With regards to West Coast faculty basketball, Arizona has lengthy been thought-about one of many premier applications within the nation, largely for the nice gamers this system has produced.
Right here is our checklist, in chronological order.
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Ernie McCray, Ahead (1957-60)
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It may be argued that McCray, a Tucson native, was the primary true star to come back out of the Arizona program. Throughout his three seasons with the Wildcats through the late Fifties and on the daybreak of the ’60s, McCray averaged 17.8 factors (tied for seventh all-time at school historical past) and 10.8 rebounds (second all-time at school historical past). A member of the College of Arizona Athletics Corridor of Fame, McCray was the primary participant in program historical past to attain 500 factors in a season. He was additionally a two-time All-Border Convention choice.
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Al Fleming, Ahead (1972-76)
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When Fleming’s stellar four-season run at Arizona got here to an finish, he was this system’s all-time main scorer with 1,765 factors. Getting into the 2023-24 season, Fleming nonetheless resides within the high 10 of that class, and stays the college’s profession chief with 1,190 rebounds and 63 double-doubles. As well as, Fleming ranks in Arizona’s basketball high 10 for made discipline objectives (688), discipline purpose share (58.3), made free throws (389) and common rebounds (10.4). In 2021, Fleming was inducted into the College of Arizona Athletics Ring of Honor.
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Bob Elliott, Middle (1973-77)
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Referred to as “Massive Fowl,” attributable to a 6-foot-10 body that made Elliott a slightly dominant drive for the Wildcats. Within the annals of Arizona basketball, Elliott is the one participant to achieve the two,000-point mark and 1,000-rebound milestone. He sits second in each classes with 2,131 factors and 1,083 rebounds. Acknowledged as an All-American from numerous organizations, Elliott was additionally a three-time Educational All-American whereas starring for the Wildcats. Elliott additionally ranks among the many faculty’s profession high 5 in scoring common (18.7 ppg), made discipline objectives (808), made free throws (515) and common rebounds (10.8).
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Steve Kerr, Guard (1983-88)
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It is nonetheless fairly outstanding that Kerr made 53.7 % of his 3-point makes an attempt (114-of-199) through the 1987-88 season — his ultimate one at Arizona and the college’s first that resulted in a Closing 4 look. That was a nationwide single-season file, and etched his legacy of greatness that was established at Arizona. The 2-time, First Workforce All-Pac-10 performer was a 54.8 % total shooter for his profession and earned second-team All-American standing from The Related Press throughout that stellar senior season. Kerr’s No. 25 was retired by the college.
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Sean Elliott, Ahead (1986-’89)
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Arguably the best participant within the historical past of the Arizona basketball program. A two-time All-American, Elliott is the Wildcats’ all-time chief with 2,555 factors spanning 4 seasons, throughout which he began all 133 video games performed. As well as, Elliott holds faculty information for profession made discipline objectives (892) and made free throws (623). He additionally ranks inside Arizona’s high 10 in profession scoring common (19.2 ppg), 3-point field-goal share (42.8), minutes (4,499), rebounds (808) and video games began. A two-time Pac-10 Participant of the Yr, Elliott was named APÂ Participant of the Yr and winner of the Picket Award for the 1988-89 season, when he averaged 22.3 factors, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Elliott’s No. 32 was retired by the college.Â
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Chris Mills, Ahead (1989-93)
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Mills’ faculty profession acquired off to a tough begin. Following a strong 1988-89 freshman season at Kentucky, Mills was kicked off the crew for his alleged involvement in receiving funds from a booster. Nevertheless, after sitting out the subsequent season, Mills resurfaced at Arizona, the place he discovered a house for 3 seasons. He began all 94 video games he performed with the Wildcats and was a two-time, First Workforce All-Pac-10 performer. Mills loved his finest collegiate season in his final, averaging a career-high 20.4 factors, plus 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, whereas incomes Pac-10 Participant of the Yr in 1992-93. He ranks among the many faculty’s high 10 in profession scoring common (17.2 ppg) and made discipline objectives (615)
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Khalid Reeves, Guard (1990-94)
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Reeves definitely constructed his manner as much as star standing throughout 4 splendid seasons with the Wildcats. When it was all mentioned and achieved, the 6-1 Queens native totaled 1,925 factors, which rank fifth at school historical past. Reeves additionally ranks among the many faculty’s high 10 in made discipline objectives (646), made 3-pointers (186), made free throws (447) and steals (187). His finest season got here as a senior in 1993-94, when he averaged profession highs of 24.2 factors (for a school-record 848 whole factors) and 4.3 rebounds, whereas additionally recording 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per sport to earn First Workforce All-Pac-10 honors, consensus second-team All-American recognition and serving to the Wildcats attain the Closing 4 for the second time.
