The 25 greatest players in Connecticut men’s basketball history

Nicknamed “Moose,” Dropo is probably going greatest recognized for a 13-year-old Main League Baseball profession that included 1950 Rookie of the 12 months honors and an All-Star nod. Nevertheless, earlier than all that, Dropo was a three-sport star at UConn, the place he completed his stellar collegiate athletic profession, which included a stint in World Battle II, as the college’s all-time main scorer on the hardcourt. Actually, Dropo’s 20.7 profession scoring common — spanning 41 video games — stays second within the historical past of Connecticut basketball. 

When it got here to East Coast basketball stars within the Nineteen Fifties, Quimby was among the many brightest. A 3-time, First Group All-Yankee Convention performer throughout a time when the Huskies received the convention title in every of his 4 seasons on the faculty, Quimby stays UConn’s all-time chief with 1,716 rebounds and rebounding common (21.5 rpg). He was the nation’s prime rebounder at 22.6 per recreation throughout the 1953-54 season, and averaged a school-record 24.4 boards as a senior. Quimby’s mixed factors (1,398) and rebounds complete of three,114 is the best in UConn historical past.

Sticking with the rebounding theme, Kimball was one other drive on the glass for the Huskies. Roughly a decade after the aforementioned Artwork Quimby dominated the paint at UConn, Kimball put collectively three stellar seasons for this system. His 1,324 profession rebounds path solely Quimby at school historical past, whereas his 21.0 boards per recreation from the 1964-65 not solely led the nation, in addition they rank third amongst all Huskies. As well as, Kimball’s 18.4 profession scoring common nonetheless resides among the many prime 10 at school historical past.

One of many nice soar shooters of the Nineteen Sixties’ period of school basketball, Bialosuknia is the Huskies’ profession chief with a 23.6 scoring common. The “Poughkeepsie Popper” averaged no less than 21.3 factors in every of his three varsity seasons at UConn. As a senior, Bialosuknia averaged a program-record 28 factors. A 3-time All-Yankee Convention choice, Bialosuknia totaled 1,673 factors in 71 profession school video games. He was additionally a part of the inaugural 2007 class inducted into the UConn Basketball Huskies of Honor.

Within the annals of UConn basketball, Hanson ranks third all time with 1,990 factors, and sits first in made area targets (784) — over a span of 111 video games. A two-time, First Group All-Yankee Convention choose, Hanson loved a merely stellar season as a senior in 1976-77, averaging 26.0 factors (ranked second at school historical past) and 10.5 rebounds. Each led to Hanson being named New England Participant of the 12 months and ECAC Participant of the 12 months. For his profession, Hanson shot 49.4 % and totaled 818 rebounds for the Huskies.

A standout on each ends of the courtroom, Thompson was an All-Large East choose 3 times, with first-team honors coming in 1981 and ’82. The satisfaction of Middletown, Conn., Thompson ranks amongst UConn’s profession prime 10 in each factors (1,810) and rebounding (1,017). He led the Huskies in scoring throughout every of his 4 years in Storrs, and posted a profession 49.4-shooting proportion from the sector. As well as, Thompson totaled 179 steals throughout his time at Connecticut, and his 538 factors from 1978-79 rank second at school historical past for a freshman.

As we transfer into the ultra-successful Jim Calhoun years at UConn, Robinson was one among his early stars. The 6-foot-10 Robinson was a reliable performer, who averaged 15.3 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals throughout his four-year collegiate tenure. He began all 34 video games whereas serving to the Huskies win the 1988 NIT championship, and earned Second Group All-Large East honors as a senior, when he averaged a career-high of 20.0 factors with 7.4 rebounds. Robinson additionally recorded 116 blocked pictures on his UConn profession, then went on to be a defensive star throughout an 18-year NBA run.

George is perhaps most remembered for hitting that exceptional buzzer-beating shot to beat Clemson throughout the 1990 Candy 16. Nevertheless, he was a constantly stable participant for the Huskies, and one who won’t get the complete credit score he deserves. George began 116 of the 128 video games he performed over 4 seasons, ranks second at school historical past with 677 assists and is among the many nice defensive gamers to return out o this system. He presently sits fourth at UConn with 201 steals. Throughout that memorable 1989-90 marketing campaign, George averaged a career-high 11.5 factors.

When it comes to numbers, Smith is essentially the most prolific scorer in UConn basketball historical past. Smith’s 2,145 factors, spanning 127 video games over 4 seasons, is a faculty file. As well as, Smith’s 242 made 3-pointers rank among the many prime 10 at UConn, and he is additionally this system’s all-time chief with 107 double-figure scoring video games. Smith averaged 16.9 factors for his profession, highlighted by a 1991-92 senior season, when he averaged 21.2 and made 42.0 % of his 3-point makes an attempt to earn First Group All-Large East recognition. 

