Texas Longhorns
PG – T.J. Ford
SG – Travis Mays
SF – Kevin Durant
PF – LaMarcus Aldridge
C – Chris Mihm
While Texas is one of the 20 winningest programs in college basketball history, the Longhorns have had trouble breaking through on the biggest stage. Texas’ lone national championship came in 1933, and the program has only reached three Final Four’s since 1943 — most recently in 2003. However, that doesn’t mean the Longhorns haven’t had some big stars. Durant is the best player in Longhorn history. In his only year on campus, Durant was named the National Player of the Year and averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
Aldridge was a Longhorn for two years, and the big man was dominant as a sophomore. The Big 12 DPOY, Aldridge averaged 2.0 blocks per game to go along with 15 points and nine boards. In the backcourt, Ford was named the Naismith Player of the Year as a sophomore and led Texas to the Final Four — while Mays was a two-time Southwest Conference PoY and ranks second in Texas’ history with 2,279 points. At center, Mihm was an All-American and averaged a double-double his final two years on campus — ending his career with a 17.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.7 BPG season.
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UConn Huskies
PG – Kemba Walker
SG – Ray Allen
SF – Richard Hamilton
PF – Donyell Marshall
C – Emeka Okafor
When it comes to discussing UConn basketball, it is often the women’s team that is mentioned first. The women’s program is at the pinnacle of the sport — having won 11 National Championships since 1995. However, the men’s program has also enjoyed its share of success winning four NCAA Championships. In 1999, Richard Hamilton was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament en route to the title. While with the Huskies, Hamilton was a two-time Consensus All-American and averaged 21.5 PPG his final two years. A few years earlier, in ’94, Marshall became an All-American by averaging 25.1 PPG and 8.9 RPG for the 29-5 Huskies. Before Hamilton became the leading man, Allen led the charge.
One of the greatest shooters of all-time, Allen shot 45.7-percent from three and averaged 22.3 PPG over his final two years with the program. For the final two positions — PG and center — we go back to champions. In 2004, Okafor — an All-American and Big East DPoY — averaged a double-double (17.6 and 11.5) en route to UConn’s second title. In three years, Okafor also averaged 4.3 blocks per game. Rounding out the starting five is Walker. Kemba led the Huskies on an improbable run in ’11, winning 11-straight games to end the year. That season, Walker averaged 23.5 PPG and was named the tournament’s MOP.
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Purdue Boilermakers
PG – Carsen Edwards
SG – Rick Mount
SF – Dave Schellhase
PF – Glenn Robinson
C – Joe Barry Carroll
The Boilermakers haven’t won an NCAA Championship in their history, but they have reached two Final Fours and have had some great players over the years. Mount, who was listed at 6-foot-4, is the program’s all-time leading scorer. Over the course of three years, Mount averaged 32.3 PPG and led Purdue to its lone National Championship appearance — a 92-72 loss to UCLA in 1969. Carroll is the program’s second-leading scorer (2,175) and led Purdue to its other FF appearance in ’80, which also ended in a loss to UCLA. Schellhase was another potent scorer for the Boilermakers. In his final two years on campus, Schellhase averaged 30.9 PPG.
No starting five would be complete without the Big Dog, Glenn Robinson. Robinson was unstoppable in his two years with the program. Not only did he average 30 and 10 in Year 2, but the future pro was named the AP PoY and was a two-time Consensus All-American. At PG, Edwards is the clear choice. The dynamic guard was an All-American as a junior and averaged 24.3 PPG. In leading Purdue to the Elite Eight, Edwards scored 139 points in four games.
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Ohio State Buckeyes
PG – Dennis Hopson
SG – Michael Redd
SF – John Havlicek
PF – Jerry Lucas
C – Greg Oden
Another ‘football school’ that has produced some great basketball players, Ohio State. The Buckeyes’ greatest stretch came with Lucas and Havlicek in the lineup. A 6-foot-8 center, Lucas was a three-time All-American and two-time AP Player of the Year from 1960-62. In his first season, Lucas averaged 26.3 points and 16.4 rebounds per game and led OSU to its lone National Championship. Havlicek was a two-time Big Ten player and was deemed an All-American in ’62. In their final two seasons, Lucas and Hondo led the Buckeyes back to the title game — but fell short to Cincinnati on both occasions.