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Damon Stoudamire, Guard (1991-95)
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A part of that stellar backup with the aforementioned Khalid Reeves, Stoudamire was a three-time, First Workforce All-Pac-10 performer for the Wildcats. He is additionally proper behind Reeves on the college’s all-time scoring checklist with 1,849 factors. To not point out, Stoudamire sits third at school historical past with 272 made 3-pointers and throughout the all-time high 10 for making 40.2 % of his 3-point makes an attempt. As well as, he is among the many program’s profession leaders in assists (663) and steals (174). In 1994-95, Stoudamire was the Pac-10 Participant of the Yr and a consensus All-American for averaging 22.8 factors, whereas making 46.5 % of his 3-point makes an attempt, with 7.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
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Michael Dickerson, Ahead (1994-98)
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School basketball followers of a sure age may overlook that Dickerson was the main scorer on Arizona’s solely nationwide championship crew from 1997, the one which shocked favored and defending champion Kentucky in additional time to win all of it. Dickerson averaged a career-high 18.9 factors. Over 4 seasons with the Wildcats, Dickerson posted 1,791 factors, which rank among the many faculty’s all-time high 10. A two-time, First Workforce All-Pac-10 choice, Dickerson was named a third-team All-American for the 1997-98 marketing campaign, throughout which he averaged 18.0 factors, whereas taking pictures 51.0 % from the sphere, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
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Miles Simon, Guard (1995-98)
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Whereas Simon is likely to be finest remembered for his two 30-point video games within the 1997 NCAA Event and incomes Most Excellent Gamers honors through the Wildcats’ run to the nationwide championship, he was a reasonably established performer all through his 4 seasons at Arizona. For his profession, the 1998 consensus All-American totaled 1,664 factors, shot 46.3 % from the sphere and 37.4 from past the arc. He additionally ranks among the many faculty’s high 10 in profession made free throws (402). Simon’s No. 34 was retired by the college.
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Mike Bibby, Guard (1996-98)
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The son of former NBA star Henry Bibby wanted simply 69 collegiate video games — all begins — to construct his personal legacy at Arizona. Whereas serving to the Wildcats win their solely nationwide championship to conclude the 1996-97 season, Bibby averaged 13.5 factors whereas taking pictures 39.4 % from 3-point vary, and 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and a couple of.2 steals to win Pac-10 Freshman of the Yr. The subsequent season, Bibby gained Pac-10 Participant of the Yr for averaging 17.2 factors and making 38.7 % of his 3-point makes an attempt, to associate with 5.7 assists and a couple of.4 steals per contest. The All-American’s No. 10 was retired by the college.
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Jason Terry, Guard (1995-99)
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Terry proved to be a key reserve on a the 1996-97 nationwide championship crew, however by the point he was a senior, he solidified himself as one of many greats in Arizona basketball historical past. As a senior in 1998-99, Terry averaged 21.9 factors, 5.5 assists, 3,3 rebounds and a couple of.8 steals — whereas additionally taking pictures 40 % from 3-point vary — en path to being named Pac-10 Participant of the Yr and a consensus first-team All-American. Terry is Arizona’s profession chief with 245 steals, and likewise ranks throughout the faculty’s high 10 in made 3-pointers (193) and assists (493). Terry’s No. 31 was retired by this system.
