The 20 best Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball players of all time

We’re going method again within the historical past of Virginia basketball to tip off our checklist. As legend goes, Strickling performed whereas attending legislation college at Virginia, and had beforehand been a member of the Marshall basketball program. For the Cavaliers, nonetheless, Strickling was a captain in his closing marketing campaign, and member of the “Well-known 5,” in 1915, beneath coach Henry H. “Pop” Lannigan, that went 17-0. Stickling, who averaged 17.8 factors that season, was acknowledged as Virginia’s first All-American basketball participant.

Whereas Invoice Strickling was the Cavaliers’ first All-American, Buzzy Wilkinson was this system’s first star and the primary Virginia hooper to have his quantity (No. 14) retired. Getting into the 2022-23 season, Wilkinson’s 2,233 profession factors rank third at school historical past, whereas his 28.6 scoring common remains to be, by far, the perfect amongst all Cavaliers and in ACC historical past. A 3rd-team All-American choice by The Related Press in 1955, Wilkinson nonetheless has the two-best scoring seasons in Virginia historical past: 898 factors (32.1) in 1954-55 and 814 (30.1) in 1953-54.

Buzzy Wilkinson holds 9 of the top-10 single-game excessive for factors at Virginia. The opposite belongs to Parkhill, who dropped a school-record 51 on Baldwin-Wallace in December 1971. Parkhill averaged 21.6 factors throughout that 1971-72 marketing campaign, for which he was named each ACC Participant and Athlete of the 12 months. Parkhill totaled 1,437 factors throughout his three seasons at Virginia and his 18.2 scoring common ranks sixth at school historical past. As of 2022, Parkhill is one in all eight Virginia gamers to have his quantity (No. 40) retired by this system.

Referred to as “Fantastic Wally,” Walker ranks seventh at school historical past with 1,849 factors and eighth with an 18.9 profession scoring common. Walker’s greatest season got here in 1975-76, when he averaged 22.1 factors and shot 54.8 %. He additionally helped the Cavaliers win their first ACC event title, scoring 21 factors and knocking down seven boards throughout the championship-game victory over North Carolina. Walker was named event MVP whereas serving to Virginia earned its first NCAA Event berth consequently. Walker’s No. 41 was retired by the varsity.

In relation to school basketball’s all-time greats, Lamp must be worthy of a point out. He was a key determine who helped Virginia go from a budding ACC favourite to nationwide championship contender. An All-ACC choose every of his 4 seasons with the Cavaliers, together with two first-team alternatives, Lamp sits second on the varsity’s profession scoring checklist with 2,317 factors. His 18.8 factors per sport for a profession rank fifth in this system. He averaged 18.2 factors, 4.2 rebounds and a couple of.0 assists throughout the 1980-81 season, whereas serving to Virginia attain the Remaining 4 for the primary time — and a yr after it received the NIT. Lamp’s No. 3 was retired by the varsity.

A highschool teammate of Jeff Lamp in Louisville, Raker wasn’t flashy. However, when it got here to dependability and consistency, Raker was the man. An off-and-on starter for Virginia, Raker averaged at the very least 10.6 factors in every of his 4 collegiate seasons for coach Terry Holland. One other key member of the Cavaliers’ NIT title staff in 1980 and Remaining 4 participant from ’81, Raker averaged 12.8 factors, on 50.3-percent capturing, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists for his profession.

Earlier than Jones guided the Cavaliers’ program from the sidelines throughout a lot of the Nineteen Nineties, he was maybe the best level guard to ever play the place on the college. A four-year starter at Virginia, Jones, who averaged solely 6.6 factors however shot 52.2 % for his profession, is third all-time in program historical past with 598 assists. He was the primary Cavalier to file 200 assists in a season, throughout the 1979-80 marketing campaign that ended with that NIT championship. Jones completed averaging 4.6 assists per sport. His 189 profession steals are tied for third-most at school historical past.

The best participant in Virginia basketball historical past additionally occurs to be among the finest to ever play the sport. Once we speak school superstars, the 7-foot-4 Sampson was one of the vital dominant figures in school basketball within the early Nineteen Eighties. A freshman on the NIT-winning staff in ’80, and the spine of the ’81 Remaining 4 group, Sampson received 112 video games throughout his 4 seasons at Virginia. The three-time nationwide participant of the yr and ACC Participant of the 12 months, Sampson, whose No. 50 was retired by this system, is the varsity’s all-time chief in rebounds (1,511), rebounding common (11.4), made discipline targets (899) and blocks (462). He was inducted into the School Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2011. 

Wilson was the final vital remnant of that ’81 Remaining 4 staff and sometimes missed with regards to his place within the annals of Virginia basketball. Wilson is the varsity’s all-time steals with 222, and till lately, held the single-season file with 69 steals from 1983-84. The three-time All-ACC performer additionally ranks seventh at Virginia with 493 assists, and averaged 11.6 factors whereas capturing 51.1 % for his profession with the Cavaliers. 

We have established that Jeff Jones is arguably the best level guard in Virginia historical past, however there are those that may make the identical case for Crotty. He is the varsity’s all-time chief with 683 assists, topping Jones’ mark. Crotty additionally recorded the 2 highest single-season help performances with 214 in 1989-90 and 208 from 1988-89. Nevertheless, Crotty wasn’t all in regards to the go. He averaged 16.0 factors in ’89-’90, 15.5 the following season and 12.8 for his collegiate profession. 

