The 25 greatest mid-major college basketball players

Philadelphia boasts many sports superstars -- not even including Rocky Balboa -- and Gola is certainly one of the biggest, even if the name is not all too familiar to casual college hoops fan. He helped La Salle win the NIT championship in 1952, then the NCAA Tournament crown two years later. One of the most complete players of his day, Gola averaged 23.6 points in his last two collegiate seasons, and 18.7 career rebounds as the game’s first great swingman.

There's certainly an argument to be made that Russell was the most physically dominant college player of all time. Russell averaged just over 20 points and 20 rebounds during his time at San Francisco, but also led the Dons to consecutive national titles in 1955 and ’56. Like most of his other African-American teammates and basketball-playing contemporaries, Russell dealt with racism but managed to power through to build quite the legacy that is still felt and celebrated to this day.

The great Baylor’s path to Seattle University was quite interesting (starting at the tiny College of Idaho), but his Division I stardom began the moment he picked up a ball in the Emerald City. Baylor averaged 31.2 points and 19.8 rebounds in his two Division I collegiate seasons and helped Seattle reach the 1958 National Championship — which it lost to Kentucky. Baylor averaged 32.5 that season -- which remains the school's only advancement beyond the Sweet 16 in its history.

Arguably the most complete player ever to play college basketball. The “Big O” averaged 33.8 points, 15.2 rebounds and more than four assists during his three years with the Bearcats, when the program was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Robertson had 10 triple-doubles for his career, an achievement he would carry over often while playing in the NBA. Robertson, who left school as college basketball’s all-time leading scorer (2,973 points), led Cincinnati to two Final Four appearances — but never won a national championship.

Some only know Bradley as a famed senator and once presidential nominee, But, as sports fans know, he was a certified basketball star at Princeton. Bradley averaged 30.2 points and 12.1 rebounds, and despite being only 6-foot-5, was not afraid to get physical with any sized opponent. He helped the Tigers reach the Final Four in 1965, at which he was named MVP. Bradley scored 303 points in nine NCAA Tournament games and averaged 33.7 PPG.

Houston eventually earned power-league love by joining the old Southwest Conference in the mid-1970s, but before then, it bounced around a bit and spent nearly all of the 1960s as an independent. Hayes, meanwhile, was the program's first true superstar. Brought in by famed coach Guy V. Lewis, Hayes and teammate Don Chaney were the first African-Americans to play basketball at Houston. Hayes averaged 31.0 points as a Cougar, his career 358 points in the NCAA Tournament rank second and 222 rebounds in the Big Dance are No. 1 all-time. Hayes posted 39 points and 15 boards in the “Game of the Century,” when his Cougars topped Lew Alcindor and UCLA 71-69 at the Astrodome in January 1968, ending the Bruins’ 47-game winning streak.

Murphy checked in at 5-foot-9, but never got lost on an NCAA -- or NBA -- court. Hailing from Connecticut, Murphy played his college ball at Niagara, where he totaled 2,548 points (he scored 68 versus Syracuse as a junior) -- for a 33.1 average -- during his three seasons. Twice, Murphy was a consensus All-American (1969, '70) and helped lead the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance during his final season. An NBA All-Star, Murphy's No. 23 was retired by both Niagara and the Houston Rockets.

One of the great college players of the early 1970s, Ratleff was a two-time consensus All-American at then-Cal State-Long Beach. The 6-foot-6 swingman averaged 21.9 points and 47.9 percent shooting, while also dishing out 5.2 assists and 8.4 rebounds for his career. Ratleff helped lead Long Beach to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in each of his three seasons, and the Elite Eight twice. Ratleff also co-captained the 1972 United States Olympic team before playing five seasons in the NBA with Houston.

Williams isn't a household name when it comes to individual NCAA success, but in the annals of college basketball scoring, he was a stud. After he averaged 16.8 points as a freshman amid obscurity at Portland State, Williams put up more than 30 per game each of the next three seasons. Williams, who averaged 38.8 points on 49.8-percent shooting as junior, ranks third all-time in Division I with 3,249. He was selected eighth overall by Boston in the 1978 NBA Draft, and played for four teams through 1986.

As things played out, it can be argued that Bird is the greatest mid-major player of all time. Bird's Indiana State squad might have lost that memorable matchup with Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the 1979 National Championship game, but there weren't many other negative aspects to his collegiate career on the court. After leaving Indiana and eventually landing in Terre Haute, Bird averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and shot 53.3 percent while winning 81 games for the Sycamores and winning national player of the year in '79.

As a college player, Ainge might be best known for his coast-to-coast game-winning drive versus Notre Dame during the 1981 Sweet 16. However, he also won the Wooden Award, as the nation's top player, for averaging 24.4 points that season. Ainge, also a standout baseball player who spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays, ended his four-year career with the Cougars averaging 20.9 points, on 52.6-percent shooting, 4.6 assists and rebounds apiece, and 2.1 steals. 

