The best players in UCLA men’s basketball history

In terms of historic significance, Barksdale was a real trailblazer. Although his time at UCLA was comparatively brief — and interrupted by a stint serving in World Struggle II following the 1943 season — Barksdale is famous as the primary African-American to earn consensus All-American honors. The 6-foot-6 Corridor of Famer was additionally the primary Black participant to be a part of the USA’ males’s Olympic basketball workforce.

Regardless of his lack of peak (a beneficiant 6-foot-1), Goodrich was one other star of John Picket’s early nationwide championship groups at UCLA. Goodrich averaged 19 factors and shot 47.6 p.c throughout his Bruins profession, and he teamed with Walt Hazzard to win the college’s first title in 1964. After Hazzard left, Goodrich averaged 24.8 per contest in 1964-65, and his 744 factors throughout that marketing campaign rank third at school historical past. In UCLA’s 91-80 victory over Michigan in that season’s nationwide championship recreation, Goodrich dropped 42 on the Wolverines — a finals file on the time.

Whereas at UCLA, Jabbar was nonetheless often known as Lew Alcindor. A legendary prep star from New York Metropolis, Kareem’s legacy grew whereas enjoying for John Picket at UCLA. The 7-foot-1 famous person is one in every of 4 gamers to begin on three UCLA nationwide championship squads, and he stays the college file holder in single-season factors (870 from 1966-67), single-game factors (61 in 1966-67), and scoring common (26.4). The three-time nationwide participant of the yr ranks second at school historical past for profession factors (2,325) and rebounds (1,367).

Rowe joins Kareem as a kind of 4 gamers to begin on three of UCLA’s nationwide championship groups. In Rowe’s case, that got here in 1969, ’70 and ’71. Throughout these three seasons at UCLA, Rowe averaged 15.2 factors whereas capturing 52.6 p.c from the sphere and eight.8 rebounds over 90 video games. A stable, sturdy presence at 6-foot-7, Rowe was a two-time All-Pac 8 performer and consensus second-team All-American.

Wicks’ development in three seasons of varsity play at UCLA was fairly outstanding. In 1968-69, Wicks averaged simply 7.5 factors, however two seasons later, he was awarded a number of nationwide participant of the yr honors whereas averaging 21.3 factors and capturing 52.4 p.c. The Most Excellent Participant of the 1970 Last 4, Wicks performed on three of the Bruins’ nationwide championship squads and ranks tenth at school historical past with 894 rebounds.

One other Bruin to begin on three of the college’s nationwide title-winning groups, Bibby was one of many nice level guards all through school basketball within the decade of the Nineteen Seventies. He averaged 14.4 profession factors and recorded a minimum of 100 assists in every of his three seasons at UCLA. Bibby was a first-team All-American for the 1971-72 marketing campaign, when he averaged profession highs of 15.7 factors and three.5 assists. Bibby additionally loved an extended teaching profession, notably spending time answerable for Los Angeles rival USC (1996-2005).

The free-spirited Walton was a personality from the second he stepped on to the UCLA campus. He was additionally one of many nice gamers in school basketball historical past. Indebted to his legendary coach John Picket, Walton was a part of two Bruins nationwide championship groups from 1972 and ’73, and he was named Last 4 Most Excellent Participant in every event. Walton averaged 20.3 factors — on 65.1-percent capturing — and 15.8 rebounds for his collegiate profession. He was a three-time nationwide participant of the yr, and his 1,370 rebounds are essentially the most at school historical past.

Taking part in alongside Invoice Walton, Wilkes was a two-time nationwide champion (1972, ’73) and consensus All-American (1973, ’74). Wilkes earned the nickname “Silk” as a result of he basically made the sport look simple with the ball in his fingers. He averaged 15 factors whereas capturing 51.4 p.c and seven.4 rebounds throughout his three-season varsity profession at UCLA. All of it set the stage for a profitable NBA stint. 

It might be simple for Meyers to get misplaced within the shadows of nice UCLA large males like Invoice Walton or Jamaal Wilkes. Meyers performed on two nationwide championship groups at UCLA and solidified himself because the standout of the 1974-75 group after Walton and Wilkes have been gone. That season, Meyers led the Bruins in scoring (18.3 factors per recreation) and rebounding (7.9 per recreation) whereas incomes first-team All-American honors. 

Like Dave Meyers, Washington was a part of John Picket’s closing nationwide championship squad at UCLA in 1975, which additionally occurred to be the legendary coach’s final season on the college. That season, Washington averaged 15.9 factors and seven.8 rebounds, and he was the Most Excellent Participant of the Last 4. A season later, Washington was scoring at a clip of 20.1 factors per recreation and knocking down 8.6 rebounds en path to a consensus first-team All-American honor.