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Gilbert Arenas, Guard (1999-2001)
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Arizona’s most up-to-date journey to the Closing 4 got here in 2001, and Arenas performed an enormous half in that run. After he averaged 15.4 factors and shot 45.3 % as a freshman, Arenas earned First Workforce All-Pac-10 honors for averaging 16.2 factors whereas taking pictures 48 % from the sphere and 41.6 % from past the arc, plus 3.6 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists, throughout his second and ultimate season with the Wildcats. Twice Arenas topped the 20-point mark (21 every time) throughout that particular 2001 NCAA Event.
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Jason Gardner, Guard (1999-2003)
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Peruse the Arizona basketball file books and Gardner’s title will flip up very often. Spanning his good four-year faculty profession, which featured three First-Workforce All-Pac-10 alternatives, Gardner ranks among the many faculty’s high 5 in profession scoring (1,984), made 3-pointers (318), made free throws (516), assists (622) and steals (225). Gardner can be the college’s all-time chief in 3-point field-goal makes an attempt (875), video games began (135), minutes performed (4,825) and common minutes (35.5). A 3rd-team All-American in 2002 and consensus second-team All-American in 2003, Gardner’s No. 22 was retired by Arizona.
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Luke Walton, Ahead (1999-2003)
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Luke is likely to be the son of UCLA and NBA nice Invoice Walton, however he definitely made his personal title whereas at Arizona. After spending his first two faculty seasons largely coming off the bench offering strong minutes and taking part in high quality protection, Walton was a First-Workforce All-Pac-10 choice in every of his ultimate two years with the Wildcats. As a junior in 2001-02, Walton averaged profession highs of 15.7 factors on 47-percent taking pictures, with 7.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists. He at present ranks among the many faculty’s profession high 10 in assists (582).
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Andre Iguodala, Ahead (2002-04)
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Iguodala’s stats over his two seasons at Arizona weren’t eye-popping, however by way of pure expertise, he is thought-about top-of-the-line to ever come out of this system. In his two seasons spanning 62 video games, Iguodala averaged simply 9.6 factors. Nevertheless, he was crew MVP for the 2003-04 season, his final with the Wildcats, whereas averaging 12.9 factors, 8.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals and recording three double-doubles. As lively and well-rounded a participant as they got here, Iguodala was additionally acknowledged as a First-Workforce Pac-10 performer and honorable point out All-American by The Related Press in his ultimate faculty marketing campaign.
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Channing Frye, Middle (2002-05)
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Frye loved each particular person and crew success whereas at Arizona. A member of two Elite Eight groups, Frye was twice named a First Workforce All-Pac-10 performer (2004, ’05). That is after he being a part of the Pac-10 All-Freshman Workforce in 2022. For his profession, Frye ranks among the many faculty’s high 10 in scoring (1,789), made discipline objectives (707), discipline purpose share (56.2), rebounds (975), blocks (258), video games began (119), minutes (3,686) and double-doubles (30). He recorded eight of these double-doubles throughout 12 NCAA Event contests.
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Salim Stoudamire, Guard (2001-05)
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Cousin of the aforementioned Damon Stoudamire, Salim loved a stellar four-year profession at Arizona. His 1,960 profession factors rank fourth at school historical past, and he is the Wildcats’ all-time chief with 342 made 3-pointers, whereas second at 45.8 % taking pictures from past the arc. As well as, Stoudamire ranks among the many Arizona high 10 in made free throws (388), free throw share (87.0) and begins (109). The Pac-10 Freshman of the Yr in 2002, Stoudamire was a First Workforce All-Pac-10 decide and consensus second-team All-American in 2004-05, when his shot within the ultimate seconds in opposition to Oklahoma State despatched Arizona to the Elite Eight.
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Jerryd Bayless, Guard (2007-08)
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The Wildcats have produced some notable one-and-done performers worthy of incomes a spot on this checklist. Bayless will get our vote. In his solely collegiate season of 2007-08, Bayless averaged 19.7 factors on 45.8 % taking pictures from the sphere and 40.7 % from past the 3-point arc. With that offensive effort, Bayless turned the primary Wildcats freshman since Sean Elliott to steer the crew in scoring and earn MVP honors. Bayless additionally averaged 4.0 assists and nearly three rebounds per sport, plus 1.0 steals earlier than heading to the NBA.
