'-and-gunnin', three-point-shooting offense. Over 1700 points and 350 treys, he will not be forgotten at VMI for a long time.

Austin's Full Stats
VMI Bio