While Lucas and Havlicek led the program to glory, neither player sit atop the points leaderboard. Hopson, a four-year player, leads OSU with 2,096 points. In his two years as a full-time starter, Hopson averaged 25.0 PPG and became a Consensus All-American. Rounding out the starting five are Redd and Oden. Redd averaged 21.9 PPG as a freshman and finished his career as the sixth-leading scorer all-time. At center, Oden was a monster. In his only season, Oden averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game. With Oden patrolling the paint, OSU reached the National Championship and finished the year 35-4.
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Louisville Cardinals
PG – Russ Smith
SG – Darrell Griffith
F – Charlie Tyra
F – Wes Unseld
C – Pervis Ellison
Winners of three* NCAA Championships, Louisville is home to some great collegiate players. The best player in program history, without a doubt, is Unseld. An NBA MVP, Unseld nearly averaged 20/20 as a Cardinal. In three years, Unseld put up 20.6 points and 18.9 rebounds per game. Lining up in the frontcourt with Unseld is Pervis Ellison. As a freshman in 1986, Ellison helped guide Louisville to a National Championship. A Consensus All-American, Ellison put up 25 and 11 in the title game — a three-point victory over Duke. Tyra rounds out the frontcourt. Another All-American, Tyra averaged 22.6 points and 21.2 rebounds per game (!) over his final two seasons.
Griffith, aka Dr. Dunkenstein, was the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in ’80. That season, Griffith led Louisville in scoring with 22.9 PPG — and scored 23 against UCLA in the National Championship to help cut down the nets. At point guard, Smith is the move. Smith led Louisville to its latest title — now vacated — in 2013. An All-American, Smith averaged 18.5 PPG and scored 21 points in the National Semifinal to upend Wichita State.
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NC State Wolfpack
PG – Chris Corchiani
SG – Rodney Monroe
SF – David Thompson
PF – Ronnie Shavlik
C – Tommy Burleson
Nearly a decade before coach Jim Valvano led the Pack to an incredible championship, NC State won its first title with Norm Sloan at the helm. In 1974, Sloan’s team knocked off seven-time defending champ UCLA in the Final Four before handling Marquette in the title game. Leading the way were two all-time players — Thompson and Burleson. Thompson, a three-time Consensus All-American and two-time National Player of the Year, scored 28 points in the win over the Bruins. Burleson, also an All-American, averaged 19.0 points and 12.7 rebounds during his time at NC State and put up 20 and 14 against UCLA.
Joining Burleson in the post is Shavlik — a two-time Consensus All-American who averaged 18.7 PPG and 16.8 RPG for his career. The Wolfpack’s backcourt is comprised of Corchiani and Monroe — teammates from 1988-91. Corchiani was a walking assist. As a result of averaging 8.4 APG over four years, Corchiani remains the program’s all-time assist leader with 1,038 dimes. Monroe often benefitted from Corchiani’s skill. A three-time All-ACC player, Monroe averaged 23.9 PPG his final three seasons and surpassed Thompson as the school’s all-time leading scorer — 2,551 points to Thompson’s 2,309.
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Oregon Ducks
PG – Ron Lee
SG – Luke Jackson
F – Dillon Brooks
F – Greg Ballard
C – Stan Love
Oregon is known primarily for its football program. However traditionally speaking, the Ducks have had some real hoopers come out of bucolic Eugene. Stan Love (yes, the dad of Kevin) was a two-time all-conference selection in college before enjoying a five-year career in the NBA. Dillon Brooks developed into a very good two-way player under Dana Altman — and has continued as a strong role player for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Lefty Luke Jackson was the fulcrum on those terrific Oregon teams in the 2000’s featuring Fred Jones and Luke Ridnour. He could score from anywhere on the floor, and was truly a dynamic college athlete. Ballard and Lee played alongside each other during an era where they’d run up and down the floor with verve. Ballard was especially lethal on the boards. Lee (as of 2021) is Oregon’s all-time leading scorer. Even more impressive, he was an all-conference player in each of his four years in Eugene. He then went on to enjoy a lengthy professional career which saw him play in the NBA and abroad in Europe.