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Chase Budinger, Ahead (2006-09)
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Solely Sean Elliott (1,820) and Bob Elliott (1,701) have scored extra factors of their first three seasons at Arizona than Budinger, who totaled 1,697 throughout his three-year profession with the Wildcats. Budinger — who ranks among the many faculty’s all-time high 10 in scoring common (17.0 ppg), made 3-pointers (190) and common minutes (35.4) — was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Yr in 2006-07, a third-team all-league decide the subsequent season and First-Workforce All-Pac-10 choice in his ultimate 2008-09 marketing campaign. The previous California Mr. Basketball shot 47 % from the sphere for his profession and 38.3 % from 3-point vary.
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Derrick Williams, Ahead (2009-11)
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Williams definitely loved a excessive stage of success in simply two seasons at Arizona. He was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Yr in 2009-10, when he averaged 15.7 factors and seven.1 rebounds, whereas beginning all however one of many 31 video games he performed. A season later, Williams was even higher, averaging 19.5 factors, on 59.5-percent taking pictures, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists to be named Pac-10 Participant of the Yr and a consensus second-team All-American. Williams’ profession 17.8 scoring common is tied for seventh-best at school historical past, whereas his 58.6 discipline purpose share ranks fourth. He was a two-time, First-Workforce All-Pac-10 every season.
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Nick Johnson, Guard (2011-14)
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In three seasons at Arizona, Johnson acquired it achieved at each ends of the ground. Nevertheless, he ought to go down as one of many nice defenders at school historical past. He was twice a member of the Pac-12 All-Defensive Workforce, but additionally honored because the convention’s participant of the 12 months and a consensus All-American for the 2013-14 marketing campaign. That season, his final with the Wildcats, Johnson averaged 16.3 factors, 4.1 rebounds and a couple of.8 assists. For his faculty profession, Johnson totaled 1,333 factors, shot 36 % from 3-point vary, recorded 304 assists and 137 steals.
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T.J. McConnell, Guard (2013-15)
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Laborious-nosed, in your face, and able to give all of it for the trigger. McConnell’s faculty profession started in his native Pittsburgh at Duquesne, which was a fairly profitable two-year run. Nevertheless, after transferring to Arizona, McConnell’s nationwide notoriety rose to vital ranges. He began all 74 video games he performed in two seasons for the Wildcats, was twice named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Workforce and earned honorable point out All-American recognition from the AP in his senior season of 2014-15. That season, McConnell averaged 10.4 factors, whereas taking pictures 49.8 % from the sphere, and 6.3 assists, 3.8 boards and a couple of.2 steals for an Arizona squad that began 21-0 and reached the Elite Eight.
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Deandre Ayton, Ahead (2017-18)
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Ayton’s lone season at Arizona was really one thing particular. In 35 video games through the 2017-18 season, the 7’1″ Ayton averaged 20.1 factors, 11.6 rebounds 1.9 blocks and 1.6 assists to win Pac-12 Participant of the Yr, Pac-12 Freshman of the Yr and earn consensus All-American honors. Ayton’s 405 rebounds are a college file for a single season, whereas his 276 made discipline objectives are tied for essentially the most by any Wildcat throughout a one-year span. In the meantime, his 704 factors rank fifth for anyone season by an Arizona participant.
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Bennedict Mathurin, Guard (2020-22)
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The potential for this Canadian surprise was there throughout his freshman season of 2020-21, however Mathurin elevated his sport to an All-American stage the subsequent season, his final as a Wildcat. Mathurin averaged 17.7 factors, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals to earn Pac-12 Participant of the Yr honors. That was ok for Mathurin to leap ship to the NBA. In two seasons, Mathurin put up some spectacular numbers, like taking pictures 45.6 % from the sphere and 38.3 % from past the 3-point arc.
A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports activities, leisure and popular culture for practically 30 years. If he may do it once more, he’d attend Degrassi Junior Excessive, Ampipe Excessive and Grand Lakes College.