The end of the Jimmer show

NEW ORLEANS- It all ended so suddenly. Jimmer Fredette, the greatestbasketball player in BYU history, will never again put on a BYU uniform. That became the stark reality after the Cougars fell to Florida in the Sweet 16 Thursday night in overtime, 83-74.

As Fredette checked out of the game after scoring 32 points, he couldn't help but become emotional as he walked to the bench.

"You just knew that it was over," said Fredette with a bandage over his chin. "You knew it was the last time you were going to play with those guys and they were going to be your coaches. I love all of those guys. They are great guys and fun to be with for the last four years."

And what a four years it was. Fredette passed Danny Ainge to become BYU's all-time leading scorer. He will most likely win multiple national player of the year awards after leading the nation in scoring. Plus, he led BYU to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 30 years.

"It was amazing what he was able to do and put BYU on the map in the national scene," said junior forward Noah Hartsock. "I think that's something that's outstanding. He's going to leave a legacy here that he might be one of the best players ever."

"You think of every season and the different challenges he faced," added head coach Dave Rose. "He finished his career being better than everybody thought he was going to be when he started the year, and everybody thought he was going to be pretty good when he started the year. And then winning games, that's his legacy."

No player won more games at BYU than Fredette. But now it's on to a new chapter in his life in the NBA.

"Hopefully I'll be able to play at the next level in the NBA," said Fredette. "That's the dream, and I'm looking forward to being able to go work out and hopefully get drafted and make a team."

Fredette is expected to be a first round draft pick, and some experts project him to be a lottery pick.

"Obviously, he's going to do great wherever he goes," said junior forward Charles Abouo. "He's in a good situation, but it's definitely going to be different not having him around."

So after all the glorious moments and the mass hysteria created by "Jimmer-mania," how does Fredette want to be remembered at BYU?

"I just want to be remembered as a good person first," he said. "Someone that the fans enjoyed watching, and hopefully the legacy of myself and my team will be remembered for years to come."

Years, decades, maybe even longer.

Posted in: NEWS