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St. John’s Red Storm
PG – Mark Jackson
SG – Chris Mullin
F – Walter Berry
F – Malik Sealy
F – Sonny Dove
St. John’s hasn’t been a big-time player in college basketball for quite some time, but the Red Storm have a strong past. Comprising the backcourt are two All-Americans and longtime NBA players — Jackson and Mullin. Jackson was a two-time All-Big East PG, and is the school’s all-time assist leader (738). Mullin leads the Red Storm in points scored (2,440), earned All-Big East honors all four years on campus, was a two-time All-American, won the Wooden Award, and led St. John’s to its last Final Four in 1985.
Joining the star guards are three impressive forwards — Sealy, Berry, and Dove. Sealy was another four-year player for the Red Storm. The lanky forward scored from the get-go, and left campus as the No. 2 scorer behind Mullin with 2,401 points. In Berry’s two years on campus, the 6-foot-8 forward led St. John’s to the Final Four (’85) and a 62-9 record. A force on both sides of the ball, Berry averaged 23.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG and 2.1 BPG en route to winning the Wooden Award as a sophomore. Dove played in the 60s and averaged a double-double for his career — 19.0 PPG and 12.6 RPG. An All-American, Dove finished his career as the program’s fifth-leading scorer and remains the No. 2 rebounder all-time.
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Michigan Wolverines
PG – Trey Burke
SG – Jalen Rose
F – Cazzie Russell
F – Glen Rice
F – Chris Webber
Michigan’s rich athletic tradition extends to the hardwood — particularly in recent years. We don’t have to rehash the entire ‘Fab Five’ story. However, the dichotomy between Rose and Webber is fascinating. Webber was the highly-rated kid from a prep school who turned out to be an elite player. Rose also became an elite college athlete — though he clawed his way into that spot from a rougher public school background. Rose was a silky smooth 6-foot-8 athlete with guard skills. Webber was a true power forward with tremendous ball skills, particularly when passing the basketball.
Rice had a long NBA career as a classic small forward with three-point range. Cazzie Russell was a monster during his time in Ann Arbor — averaging nearly 31 PPG during his senior year. He also played 12 years in the NBA. We remember Burke as an undersized point guard playing with a massive chip on his shoulder. He outperformed expectations, and become one of College Basketball’s best players.
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Georgetown Hoyas
G – Allen Iverson
G – Eric ‘Sleepy’ Floyd
F – Reggie Williams
C – Alonzo Mourning
C – Patrick Ewing
Georgetown used to be a national name back in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s. There was a sense of ‘cool’ to the program — from the players to their gear. You’d often see Hoya hats/shirts/jerseys being proudly displayed throughout the country during this time (especially on the East Coast). Of course, it’s not too difficult in seeing why considering the dominant big man pairing of Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. Both terrorized the Big East, and also became exceptionally good NBA players.
The same can be said for Reggie Williams and Eric ‘Sleepy’ Floyd. However, the headliner of the group most likely is Allen Iverson. The diminutive guard out of Virginia revolutionized the way the guard position is played. While not a true point guard, his skills as both a facilitator and a scorer led to the ‘combo guard’ emergence. He was a fantastic talent, and is perhaps the best NBA player ever to be under 6-feet tall.
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Gonzaga Bulldogs
PG – John Stockton
SG – Frank Burgess
SF – Adam Morrison
PF – Ronny Turiaf
C – Drew Timme
Gonzaga may be perceived to be a mid-major program, but the talent percolating through this Spokane institution would suggest otherwise. Before becoming a U.S. District Judge, Burgess was Second Team All-American shooting guard for the Zags. Ronny Turiaf was a physical force down low, and became one of the more integral role players during the Lakers’ three-peat dynasty in the early 2000’s.
