The best player in college basketball history at every jersey number

[OrangeXtreme]

The best player in college basketball history at every jersey number

From Zion Williamson at No. 1 to Kevin Durant at No. 35, here are the best college basketball players to ever wear each of the NCAA's 37 allowed jersey numbers.

www.espn.com

15. Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse (2002-03)
See also: Tom Gola (La Salle, 1951-55); Kemba Walker (Connecticut, 2008-11); Alex Groza (Kentucky, 1945-49); John Lucas II (Maryland, 1972-76); Vince Carter (North Carolina, 1995-98); Butch Lee (Marquette, 1974-78); Chuck Cooper (Duquesne, 1946-50); Ernie DiGregorio (Providence, 1969-73); Sam Dekker (Wisconsin, 2012-15); Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky, 2012-15); Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State, 2009-11); Jahlil Okafor (Duke, 2014-15); Mario Chalmers (Kansas, 2005-08); Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia, 2011-16).

What if Syracuse had lost in the 2003 Sweet 16 to No. 10 seed Auburn instead of winning 79-78? It's likely Anthony still would have been taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the ensuing NBA draft, but today we wouldn't have the college legend of Melo. Instead, the Orange did win that game and proceeded to lay waste to the Big 12, defeating Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas on the way to a national title. The game against the Longhorns was a particular Anthony gem, as the freshman recorded a 33-14 double-double against No. 1-seeded UT in a 95-84 win.

51. Still waiting for its legend
Syracuse laps the rest of D-I in No. 51 achievement with both Craig Forth (2001-05) and Fab Melo (2010-12). Then again, that probably says something right there. For whatever reason, this is the weakest and least desired number of the 37 eligible options. Last season there were perhaps as few as five D-I players wearing 51 (Boston University's Max Mahoney, Butler's Nate Fowler, Drexel's James Butler, Iowa's Nicholas Baer and Michigan's Austin Davis). Nor is this shunning a recent development. One helpful archive on Kentucky basketball history reveals that, in the past 90 years of Wildcats hoops, only three players have worn the number. Media guides for UCLA and UConn likewise list a single No. 51 in each program's entire history. It is a rare look for a jersey.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Why are there only 37 eligible options?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Why are there only 37 eligible options?

Didn't read the article, did you?

"Thanks to the NCAA rule book, players have only 37 options when it comes to choosing a jersey number. Any single-digit rendering or double-digit combination of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is acceptable. Conversely, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are prohibited."

0
00
1
2
3
4
5
10
11
12
13
14
15
20
21
22
23
24
25
30
31
32
33
34
35
40
41
42
43
44
45
50
51
52
53
54
55

 

[Cusefan0307]

Didn't read the article, did you?

"Thanks to the NCAA rule book, players have only 37 options when it comes to choosing a jersey number. Any single-digit rendering or double-digit combination of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is acceptable. Conversely, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are prohibited."

0
00
1
2
3
4
5
10
11
12
13
14
15
20
21
22
23
24
25
30
31
32
33
34
35
40
41
42
43
44
45
50
51
52
53
54
55

No too lazy. Sounds stupid.

 

[Trueblue25]

Melo over Kemba!

wooohooo

 

[OrangeDW]

Disrespectful writeup towards the 2012 Big East defensive player of the year.

 

[moqui]

Why are there only 37 eligible options?

when signalling the official scorer which player gets tagged with a foul, the refs have to be able to signal the jersey number with 2 hands
e.g., 5 fingers 5 fingers = 55; 5 fingers, fist = 50

 

[Hoo's That]

Why are there only 37 eligible options?

So the refs can use hand signals to scorer's table to relay the number of which player committed the foul or called the timeout when the bench doesn't call it.

 

[Hoo's That]

when signalling the official scorer which player gets tagged with a foul, the refs have to be able to signal the jersey number with 2 hands
e.g., 5 fingers 5 fingers = 55; 5 fingers, fist = 50

I saw the notification for yours pop up when I was typing mine.

 

[721Comstock]

Wes Unseld over Peal for 31?

Um, ok?

44 is a pretty deep talent pool, but c'mon - J Dub should also be included along w/ DC.

 

[moqui]

it's an incoherent article. he'll make the case for some guys because their college careers were great (e.g., frank mason over russell westbrook) but then he'll give it to others due to their pro career (e.g., steph curry over rasheed wallace or kenny smith). some greats he doesn't even discus. one of gasaway's worst efforts, imho

 

[miamicuse]

ESPN at one time crowned Christian Laettner the best college basketball player in modern days, and he didn't even win the best at his number?

If hand signaling is the reason behind the prohibited digits, yet 00 is allowed, why didn't they allow 01 to 09?

 

[sutomcat]

The best player in college basketball history at every jersey number

From Zion Williamson at No. 1 to Kevin Durant at No. 35, here are the best college basketball players to ever wear each of the NCAA's 37 allowed jersey numbers.

www.espn.com

15. Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse (2002-03)
See also: Tom Gola (La Salle, 1951-55); Kemba Walker (Connecticut, 2008-11); Alex Groza (Kentucky, 1945-49); John Lucas II (Maryland, 1972-76); Vince Carter (North Carolina, 1995-98); Butch Lee (Marquette, 1974-78); Chuck Cooper (Duquesne, 1946-50); Ernie DiGregorio (Providence, 1969-73); Sam Dekker (Wisconsin, 2012-15); Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky, 2012-15); Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State, 2009-11); Jahlil Okafor (Duke, 2014-15); Mario Chalmers (Kansas, 2005-08); Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia, 2011-16).