A celebrated Huskie, Burrell was the primary NCAA participant to file greater than 1,500 factors, 750 rebounds, 275 assists and 300 steals. Dig deeper into these classes, and Burrell is the college’s all-time chief with 310 steals. He averaged 16.1 factors, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.1 blocked pictures throughout 119 video games over his four-year profession. Burrell, who made the well-known close to length-of-the-court inbounds cross to Tate George on that memorable 1990 NCAA Event shot, was twice named a Third-Group All-Large East choose (1991, ’93), and second-team choice in 1991-92.

Throughout the board, Marshall is just one of many greats in all of school basketball. He ranks amongst UConn’s prime 10 in blocks (245) and scoring common (18.1 ppg). He is a two-time, First Group All-Large East choose, and was the league’s participant of the 12 months and defensive participant of the 12 months for the 1993-94 season, when he averaged profession highs of 25.1 factors, on 51.2-percent capturing, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and three.2 blocks. Marshall was additionally a consensus All-American on what proved to be his ultimate collegiate season.

The one participant in UConn males’s basketball historical past to have his uniform quantity retired. Is Allen the best participant within the historical past of the Huskies basketball program? The statistics appear to again it up. In 101 video games, spanning three seasons, Allen totaled 1,922 factors, which rank fifth at school historical past. He is additionally tied for fourth with a 19.0 profession scoring common and third with 705 made area targets. The Olympic gold-medal winner and star of Spike Lee’s He Received Sport shot 48.7 %, was a two-time, First Group All-Large East choose, the league’s participant of the 12 months, a consensus All-American and nationwide participant of the 12 months from United Press Worldwide for the 1995-96 season, when he averaged 23.4 factors, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals.

Possibly not a marquee title from the Huskies’ first nationwide championship workforce from the 1998-99 season, Moore bought issues accomplished nicely on the defensive finish of the ground and in addition received 114 video games at UConn. A 3-year captain for the Huskies, Moore averaged 6.9 factors and three.8 assists for his 134-game profession, however it was his lockdown defensive talents that earned constant reward on the nationwide stage. Moore’s protection towards Duke within the 1999 nationwide championship recreation, notably on Blue Devils star guards William Avery and Trajan Langdon, was a giant cause the Huskies pulled off the upset (as Duke shot 41.1 %) and he was a part of the All-Remaining 4 workforce.

We famous Ray Allen as arguably the very best participant in UConn basketball historical past, however Hamilton’s title also needs to be in that dialog. Hamilton joins Chris Smith as the one UConn gamers to succeed in the two,000-point mark, posting 2,036 in three seasons. His 19.8 common factors over 103 video games ranks third at school historical past. Twice Hamilton averaged 21.5 factors, together with throughout that championship 1998-99 season, when he additionally pulled down a career-high 4.8 rebounds to repeat as Large East Participant of the 12 months and earn consensus first-team All-American standing. Hamilton averaged 24.2 factors on 50-percent capturing throughout the ’99 NCAA Event, and scored 27 within the title recreation to earn Most Excellent Participant honors.

Freeman is one among two gamers in UConn basketball historical past to play no less than 140 profession video games. Hitting that mark, whereas beginning 126 video games over 4 seasons. One other key piece to the Huskies’ nationwide championship squad of ’99, Freeman averaged profession bests of 12.2 factors, whereas capturing 59 % from the sector, and seven.3 rebounds throughout that historic season. For his UConn profession, Freeman shot 53.4 % total, totaled 1,476 factors and 913 rebounds (which reside within the faculty’s prime 10). The Huskies received 109 video games throughout Freeman’s tenure.

Checking in at a beneficiant 5’10” and greater than 200 kilos, El-Amin stays some of the entertaining gamers in UConn historical past. A McDonald’s All-American from Minneapolis, El-Amin was a favourite throughout his three seasons at Connecticut, taking part in with a excessive motor and getting underneath the pores and skin of the opposition. He recorded 1,650 factors, 479 assists, 319 rebounds and is within the faculty’s all-time prime 10 with 186 steals. El-Amin, who helped UConn to that ’99 title, began all however two of the 108 video games he performed for UConn. He averaged 16 factors as a freshman and for his junior — and ultimate — season of 1999-2000, when he was named First Group All-Large Ten. 

Butler achieved fairly a bit in simply 63 video games, spanning two seasons, with the Huskies. As a freshman, Butler was UConn’s chief in each scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.6), whereas additionally averaging 3.1 assists. The following season, Butler stepped up his recreation to the extent of being honored as Large East Participant of the 12 months. That season, Butler averaged 20.3 factors on 48.6 % capturing from the sector and 40 % from past the 3-point arc, 7.5 boards, 3.0 assists and a pair of.1 steals. His 691 factors from 2001-02 are second-most by any sophomore in UConn historical past.