Drew Timme has redefined the center spot for Gonzaga. He’s immensely crafty, and possesses a bevy of post moves that would make even the most fundamental of players blush. Speaking of fundamentals, John Stockton is the best player to have ever executed the two-man pick-and-roll (ask Karl Malone). He is one of those rare talents to truly maximize every ounce of ability out of his body. Then, we’ve got Adam Morrison — one of College Basketball’s most gifted scorers over the last two decades. The 6-foot-8 wing could fill it up from anywhere. As we saw in the heartbreaking Sweet 16 loss to UCLA, he’s also uber competitive.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish
PG – John Paxson
SG – Austin Carr
F – Bob Arnzen
F – Adrian Dantley
C – Bob Whitmore
Did you know that Notre Dame has only reached one Final Four? The year was 1978, and the Irish were led by head coach Digger Phelps and eight future NBA players — including Bill Laimbeer. However, none of those players make the cut for the all-time five. Carr was incredible for the Irish. The last two years with the program, Carr averaged an insane 38.1 PPG. Needless to say, he was a two-time All-American. Paxson’s numbers aren’t overly impressive — 12.2 PPG, 3.7 APG — but the future Bull was a masterful floor general in his final two seasons and was a two-time Consensus All-American.
Dantley, another two-time Consensus AA, scored at will and cleaned up the glass his final two years with the program. While his team’s didn’t have much success, Dantley finished his tenure as the school’s second-leading scorer (now third) and averaged nearly 26 and 10 for his career. Arnzen was another force in the paint, averaging 20 and 11 over a three-year span in the ’60s. At center, Whitmore gets the nod over Laimbeer. Whitmore was known for his hustle and endless motor. Small for a modern day center (6-foot-7), Whitmore scored 1,580 points and grabbed 1,053 rebounds in three seasons.
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Washington Huskies
PG – Isaiah Thomas
SG – Brandon Roy
SF – Quincy Pondexter
F/C – Chris Welp
C – Bob Houbregs
Seattle is one of the more underrated hotbeds for elite NBA talent. More than a handful of longtime professionals emanated from the Pacific Northwest. Roy and Thomas — both Seattle natives — exude this premise. Thomas was woefully undersized, yet still managed to break through as an all-conference player. He’d contort his body all sorts of directions, and would finish at the rim immensely well for a guy not even 5-feet-10. Roy was a supreme talent who likely would’ve made multiple All-Star teams had it not been for career-ending injuries as a young player in his prime.
Pondexter was an elite prospect out of Fresno. While his college and NBA careers were solid, he never quite lived up to the hype he had as a high-flyer in high school. A native of Germany, Welp still remains as the Huskies’ all-time leading scorer. At over 7-feet tall, he was dominant as a senior (when he was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year). In the ’50’s, few were as dominant as Houbregs. He averaged nearly 35 a game as a senior en route to All-America honors.
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Maryland Terrapins
G – John Lucas
G – Juan Dixon
G/F – Albert King
F – Len Bias
C – Joe Smith
Maryland has reached the Final Four twice — 2001 and 2002. Both squads, including the ’02 National Champions, were led by Dixon. Dixon was capable of putting the ball in the basket (18.9 PPG his final three years), and his defense was also exceptional. Dixon was a three-time ACC All-Defense member, All-American, and the Most Outstanding Player at the ’02 tournament. Running alongside Dixon for the all-time five is Lucas — a two-time Consensus All-American. Lucas ranks sixth all-time in points and assists for the Terps. At center, Smith was a monster for two years. Not only did he win the Naismith Award, but Smith averaged 20 points, 10 boards, and 3.0 blocks at Maryland.
Rounding out the starting five are two electric players, King and Bias. King ranks as Maryland’s fourth-leading scorer. For his career, King averaged 17.4 PPG — often using his 6-foot-6 frame to overpower smaller guards. And finally, Len Bias. A two-time Consensus All-American, Bias was the nation’s most electric player. He was incredibly athletic, capable of jumping over would-be defenders with ease. His ability to create for himself and his teammates was unmatched. Tragically, we were never able to see Bias flourish in the NBA.