What if Syracuse had lost in the 2003 Sweet 16 to No. 10 seed Auburn instead of winning 79-78? It's likely Anthony still would have been taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the ensuing NBA draft, but today we wouldn't have the college legend of Melo. Instead, the Orange did win that game and proceeded to lay waste to the Big 12, defeating Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas on the way to a national title. The game against the Longhorns was a particular Anthony gem, as the freshman recorded a 33-14 double-double against No. 1-seeded UT in a 95-84 win.

51. Still waiting for its legend
Syracuse laps the rest of D-I in No. 51 achievement with both Craig Forth (2001-05) and Fab Melo (2010-12). Then again, that probably says something right there. For whatever reason, this is the weakest and least desired number of the 37 eligible options. Last season there were perhaps as few as five D-I players wearing 51 (Boston University's Max Mahoney, Butler's Nate Fowler, Drexel's James Butler, Iowa's Nicholas Baer and Michigan's Austin Davis). Nor is this shunning a recent development. One helpful archive on Kentucky basketball history reveals that, in the past 90 years of Wildcats hoops, only three players have worn the number. Media guides for UCLA and UConn likewise list a single No. 51 in each program's entire history. It is a rare look for a jersey.

Other Syracuse players mentioned:

00 Mike Gbinije
1 Hakim Warrick
22 Dave Bing
30 Billy Owens
31 Pearl Washington
44 Derrick Coleman

No mention of Sherman Douglas for 20? Come on, Greg Oden and LaPhonso Ellis rate ahead of Sherm? Bad call.

 

[jdubs30]

Melo over Kemba!

wooohooo

I believe Kemba said he wore 15 because of Melo

 

[Eric15]

That Sweet 16 game against Auburn was weird. Yes, we won by one point, but it was the least scary one point win in SU basketball history.

 

[moqui]

That Sweet 16 game against Auburn was weird. Yes, we won by one point, but it was the least scary one point win in SU basketball history.

that was a classic boeheim slide rule nail biter

i don't think auburn ever had the ball with a chance to win or tie. the okie state game was the one that almost got away.

 

[orange79]

That Sweet 16 game against Auburn was weird. Yes, we won by one point, but it was the least scary one point win in SU basketball history.

Exactly. They hit a 3 at the buzzer.

 

[Noexcuse]

Other Syracuse players mentioned:

00 Mike Gbinije
1 Hakim Warrick
22 Dave Bing
30 Billy Owens
31 Pearl Washington
44 Derrick Coleman

No mention of Sherman Douglas for 20? Come on, Greg Oden and LaPhonso Ellis rate ahead of Sherm? Bad call.

Lawrence Moten (21) should get a mention too. Left here as all-time leading scorer in Big East history. When the Big East was a thing.

 

[skurey]

Exactly. They hit a 3 at the buzzer.

Think we were up double digits with a minute to go and they hit like 5 3s at the end.

 

[OrangeDW]

Other Syracuse players mentioned:

00 Mike Gbinije
1 Hakim Warrick
22 Dave Bing
30 Billy Owens
31 Pearl Washington
44 Derrick Coleman

No mention of Sherman Douglas for 20? Come on, Greg Oden and LaPhonso Ellis rate ahead of Sherm? Bad call.

Greg Oden? That is truly horrific. Sherm is still 7th on the all time assists leaders, and that’s with being a backup to Pearl for a year.

 

[OrangeDW]

Is Shabazz Napier on there? UConn fans think current recruits grew up pretending to be him in their driveways.

 

[ROCcuse]

I believe Kemba said he wore 15 because of Melo

And we didn't recruit him?! Staff dropped the ball there . . .

 

[Alsacs]

Why are there only 37 eligible options?

Apparently referees and official score/timekeepers are too stupid to be able to use 2 hands to describe who a foul is on so they only want numbers that can be up to 5 to avoid confusion.
It’s so dumb and archaic.

With 3 referees it shouldn’t be hard to say the foul is on number 7 not 25.

So players in college can only have jerseys with the numbers 0-5 on them.

It’s just dumb. The NBA referees can handle this easily but lazy or dumb college referees your pick can’t do it.

 

[Noexcuse]

Apparently referees and official score/timekeepers are too stupid to be able to use 2 hands to describe who a foul is on so they only want numbers that can be up to 5 to avoid confusion.
It’s so dumb and archaic.

With 3 referees it shouldn’t be hard to say the foul is on number 7 not 25.

So players in college can only have jerseys with the numbers 0-5 on them.

It’s just dumb. The NBA referees can handle this easily but lazy or dumb college referees your pick can’t do it.

Mic the refs. I mean penalties are called on any number in the NFL and in college football.

 

[pfister1]

Mic the refs. I mean penalties are called on any number in the NFL and in college football.

I don't disagree, but in basketball it's important to note correctly who a foul is called on, while it is irrelevant in football....well at least until the film session the following Monday.