The best players in Kansas basketball history

A hometown product from proper there in Lawrence, Endacott was a key cog within the Jayhawks machine that gained nationwide titles in 1922 and ’23 (as acknowledged by the Helms Athletic basis) below legendary coach Phog Allen. A flexible athlete, Ednacott was a two-time consensus All-American and the Helms Participant of the 12 months in 1923. It have to be famous simply how good the Kansas program throughout this time interval — one which others would desperately attempt to emulate.

Enjoying alongside Paul Endacott within the Jayhawks’ backcourt, Black was an essential piece to these back-to-back nationwide championship groups in 1922 and ’23. He was a two-time All-American and acknowledged by the Helms Basis as nationwide participant of the 12 months in 1924. Black, whose No. 8 jersey was retired by the college, went on to teach the Nebraska males’s basketball staff. 

At 6-foot-3, “Tus” Ackerman was the “huge man” for Allen’s profitable groups of the early Twenties. In accordance with hoopszone.web, Ackerman averaged a profession 9.2 factors — career-high 10.2 in 1924-25 — throughout his three seasons at Kansas, the place he was named a two-time All-American in 1924 and ’25 (as acknowledged by the Helms Basis). Like Paul Endacott and Charlie T. Black, Ackerman’s jersey (No. 7) was retired by the college. 

As we transfer into the Thirties, the Jayhawks weren’t profitable nationwide championships, however Kansas nonetheless produced some legendary gamers when it got here to this system’s historical past. At 6-foot-4, “Skinny” Johnson made guys like “Tus” Ackerman appear like an ant by comparability. One other All-American, Johnson was generally known as an amazing leaper and was a serious motive the Jayhawks gained three consecutive Large Six championships throughout his tenure on the college. 

Because the Nineteen Forties dawned, Kansas returned to the nationwide championship sport however completed runner-up to Indiana through the 1940 season. Engleman, a three-time All-Large Six choice, was among the many stars on that staff, scoring 39 factors over three match contests. He was much more dominant throughout his closing collegiate season of 1940-41. Throughout that marketing campaign, Engleman averaged greater than 16 factors per sport and was named a consensus first-team All-American. 

After attending Wisconsin, Black enrolled at Kansas, the place his time on the basketball courtroom was interrupted by a navy stint throughout World Warfare II. Black ultimately returned to Kansas and continued his excellence on the courtroom. A two-time consensus All-American, Black was the primary participant in Kansas historical past to file 1,000 factors for his profession and completed with 1,082.

Relating to Kansas’ first nice school basketball famous person, many can argue that Lovellette is the person. He helped Kansas win its first NCAA nationwide championship in 1952, when he was named Most Excellent for posting a then-record 141 match factors.

Enjoying alongside legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith at Kansas, Lovellette ranks fourth in class historical past with 1,979 factors and among the many college’s all-timer leaders in scoring common (24.7). The Helms Nationwide Participant of the Yr in 1952 — and two-time consensus All-American — additionally averaged greater than 13 rebounds throughout his profession. Lovellette has the excellence of being the primary basketball participant to win a university nationwide championship Olympic gold medal (1952) and an NBA title.

What extra could be mentioned about Wilt “The Stilt”? One of many best gamers within the historical past of this grand sport, Chamberlain totaled 1,433 factors and 877 rebounds in 48 profession video games over two seasons for the Jayhawks. He is liable for three of the 5 highest-scoring video games in Kansas historical past — highlighted by his school-record 52 factors versus Northwestern through the 1956-57 season. He was the Most Excellent Participant in that season’s NCAA Event, which concluded with Chamberlain and the Jayhawks being upset 54-53 by North Carolina within the nationwide title sport.

One of many extra widespread gamers in Kansas historical past, White averaged 15.3 factors and nearly 5 rebounds spanning elements of 4 school seasons. He is considered one of many nice leaders at Kansas over time for his general effort and angle. In each 1968 and ’69, White was named a consensus second-team All-American. His No. 15 uniform was retired at Kansas, as was his No. 10 by the Boston Celtics, with whom he gained two NBA titles and named a seven-time All-Star.

At 6-foot-10, Robisch definitely had his moments of dominance for the Jayhawks. He averaged 21.1 factors and 9.8 rebounds throughout his three seasons at Kansas. He was a first-team All-Large Eight performer in every of these campaigns. He was additionally the league’s participant of the 12 months in 1970, when he posted profession highs of 26.5 factors and 12.1 boards per sport, and once more in ’71 (averaging 19.2 factors and 10.1 rebounds). Robisch’s No. 40 was retired by the college.

The Nineteen Eighties started Kansas’ time as a perennial nationwide energy, and Valentine helped lay the muse for that to occur. A primary-team All-Large Eight performer in every of his 4 seasons at Kansas, Valentine is the college’s all-time chief with 541 made free throws and 336 steals. He additionally ranks among the many top-10 gamers in Jayhawks historical past for factors (1,821) and assists (609), whereas averaging 15.4 factors, 5.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and a couple of.8 steals for his collegiate profession.