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USC Trojans
G – Harold Miner
G – Paul Westphal
SF – Sam Clancy
PF – Taj Gibson
C – Evan Mobley
Harold Miner came into college with a ton of hype. Some were projecting him to potentially be the next Michael Jordan. An assortment of issues popped up — which limited his ability to stay healthy. As a college player, Miner was quite good. As a pro, he flamed out rather quickly. The same couldn’t be said for former NBA head coach Paul Westphal. The crafty scorer out of Redondo Beach routinely produced for the Trojans. He ended up being a top-10 NBA Draft pick before eventually transitioning to the coaching ranks.
Sam Clancy and Taj Gibson were both bangers in the paint for the most part. Gibson was more of a shot-blocking force — whereas Clancy scored predominantly with his left hand. Mobley has insane upside, and is already impacting things considerably in the NBA as a rookie.
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Villanova Wildcats
PG – Jalen Brunson
SG – Kerry Kittles
F – Paul Arizin
F – Ed Pinckney
F – Howard Porter
As three-time National Champions, it is not surprising to see that Villanova boasts a very strong all-time starting five. The Wildcats’ backcourt consists of Brunson and Kittles. Brunson helped lead Nova to two titles (2016, 2018), and finished his career with a ton of honors including being named a Consensus All-American, the AP Player of the Year, and the Wooden Award winner. Kittles could do it all. Not only is he the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,243), but the two-time All-American also leads Nova in steals with 277. Arizin was a talented forward in the late 1940s. In his final two years, Arizin averaged 23.7 PPG while shooting 89.2-percent from the field.
Manning the paint is the duo of Pinckney and Porter. The 6-foot-9 Pinckney was Nova’s best player during its championship season in 1985. A three-time All-Big East player, Pinckney put up 16/6/5 in the National Championship game against Georgetown. While Pinckney swatted everything in sight, Porter was a more prolific scorer and rebounder. Porter averaged 22.8 PPG and 14.9 RPG for the Wildcats. To this day, Porter remains the program’s all-time leader in rebounds and is sixth on the scoring list.
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DePaul Blue Demons
PG – Rod Strickland
G/F – Quentin Richardson
F – Mark Aguirre
F – Terry Cummings
C – George Mikan
For nearly 20 years, DePaul has been an afterthought. The Blue Demons haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2004, and haven’t advanced to the Sweet 16 since 1987. At one time, however, DePaul was a national power. NBA Hall of Famer George Mikan is one of the program’s two best players. The center was a Consensus All-American three years in a row, and averaged 19.1 PPG. Standing alone with Mikan atop DePaul’s mountain top is Aguirre. The forward was a stud all three years on campus. Playing for legendary coach Ray Meyer, Aguirre led the Blue Demons to the Final Four in his first year and averaged 24.5 PPG for his career — and also was named the AP Player of the Year in 1980.
Richardson, 6-foot-6, was a difference maker for two seasons. The skilled G/F averaged a double-double at DePaul — 17.9 points and 10.2 rebounds — and was named the CUSA Player of the Year as a freshman. Strickland was a prolific passer and floor general for the Blue Demons, but was also a capable scorer. The longtime pro is third all-time in school history for assists and averaged 16.6 PPG. Cummings starred alongside Aguirre and was a true force down low. The All-American averaged 16 and 10 for DePaul, and led the Blue Demons to a 79-6 record in his three years.
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Indiana Hoosiers
PG – Isiah Thomas
SG – Steve Alford
G/F – Calbert Cheaney
PF – Scott May
C – Walt Bellamy
The backcourt featuring Isiah Thomas and Steve Alford is one of the more prolific ones as it pertains to this ‘best all-time five’ exercise. Thomas is an NBA all-timer — and was spectacular coming into Bloomington to play for Bobby Knight (from his native Chicago). Alford was a local legend in high school who always dreamed of representing the Hoosiers. An elite shooter with unabashed confidence, he ended up carving out a very nice career for himself as both a player and coach.
While Cheaney’s career in the pros wasn’t anything to write home about, he was a rangy player at Indiana with terrific length and a nose for the ball. By the time he was a senior, he took home virtually every major individual award possible (both from a conference and national standpoint). The father of former UNC big man Sean, Scott May was talented in his own right. He was a monster on the boards, and could score with either hand in the paint. Walt Bellamy was a 4-time All-Star in the NBA. Prior to that, he set the standard at Indiana in terms of rebounding the basketball.
