Best Teen Pool Player Ever

B

BackPocket9Ball

AzB Silver Member
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Just curious as to who people think has been the best teenage player in the USA going back 30 years let's say.

I would cast my vote for Shannon Daulton, who won the Legends of One Pocket against a stacked field (and Mizerak in the finals) at the age of 19. Most teenagers can't even play one pocket. And one pocket wasn't even his best game -- his best game was banks.
 
Although I won't go so far as to say the best ever, there is a kid from Maine by the name of Mike Dechaine (hey that rhymes) who plays real well. I believe he is only 16 or 17 years old.

Koop
 
Shoot when I was 12 I did'nt know a single 12 year old who could beat me :D

Not the Best but my favorite Mike Mallon....Who moved from the area...Hopefully he is still working on his game
 
The Kiss said:
Shoot when I was 12 I did'nt know a single 12 year old who could beat me :D

Not the Best but my favorite Mike Mallon....Who moved from the area...Hopefully he is still working on his game
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His dad's a nice guy too who is very proud of his son.
They moved from Dot?
 
I would have to say Jean Balukas. I think she won 5 or 6 U.S Opens before her 20th B'day.


Lunchmoney
 
I have always heard that Keith was maybe the best prodigy ever.

I have a friend that knew Mark Tadd from his early teens and I guess by 18 or 19 was on top of the game.
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
Just curious as to who people think has been the best teenage player in the USA going back 30 years let's say.

I would cast my vote for Shannon Daulton, who won the Legends of One Pocket against a stacked field (and Mizerak in the finals) at the age of 19. Most teenagers can't even play one pocket. And one pocket wasn't even his best game -- his best game was banks.
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Does anyone know who the child prodigy was who passed away in I believe the eightes who played lights out? He may have been from Kentuckey. I think he was profiled on the t.v show "thats incredible" It was not just a gimmick either he could really play. I believe his father may post somewhere and may be an instructor.
 
huckster said:
Does anyone know who the child prodigy was who passed away in I believe the eightes who played lights out? He may have been from Kentuckey. I think he was profiled on the t.v show "thats incredible" It was not just a gimmick either he could really play. I believe his father may post somewhere and may be an instructor.
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Chan Whitt.

Fred
 
I heard stories of Mike Coltrain getting all up in Buddy Halls business looking for action as a kid...I would think you would need to be pretty good to attempt that......(they could just be stories)
 
Without a doubt

I would say Shane McMinn from Tulsa, who won 4 Junior
Championships before he was 18. 1, 14 and under, and
3, 18 and under. He tied one other person for the most
won ever.

Some people don't know that Willie Mosconi won a Junior
Championship when he was 12, I believe.
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
Just curious as to who people think has been the best teenage player in the USA going back 30 years let's say.

I would cast my vote for Shannon Daulton, who won the Legends of One Pocket against a stacked field (and Mizerak in the finals) at the age of 19. Most teenagers can't even play one pocket. And one pocket wasn't even his best game -- his best game was banks.
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Johnny Archer reached the quarters of the World 9-ball Championship at 19, and never looked back.

Fred
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
Just curious as to who people think has been the best teenage player in the USA going back 30 years let's say.

I would cast my vote for Shannon Daulton, who won the Legends of One Pocket against a stacked field (and Mizerak in the finals) at the age of 19. Most teenagers can't even play one pocket. And one pocket wasn't even his best game -- his best game was banks.
Click to expand...

Mike Caralla, he often played for $1000 a game with the best players in the country while still a teenager. He was like as sponge, I watched him play Ronnie Allen one pocket getting weight. They had to change the game everyday because Mike would literally improve from one day to the next. Had he lived he would have been the greatest player of his time without a doubt. Allen Hopkins in an interview once when asked who was the best player he ever played said, " A guy you probable never heard of, Mike Caralla". It would be hard to exaggerate how he played. If you ever get a chance to talk to Danny DiLiberto or Weenie Beanie bring up the name and see what they say.

More recently I would have to say Dennis Hatch. Pure natural talent. I played him when he was running around with his dad on the road and gave him the 8, he may have been about 14 or 15. The following year I need the 7, he got better by the day. Before he was 20 he was playing just a shade under most anybody. He also plays all games something you can't say about most players.
 
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BooBoo said:
I thought Lorre Jon Oginowski won a US Open at 14 years old.
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Close, I believe. She won the World 14.1 in 1981 at 15 years old.

I just checked my book, and Loree Jon's bio for the BCA Hall of Fame is incorrect. It says she won the World 9-ball at 15, but the back of the book only mentions the 14.1 Title.

Fred
 
uhmm well when i was 18 i beat scott kitto in a pro tourney in raliegh.he had just beat steve mizerak.this was 14 years ago.the impressive thing was i started playing pool at age 16.
 
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As teenagers....

Shannon Daulton
Tony Watson
Stevie Moore
Michael Coltrain
Danny Harriman
Jeremy Jones
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
Just curious as to who people think has been the best teenage player in the USA going back 30 years let's say.

I would cast my vote for Shannon Daulton, who won the Legends of One Pocket against a stacked field (and Mizerak in the finals) at the age of 19. Most teenagers can't even play one pocket. And one pocket wasn't even his best game -- his best game was banks.
Click to expand...


Shannon Daulton is a very good pick. Johnny Archer
also has to be up there. But if you go with the best
teenager ever I'd have to go with Ralph Greenleaf.
At 16 he finished I believe 3rd in World
Champioships in 14.1, at 19 he won the World
Championships, and this was on 5 x 10 tables with
very tight pockets. I also heard that at 11 he was
already the best in the state of Illinois.
People can talk all they want about "this guy shot
lights out while gambling" referring to someone
without a title. It means nothing to me, you need
the titles to be considered, that's why I pick
Greenleaf. Daulton also winning the Legends of One
Pocket is another candidate. I haven't seen this
kid Wu play but to win the World's 9-ball is very
impressive.
 
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