JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 15, 2006) - After two weeks of accepting nominations, ETSU men's basketball fans have made their nominations and 15 of the Buccaneers' all-time greats have made it to the final vote.

With players spanning nearly six decades, picking the best five of all time will not be an easy task, but fans can accept the challenge by voting for their favorites at ETSUBucs.com. Voting will continue until Oct. 1.

During the upcoming men's basketball season, the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Pirate Club Scholarship Fund, and Phil Bachman Toyota/Scion have teamed up to honor these Top 5 players with special lapel pins. Each pin will be made to look like the replica jerseys for each player, and the first 2,000 fans to arrive for five selected home matchups will receive a different pin each game.

            "ETSU has had a rich tradition in basketball and we thought it would be a good time to honor the very best to have donned the Blue and Gold," said ETSU Director of Marketing and Outside Sales Kevin Bostian. "From Tom Chilton to Tim Smith, our fans have watched some great players, and we want them to be a part of the selection process."

            Giveaway dates for the pin promotion are listed below.

11/15: Pin #1 - ETSU vs. Chattanooga

1/4: Pin #2 - ETSU vs. Lipscomb

1/13: Pin #3 - ETSU vs. North Florida

1/19: Pin #4 - ETSU vs. Kennesaw State

2/2: Pin #5 - ETSU vs. Gardner-Webb

Top 15 All-Time Greatest Pin Nominees

Greg Dennis, 1987-92

2,204 points (2^nd), 895 rebounds (2^nd), 174 blocks (2^nd)

Keith "Mister" Jennings, 1987-91

1,988 points (3^rd), 983 assists (1^st), 334 steals (1^st)

Tom Chilton, 1959-61

1,801 points (5^th), 26.10 points per game (1^st)

Troy Lee Mikell, 1980-83

1,684 points (6^th), 55 % FG percentage (7^th), 637 FG made (5^th)

Tim Smith, 2002-06

2,300 points (1^st), 508 assists (2^nd), 313 steals (2^nd)

Zakee Wadood, 2000-2004

1,382 points (7th), 822 rebounds (4^th), 182 blocks (1^st), 246 steals (3^rd)

Calvin Talford, 1988-92

1,872 points (4^th), 661 field goals made (3^rd), 79% free throw percentage (6^th)

Harley "Skeeter" Swift, 1967-69

1,367 points (8^th), 17.99 points per game (4^th), 289 free throws made (8^th)

Tommy Woods, 1965-67

1,034 rebounds (1^st), 16.2 rebounds per game (1^st), 15.30 points per game (11^th)

Mike Kretzer, 1967-70

1,289 points (10^th), 17.19 points per game (6^th)

Greg Stephens, 1997-99

16.6 points per game (7^th), 265 assists (5^th), 1.77 steals per game (5^th)

Rodney English, 1990-92

15.59 points per game (10^th), 57% field goal percentage (5^th), 71 blocks (7^th)

Scott Place, 1977-80

1,264 points (12^th), 53% field goal percentage (9^th), 825 rebounds (3^rd)

Dimeco Childress, 1998-2002

1,287 points (11^th), 78% free throw percentage (9^th), 161 3-point goals made (5^th)

Herb Weaver, 1953-56

1,015 rebounds (2nd), 1,064 points (21st), 21.7 rpg (season record)