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Michigan State Spartans
PG – Magic Johnson
G – Mateen Cleaves
G/F – Steve Smith
F – Greg Kelser
F – Draymond Green
Based upon Michigan State’s brand and the amount of hype the program receives, you may be surprised to learn that the Spartans have only won two National Championships. The legendary Magic Johnson and MSU legend Greg Kelser led the team to its first championship in 1979 — defeating Larry Bird’s Indiana State. There isn’t much that needs to be said about Magic, but we will note he put up 24/7/6 in the National Championship. Kelser was a beast all four years on campus. An All-Big Ten player, Kelser averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Spartans. The icon ranks fourth in points, and second in rebounds.
Cleaves and Smith also earn starting roles. Smith was a Consensus All-American in his final year, earning the nod after averaging 25.1 PPG en route to becoming the program’s leading scorer (now No. 2). Cleaves was a four-year starter for the Spartans and was an integral part of the 2000 title-winning squad. In addition to being named the tournament’s MOP, Cleaves was a three-time Consensus All-American and two-time Big Ten PoY. Green earned his spot through hard work and rebounding — the same traits that made him a star in the NBA. Green is MSU’s all-time leader in rebounds, is second all-time in steals, and averaged 16.2 PPG as a senior.
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Arizona Wildcats
PG – Mike Bibby
G – Damon Stoudamire
F – Michael Dickerson
F – Sean Elliott
C – Bob Elliott
Lute Olson was a large reason in developing Arizona into one of the prominent programs out on the West Coast. Though the Wildcats are in a bit of a lull right now, a considerable amount of talent has emanated from Tucson over the years. Bibby, Stoudamire, Dickerson, and Elliott all played for Olson. Bibby was a true floor general who lived in the lane via his quickness and craftiness. Stoudamire had range from anywhere on the floor — and was one of those guys who resembled a ‘video game’ a la Steph Curry.
Dickerson was a strong small forward with the ability to score from anywhere — not to mention bully smaller players on the block. Sean Elliott was known as a spot-up shooter for the Spurs during the early part of their dynasty featuring Tim Duncan and David Robinson. In college, he was an elite all-around player. Bob Elliott — on the other hand — is second all-time in career points at UA (behind only Sean Ellliott).
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Syracuse Orange
G – Sherman Douglas
G – Dave Bing
F – Carmelo Anthony
F – Derrick Coleman
F – John Wallace
Carmelo Anthony only spent one year at Syracuse, but he more than earned his spot on this squad. After an All-American season in which he averaged 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, Anthony led the Orange to a National Championship. The tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Anthony scored 53 points in the semis/finals. Coleman is arguably Syracuse’s greatest player. The 6-foot-10 bruiser was a four-time All-Big East player and averaged a double-double (15/10) for his career. He ranks first in total rebounds and second in points scored. As a freshman, Coleman’s Orange reached the National Championship.
Wallace (6-foot-8) was slightly smaller than Coleman, but he didn’t struggle in the paint. An All-American and three-time All-Big East forward, Wallace poured in over 16.0 PPG. When his career came to a close, he ranked third in points and rebounds. Douglas, a teammate of Coleman, was also a beast. Known as “The General,” Douglas picked apart defenses with his ability to pass and score. In three years as a starter, Douglas averaged 17.2 PPG and 8.1 APG. Finally, Bing joins Douglas in the backcourt. An NBA Hall of Famer, Bing averaged 24.8 PPG and 10.3 RPG — while only standing 6-foot-3.
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Kentucky Wildcats
G – Tony Delk
G – Cliff Hagan
F – Jamal Mashburn
PF – Anthony Davis
C – Dan Issel
Kentucky undoubtedly has one of the richest basketball traditions of any college. Since John Calipari took over, we’ve seen a plethora of big-time guys (DeMarcus Cousins, Devin Booker, De’Aaron Fox) enter the league. Among his best players at UK, Anthony Davis is the headliner. He obliterated the competition on the collegiate level en route to a National Title. He was legitimately unstoppable in the paint on both ends. Dan Issel is most likely considered to be the best-ever Wildcat from a duration standpoint. He was an All-American twice, and averaged nearly 34 PPG during his senior season.