With 2,516 factors, Stith is the all-time scoring chief at Virginia. And he appeared to make it look straightforward. His 19.2 profession common ranks fourth at school historical past, and he did all of it whereas capturing a powerful 48.3 % from the sector — and 35.3 from 3-point vary. The three-time All-ACC first-team choice, Stith averaged at the very least 20 factors for a season twice and scored at the very least 30 9 instances throughout his school profession. He was the NIT MVP in 1992, when Virginia received the occasion. Stith additionally ranks fifth amongst all Cavaliers with 859 profession rebounds.

Staples was the NCAA chief with 413 made 3-pointers till February 2006, when Duke’s J.J. Redick surpassed that quantity. Nonetheless, Staples’ mark at Virginia shall be powerful to beat. His 130 3s from the 1997-98 season, when he additionally averaged a career-high 18.1 factors, are nonetheless a college file. Staples, who shot 38.3 % from past the arc for his profession, totaled 1,757 factors at Virginia. His jersey was additionally retired by the college. 

Williams primarily made an influence from the primary second he stepped on the courtroom for the Cavaliers. He was ACC Rookie of the 12 months in 1998-99, when he averaged profession highs of 16.8 factors and seven.5 rebounds. Although Williams by no means exceeded these the numbers in any of the next three seasons, he was once more an All-ACC choose in 2000 and ’01. Referred to as the “Huge Clean,” the 6-7 Williams ranks eighth at school historical past with 1,812 factors (15.2 ppg) and ninth for knocking down 786 boards (6.6 ppg). His 189 steals are tied with Jeff Jones third all time at Virginia.

Watson joins Ralph Sampson as the one two Virginia gamers to file at the very least 1,000 rebounds. Not unhealthy firm. In Watson’s case, his 1,115 boards rank second on the varsity’s all-time rebounding checklist. Watson’s 9.4 common rebounds for his profession sits fourth at Virginia. He additionally recorded 130 profession blocks, which additionally rank among the many prime 10 at school historical past. Offensively, Watson may greater than maintain his personal, averaging 13.0 factors and capturing 51.9 % for his profession with the Cavaliers.

Fairly the embellished Cavalier, Singletary wasted no time making a reputation for himself. He averaged 10.5 factors in his debut season and was a member of the ACC All-Freshman Group in 2004-05, after which earned first-team league honors every of the following three seasons. By his senior season, Singletary averaged a career-high 19.8 factors. Singletary is the fifth and most up-to-date Virginia participant to succeed in 2,000 factors (2,079, to be precise) for his profession. He averaged 16.9 factors per sport as a Cavalier, but in addition ranks among the many college’s prime 10 in made discipline targets (642), made 3-pointers (222), made free throws (573), assists (587), steals (200) and begins (123). Singletary’s No. 44 was retired at Virginia.

Scott truly performed elements of 5 seasons for the Cavaliers, and when it was all stated and performed, he amassed and spectacular 1,538 factors, however extra notably 944 rebounds. The latter nonetheless ranks third at school historical past for a profession. After an ankle damage restricted Scott’s first senior marketing campaign to simply 10 video games in 2010-11, the bounced again in 2011-12 to common 18.0 factors, on 56.3 % capturing, and eight.3 rebounds to earn first-team All-ACC honors in his closing full season at Virginia.

Anderson rose from a serviceable bench contributor throughout his first two seasons at Virginia (highlighted by ACC Sixth Man of the 12 months honors in 2013-14) to a straight-up star for his third and closing marketing campaign in this system. Regardless of a finger damage that compelled him to overlook eight video games in 2014-15, Anderson averaged profession highs of 12.2 factors, on 46.6 % capturing and made a team-leading 47 3-pointers on 104 makes an attempt, whereas additionally averaging 4.0 rebounds. Anderson’s junior season resulted in second-team All-ACC honors, and opened the door for him to declare early for the NBA Draft.

After a foot damage compelled Brogdon to redshirt his 2012-13 sophomore season at Virginia, he returned decided to show his price. And he actually did, beginning all 108 video games he performed over the following three seasons for the Cavaliers. A primary-team All-ACC performer in every of his closing three collegiate seasons, Brogdon was twice honored because the league’s defensive participant of the yr (2015 and ’16). He was named ACC Participant of the 12 months in 2015-16, when he averaged 18.2 factors, shot 39.1 % from 3-point vary, and likewise set a profession excessive with 3.1 assists per contest, whereas knocking down 4.1 rebounds a sport. A two-time All-American (first and second groups), Brogdon, Virginia’s all-time chief with an 87.6 free-throw share, additionally ranks among the many college’s profession prime 10 in factors (1,809), made 3-pointers (185), made free throws (422), video games (136) and minutes (4,157). Brogdon’s No. 15 was retired at Virginia.

Man was extra than simply the one that hit these three memorable free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining to beat Auburn and ship Virginia to its first nationwide championship sport in 2019. The Cavaliers would go on to win that sport towards Texas Tech in time beyond regulation because of 24 factors from Man, the Remaining 4 Most Excellent Participant. He was a two-time first-team All-ACC performer and twice named third-team All-American. Although he averaged simply 12.5 factors for his three-year profession at Virginia, Man is the varsity’s all-time chief with a 42.5 3-point share. His 254 profession made 3-pointers rank third amongst all Cavaliers.

Hunter spent two memorable seasons at Virginia, and helped Man and Co. lead this system to its first nationwide title in 2019. After being named ACC Sixth Man of the 12 months whereas coming off the bench in all 33 video games for the Cavaliers in his redshirt first 2017-18 season, Hunter broke out in ’18-’19. He averaged 15.2 factors, 5.1 rebounds and a couple of.0 assists. Hunter additionally shot 52 % from the sector and 43.8 % from past the arc as a sophomore to assist earn numerous All-American honors and ACC Defensive Participant of the 12 months.