Name-dropping in SOP; how much is too much?

[Khayzuran]

On the one hand, I can understand it is encouraged to mention the names of your LOR writers, the courses you took with them or research done for them, plus POIs. But would it be advisable, or necessary, to mention the prof who wasn't a LOR writer, but who taught a course to you and who had worked with a Really Famous Prof (who's at the target grad school) on one of his/her most famous works - the text that has since influenced you?

Might it be perceived as name-dropping to talk about a non-LOR prof and his/her connections to someone well known? I thought it can clarify the source of my interest in an area, so as to present a complete chain of one's "intellectual journey" that led to grad school; but I don't want to come across as annoying. There's probably no conclusive answer, but I'd like to hear thoughts.

Much thanks.

[runonsentence]

In general, my advice on including details in the SoP is to ask yourself whether or not it has an important and/or direct connection to your research interests. If you think that mentioning this background gives the committee a clearer picture of your interests and where they've come from, then include it.

That said, I wonder if you need mention that your prof has worked with so-and-so-famous-professor? You haven't worked with the famous professor yourself, after all, and so much of academia is a game of 3rd degree relations. I'd stick to mentioning the profs you did work with and the titles; besides, this may achieve your objective anyway, if these mentors of your mentors are so well-known, naming the publications may be enough for your adcom to pick up on this 3rd degree relation.