NYC native Jamal Mashburn put up points in bunches as a physical small forward. He then parlayed a strong UK run into a career in the NBA with the Heat and Hornets (among other teams). Tony Delk was a lead guard for the Wildcats, and primarily played in the league as a backup. During his time, Hagan was terrific at the university as a scorer. To this day, the 90-year-old is considered to be an all-time great.
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North Carolina Tar Heels
PG – Phil Ford
SG – Michael Jordan
F – James Worthy
F – Antawn Jamison
C – Tyler Hansbrough
The Tar Heels certainly have a rich and illustrious history. You’ve heard the story before, but Michael Jordan cut his teeth in Chapel Hill before developing into the G.O.A.T. James Worthy was a main player in the ‘Showtime’ Lakers’ era from the 1980’s. At 6-feet-9, Worthy was gazelle-like when running the floor in transition. He impacted both ends of the floor, and was a transcendent player for his time.
Antawn Jamison was highly skilled — from ball handling to putting the ball on the deck en route to the cup. He could also burn you from the perimeter when given the chance. Hansbrough was not fun to watch play. He was brutish, physical, and sometimes out of control. Still, few possessed the motor he had. He’d outwork you on the boards, and could finish with either hand seamlessly.
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UCLA Bruins
G – Gail Goodrich
G – Reggie Miller
F – Sidney Wicks
F/C – Bill Walton
C – Lew Alcindor
We don’t care what anyone says…UCLA has the most decorated collection of players of any college program in the history of the sport. You can make an argument that Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) are the two-best college players all-time. Rules were created (such as outlawing the dunk) to prevent Alcindor from dominating too much.
Sidney Wicks was a freak athlete with a crazy wingspan and a motor which seemingly never stopped. Reggie Miller was a dynamic perimeter scorer, and eventually became a Hall of Famer with the Indiana Pacers. At the point guard spot, Gail Goodrich also was a fantastic scorer of the basketball (along with being the floor general). UCLA is so deep, in fact, that we left off a host of elite players (Marques Johnson, Baron Davis, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Jamaal Wilkes, Ed O’Bannon, Walt Hazzard, Zach LaVine) who’d otherwise appear on such a list.
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Kansas Jayhawks
G – Jo Jo White
G – Frank Mason
F – Raef LaFrentz
F – Danny Manning
C – Wilt Chamberlain
Jo Jo White still seemingly feels underrated when looking at the other great guards of his era and beyond. The St. Louis native was a two-time All-American before embarking on an NBA career in which he won two NBA Championships and became a 7-time All-Star. Frank Mason didn’t reach those heights as a professional. However, the diminutive guard was still a force for Kansas (National Player of the Year, First Team All-American) after entering the university from a Military Academy.
From there, we’ve got the impressive trio of big men. It’s so good, in fact, that we were forced to keep Paul Pierce off the list. Wilt Chamberlain was a force of nature. Despite scoring 100 points in a single game, he blocked shots and rebounded the ball as if those two activities were going out of style. LaFrentz was a crafty left-handed player with inside-outside skills, and Manning was an animal in the paint on both ends of the floor.
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Duke Blue Devils
G – Bobby Hurley
G – Jay Williams
SF – Grant Hill
PF – Zion Williamson
C – Christian Laettner
Duke’s all-time five starts and ends with Christian Laettner. In many ways, he epitomizes why so many people have a dislike of Duke and its basketball program. Laettner was a good player who played with brash bordering on obnoxious attitude. His inclusion onto the 1992 Dream Team rubbed a lot of people the wrong way (and they were justified considering his average NBA career). However, he and Grant Hill (victimized by the injury bug) were both fantastic players for the Blue Devils.
Other player epitomizing the ‘Duke way’ is Bobby Hurley. The floor general was tough as nails, and often made the big play when called upon to lead his team. Before a tragic motorcycle accident, Jay Williams had the look of a guard with multiple All-Star appearances in his future. Lastly, Zion Williamson — the biggest and most unique unicorn of the last decade — etched his way into the all-time five based upon a phenomenal freshman year.
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