The 20 greatest UCLA men’s basketball players of all time

On the subject of historic significance, Barksdale was a true trailblazer. Although his time at UCLA was comparatively quick — and interrupted by a stint serving in World Battle 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 crew.

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 % throughout his Bruins profession, and he teamed with Walt Hazzard to win the varsity’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 in class 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 generally 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 certainly one of 4 gamers to start out on three UCLA nationwide championship squads, and he stays the varsity 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 in class historical past for profession factors (2,325) and rebounds (1,367).

Rowe joins Kareem as a kind of 4 gamers to start out 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 taking pictures 52.6 % from the sphere and eight.8 rebounds over 90 video games. A stable, robust 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 exceptional. 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 taking pictures 52.4 %. The Most Excellent Participant of the 1970 Last 4, Wicks performed on three of the Bruins’ nationwide championship squads and ranks tenth in class historical past with 894 rebounds.

One other Bruin to start out on three of the varsity’s nationwide title-winning groups, Bibby was one of many nice level guards all through faculty basketball within the decade of the Nineteen Seventies. He averaged 14.4 profession factors and recorded at the very least 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 in command of 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 faculty 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 match. Walton averaged 20.3 factors — on 65.1-percent taking pictures — and 15.8 rebounds for his collegiate profession. He was a three-time nationwide participant of the yr, and his 1,370 rebounds are probably the most in class historical past.

Enjoying 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 palms. He averaged 15 factors whereas taking pictures 51.4 % and seven.4 rebounds throughout his three-season varsity profession at UCLA. All of it set the stage for a profitable NBA stint. 

It could be simple for Meyers to get misplaced within the shadows of nice UCLA massive 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 had 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 College within the later days of the John Picket period. He was a part of that 1975 title-winning Bruins crew. 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 in class historical past. 

Whereas UCLA’s dominance in faculty 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 at the very least 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 crucial dynamic gamers in faculty basketball in the course of the Nineteen 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 in class historical past for a single season. He was a 54.7 % 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 varsity.

A four-year starter for the Bruins, Richardson may 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 %, he was greatest recognized for his means to distribute the basketball. “Pooh,” as he is affectionately recognized, stays the varsity’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 varsity’s profession scoring record with 2,608 factors. The pleasure of close by Simi Valley, MacLean averaged 20.5 factors on 53.1-percent taking pictures 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 perfect participant within the nation. A 15.5 common profession scorer and 51.3 % 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 best known for championing the likeness rights of college 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 varsity’s all-time scoring record 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 taking pictures share from past the arc. He was the primary Bruin to be named first-team All-Pac-10 all 4 years in class, and the one one to guide the crew in scoring 4 straight seasons.

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

Ball spent simply the one season at UCLA, but it surely stays among the best in faculty basketball historical past. Regardless what followers consider his household state of affairs, Ball averaged 14.6 factors on 55.1 % taking pictures 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 at the moment stars for the Chicago Bulls,