No offense to Wilt, however Danny Manning is one of the best participant ever to don a Kansas basketball uniform. The varsity’s all-time chief with 2,951 factors and 1,187 rebounds, Manning began all however one of many 147 video games he performed for the Jayhawks. He averaged 20.1 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks throughout his 4 collegiate seasons, and he was the point of interest of the “Danny and the Miracles” run to the 1988 nationwide title. A 3-time first-team All-Large Eight choose, two-time consensus All-American, and the nationwide school participant of the 12 months in 1988, Manning can also be Kansas’ profession chief in made discipline targets (1,216) and second with 509 made free throws.

Kansas is thought for producing a few of school basketball’s greatest huge males of all time, and LaFrentz is a part of that elite group. Within the profession annals of Kansas basketball, the 6-foot-11 LaFrentz ranks third in factors (2,066) and second in rebounds (1,186). He averaged 15.8 factors and 9.1 rebounds whereas beginning all 131 video games he performed for the Jayhawks. He was twice named Large 12 Participant of the Yr and consensus first-team All-American. As a senior, LaFrentz averaged profession highs with 19.8 factors and 11.4 boards.

Pierce laid the groundwork for his prolonged and stellar NBA profession by bettering in every of his three seasons at Kansas. A teammate of Raef LaFrentz, Pierce averaged 16.4 factors on 48.1 % taking pictures, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals for the Jayhawks. His 1,768 factors rank tenth in class historical past. The 2-time Large 12 match MVP, Pierce earned consensus first-team All-American honors throughout his closing collegiate season of 1997-98, when he averaged 20.4 factors whereas taking pictures 51.3 % and 6.7 boards.

Gooden labored his strategy to turning into one of many elite gamers within the historical past of the Kansas program. Largely a key reserve as a freshman, Gooden averaged 10.6 factors, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. By the point his junior season rolled round, he earned Large 12 Participant of the Yr and consensus first-team All-American honors whereas averaging 19.8 factors and 11.4 rebounds. Gooden ranks sixth in class historical past with 905 profession boards.

Starring with Drew Gooden and feisty guard Kirk Heinrich for many of his Kansas run, the 6-foot-9 Collison was a unbelievable general courtroom presence for the Jayhawks. He ranks second in class historical past for factors (2,097), second in made discipline targets (858), third in rebounds (1,143), and fourth in blocked photographs (243). Collison was the Large 12 Participant of the Yr and a consensus first-team All-American in 2002-03, when he averaged 18.5 factors and 10.0 rebounds. 

Simien gained 110 video games throughout his 4 seasons at Kansas, and he was additionally a part of the nationwide runner-up squad from 2003. The 6-foot-9 Simien averaged 15 factors on 55.8 % taking pictures and eight.3 rebounds for the Jayhawks, for whom his 884 profession boards rank seventh in class historical past. As a senior in 2004-05, Simien was the Large 12 Participant of the Yr and consensus first-team All-American for averaging career-highs of 20.3 factors, 11 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. 

Whereas Collins ranks among the many college’s prime 10 in profession factors (1,888), assists (552), and was a two-time first-team All-Large 12 choice (2009, ’10) and consensus first-team All-American in 2010, he is in all probability greatest recognized for his play in Kansas’ time beyond regulation victory towards Memphis within the 2008 nationwide championship sport. The sophomore had 11 factors, hit a key 3-pointer ,and made an essential steal through the Jayhawks’ late second-half rally. He additionally delivered certainly one of his six assists on Mario Chalmers’ three-pointer that pressured time beyond regulation. As a junior in 2008-09, Collins averaged a team-high 18.9 factors.

Merely put, Mason was a particular participant for the Jayhawks. He began all 110 video games performed in his closing three seasons at Kansas, the place he ranks sixth in class historical past with 1,885 factors. As a senior in 2016-17, Mason turned the primary participant in class historical past to common not less than 20 factors (20.9) and 5 assists (5.2), when he was each the Large 12 Participant of the Yr and nationwide participant of the 12 months. Mason additionally ranks among the many program’s prime 10 in assists (576), made 3-pointers (185), 3-point proportion (42.0), and made free throws (482).

Relating to one of the best all-around gamers in Kansas historical past, Graham must be within the dialog — and maybe close to the highest of the checklist. The Large 12 Defensive Participant of the Yr in 2016 and the league’s participant of the 12 months two years later, Graham ranks among the many college’s top-15 scorers with 1,750 profession factors (12.3 factors per sport) and is second with 296 made 3-pointers. He additionally sits fifth with 632 assists — together with a single-season college file 282 in 2017-18 — and seventh with 197 steals.