Johnson was a extremely touted recruit who starred at Los Angeles’ famed Crenshaw Excessive Faculty within the later days of the John Picket period. He was a part of that 1975 title-winning Bruins workforce. Two years later, he was tabbed nationwide participant of the yr — that later turned the John R. Picket Award — for averaging 21.4 factors and 11.1 rebounds. Johnson’s 897 profession rebounds rank eighth at school historical past. 

Whereas UCLA’s dominance in school basketball waned within the late Nineteen Seventies, this system was clearly not void of particular person expertise. Greenwood was UCLA’s star in these later years, averaging a minimum of 16.7 factors in every of his closing three seasons — highlighted by a career-high 19.9 in 1978-79. Greenwood was a two-time Pac-10 Participant of the Yr and consensus first-team All-American (1978, 1979). His 1,022 profession rebounds are fourth-most in UCLA historical past.

In fact, Miller is thought for his stellar NBA profession with the Indiana Pacers, however that basis was undoubtedly laid at UCLA. One of the dynamic gamers in school basketball in the course of the Eighties, Miller averaged 25.9 factors as a junior and 22.3 throughout his senior season. Miller’s 2,095 factors are tied for third all time, whereas his 750 from the 1985-86 marketing campaign rank second at school historical past for a single season. He was a 54.7 p.c shooter and recorded 158 steals — tied for ninth in UCLA historical past. Miller was a two-time first-team All-Pac-10 choice and had his No. 31 retired by the college.

A four-year starter for the Bruins, Richardson might do some little bit of every part throughout his time in Westwood. Whereas Richardson averaged 12 profession factors (15.2 as a senior) and shot 51.3 p.c, he was finest recognized for his capability to distribute the basketball. “Pooh,” as he is affectionately recognized, stays the college’s all-time chief with 833 assists and is liable for three of the highest seven help seasons in UCLA historical past. Richardson was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Yr in 1986 and a three-time first-team all-conference choice.

Within the storied historical past of UCLA basketball, it is MacLean who sits atop the college’s profession scoring listing with 2,608 factors. The delight of close by Simi Valley, MacLean averaged 20.5 factors on 53.1-percent capturing whereas beginning all 127 video games he performed at UCLA. He is additionally the Pac-12’s all-time main scorer. 

UCLA reached the Last 4 in 2021, however its most up-to-date nationwide championship got here in 1995. O’Bannon helped the Bruins win that title as the very best participant within the nation. A 15.5 common profession scorer and 51.3 p.c shooter put up 20.4 factors and registered 8.3 boards in 1994-95. He additionally pulled down 7.0 rebounds per recreation in his 4 collegiate seasons. Not solely was O’Bannon, now finest recognized for championing the likeness rights of school athletes, not solely was a first-team All-American in 1995, he was the Picket Award winner, USBWA School Participant of the Yr and Last 4 Most Excellent Participant.

Proper up there with the offensive greats in UCLA historical past is Kapono, who’s tied for third on the college’s all-time scoring listing with 2,095 factors. Full along with his trademark headband, Kapono additionally ranks second in program historical past with 317 made 3-pointers and a 44.6 capturing share from past the arc. He was the primary Bruin to be named first-team All-Pac-10 all 4 years at school, and the one one to guide the workforce in scoring 4 straight seasons.

Afflalo is likely one of the most full gamers in UCLA basketball historical past. Whereas he actually made a reputation for himself on the defensive finish of the courtroom, Afflalo averaged practically 15 factors and shot 45.7 p.c for his three-year collegiate profession. Afflalo, the Pac-10 Participant of the Yr when he averaged 16.9 factors and shot 46.1 p.c in 2006-07, sits tied for third at school historical past with 209 made 3-pointers.

Ball spent simply the one season at UCLA, however it stays top-of-the-line in school basketball historical past. Regardless what followers consider his household scenario, Ball averaged 14.6 factors on 55.1 p.c capturing from the sphere and 41.2 from 3-point vary, plus 7.6 assists (single-season school-record 274) and 6.0 rebounds in 36 collegiate video games in 2016-17. His 66 steals rank eighth all-time in program historical past. Ball was an unanimous first-team All-American by The Related Press and solely freshman finalist for the three main nationwide participant of the yr awards: Picket Award, Naismith, and Oscar Robertson Trophy. Ball presently stars for the Chicago Bulls,