UConn received its second nationwide championship to conclude the 2003-04 season, and did so with a dynamic inside-outside duo. The surface portion got here courtesy of Gordon, who averaged a team-leading 18.5 factors and shot 43.3 % from 3-point vary for that national-title squad whereas incomes First Group All-Large East honors. That was Gordon’s ultimate collegiate season, and capped a three-year profession that produced 1,795 factors (seventh-most at school historical past), 590 made area targets and a 42.3 3-point area aim proportion that ranks second all-time at UConn.

Now we showcase the skin issue to go with Ben Gordon from the 2004 championship group. A two-time First-team All-Large East performer and league defensive participant of the 12 months, Okafor averaged profession highs of 17.6 factors and 11.5 rebounds whereas being named Large East Participant of the 12 months and first-team consensus All-American throughout that title run. One in every of six Huskies to file no less than 1,000 rebounds (1,091), Okafor is the college’s all-time chief with 441 blocks, and his 155 led the nation in 2002-03. He additionally ranks fourth with a 59.3 field-goal proportion.

One other UConn star who made essentially the most of his fairly transient time in Storrs. Homosexual earned co-Large East Rookie of the 12 months as a freshman for averaging 11.8 factors, whereas capturing 46.2 % from the sector, plus 5.4 rebounds per recreation. In his second and ultimate season with the Huskies, Homosexual averaged 15.2 factors, made 46.1 % of his pictures and set profession bests with 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per contest en path to being named a First Group All-Large East member and consensus second-team All-American.

The informal basketball fan who fancies the latest historical past of the faculty recreation won’t bear in mind simply how dominant an inside presence the 7’3″ Thabeet was throughout his three seasons at UConn. He’s second-all-time at UConn with 417 blocks and a 61.1 field-goal proportion, and ranks among the many prime 10 in rebounding (847). On three events, Thabeet recorded 10 blocks in a recreation. After being named to the All-Large East Defensive Group as a sophomore, Thabeet established himself as a real total risk in his ultimate school season in 2008-09. Throughout that marketing campaign, Thabeet set profession highs in common factors (13.6) and rebounds (10.8), plus complete blocks (152) and area aim proportion (64.0), en path to being named co-Large East Participant of the 12 months. 

One of the thrilling gamers in UConn historical past, Walker ranks among the many faculty’s prime 10 with 1,783 factors. In his third and ultimate season of 2010-11, Walker averaged workforce highs of 23.5 factors, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals whereas serving to UConn win its third nationwide championship. He was a First Group All-Large East choose that season, and MVP of the Large East match, when he averaged 26 factors on 47.1 % capturing and 6.4 rebounds. Walker, who can be among the many faculty’s all-time leaders with 185 steals, ranks second for made free throws (501).

With regards to clutch gamers, Lamb ought to go down as one of many higher in UConn historical past. As a freshman, Lamb averaged a powerful 11.1 factors, on 48.7-percent capturing, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Nevertheless, he was really at his greatest throughout the Huskies’ NCAA Event run to the nationwide title. Throughout these six postseason contests, Lamb averaged 16.2 factors and shot 58.1 % from the sector, together with 12-of-18 from 3-point vary. In his second and ultimate collegiate season, Lamb averaged a team-leading 17.7 factors to earn First Group All-Large East honors. 

Discuss an entire profession. Napier, one among three Division I gamers to win a nationwide title as a freshman (2011) and once more throughout his senior marketing campaign (2014), can be the one participant in UConn historical past to publish no less than 1,500 factors, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 250 steals. The Huskies’ all-time chief with 143 video games performed, Napier ranks fourth in program historical past with 1,959 factors, second with 251 steals and third with 646 assists. In 2013-14, Napier was named American Athletic Convention Participant of the 12 months and a consensus First Group All-American for averaging profession highs of 18 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He was additionally named Most Excellent Participant throughout the Huskies’ run to the 2014 title for averaging 21.2 factors and capturing 20-of-43 from past the 3-point arc.

Backcourt mate of the aforementioned Shabazz Napier for 2 full seasons, Boatright put collectively a reasonably spectacular collegiate profession. He ranks among the many faculty’s prime 10 in profession scoring (1,786 factors), made free throws (455) and consecutive double-figure level video games (93). One other key piece to the Huskies’ national-title run of 2013-14, Boatright loved his greatest particular person season as a senior in 2014-15, when he averaged a team-leading 17.4 factors, whereas capturing 41.1 % from the 3-point arc, plus 4.6 rebounds.