Sister Jean might be the most recognized name associated with Loyola Chicago basketball, but Hughes could be the greatest player in the history of the program. Hughes was a dynamic scorer and a star in his freshman year. The program's all-time leading scorer with 2,906 points (24.2 ppg), the Chicago native was a three-time Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, a third-team All-American by The Associated Press in 1985 and also averaged 8.2 rebounds while playing just 6-5. 

No doubt, Robinson is the greatest non-football player in the history of service academy sports. At 7-1, Robinson dominated the paint for three seasons. Known as "The Admiral," Robinson averaged at least 22.7 points in his final three seasons, including 28.2 while being named Naismith Player of the Year in 1987. The Hall-of-Famer pulled down 13.0 boards per game in ’86, when the Midshipmen reached the Elite Eight, and averaged 4.1 blocks for his career.

Another Chicago product and pure scorer, Hawkins hit the floor shooting from Game 1 at Bradley University. Hawkins started all 125 games he played for the Braves, and from his sophomore to junior seasons, raised his scoring average from 18.7 points to 27.2. Then as a senior, Hawkins was the nation's top scorer and player of the year by averaging 36.1 points in 1987-88. Hawkins' 3,008 career points ranked fourth all time at the time he left Bradley. He also shot a brilliant career 53.9 percent from the field, was an 80.6-percent free-throw shooter, and added 6.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals as a Brave. 

Another Philadelphia hoops legend, Simmons stayed home and dominated at La Salle for four seasons. Currently, Simmons' 3,217 career points rank fifth all time. He averaged at least 20 points each of his four seasons for the Explorers, and 24.6 for his career, while shooting 50.1 percent -- 41.5 percent from 3-point range -- as a 6-6 forward. He also recorded 1,429 rebounds, making him the first player in NCAA history to top 3,000 points and 1,100 boards. As a senior in 1989-90, Simmons was named Naismith College Player of the Year and won the Wooden Award for averaging 26.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.9 steals.

The sky seemed limitless for Gathers, the Philadelphia product who began his career USC, then became a college legend down the way at Loyola Marymount. Right up to his tragic death on the court at the West Coast Conference tournament in 1990, he was among the best players in the game. As a junior in 1988-89, the hulking 6-7 Gathers became the second Division I player to lead the nation in both scoring (32.7 ppg) and rebounding (13.7). For his 89-game career over three seasons with the Lions, Gathers totaled 2,257 points (25.4 ppg) and 985 boards (11.1 rpg). He was the WCC Player of the Year in 1989 and earned All-American recognition in '89 and '90.

The first of two Runnin' Rebels stars we'll highlight. Though not a flashy player, the 6-8 Augmon might be the most complete defensive performer on this list. A three-year starter at UNLV, Augmon averaged nearly 14 points for his career, shot 55.5 percent, pulled down almost 7 rebounds and dished out 3 assists per game. He also averaged 2 steals for his career, and was a three-time defensive player of the year, as given by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Augmon was the Big West Player of the Year in 1988-89, while averaging career-highs of 15.3 points and 7.4 rebounds, and helped UNLV win the 1990 national championship.

A junior college transfer, Johnson played just two seasons at UNLV, but still might be the greatest player in the history of that program. In those two seasons, Johnson, 6-7 with the body of a linebacker, averaged 21.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists. His thunderous dunks were a staple of the Runnin' Rebels, who won a national title in 1990 with Johnson leading the way and were stunned in the 1991 Final Four by Duke. A two-time consensus All-American and national player of the year in 1991, Johnson is a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Camby's progression from serviceable Division I performer to star was quite impressive. He averaged 10.2 points and 6.4 boards as a freshman for UMass, and two seasons later was the country's best player putting up 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.9 blocks and 1.8 assists while leading his team to the Final Four. Of course, that Final Four appearance was vacated when the NCAA found out that Camby had taken money from some sports agents. But, this list is about what players did on the court, and Camby was one of the best.  

Sure, it's no longer fair to call Gonzaga a mid-major program, and even during the middle portion of the 2000s, one would be on the fence about doing so. For our sake, we'll still consider the Zags a mid-major at the time, and Morrison, complete with the bushy hair, stache and sweat socks, might be the best of those standout Gonzaga players. He totaled more than 1,800 points, while shooting 50.3 percent, during his three seasons at Gonzaga. As a junior in 2005-06, Morrison was the nation's top scorer at 28.1 points per contest, the West Coast Conference Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.  

In his second-ever college game in 2006, Curry scored 32 points versus Michigan. He would score 30 or more 15 times during his three brilliant seasons at Davidson. The current NBA superstar totaled 2,635 points, while shooting 46.7 percent overall and 41.2 from 3-point range, for his career at the small school coached by the legendary Bob McKillop. In 2008-09, Curry's 28.6 scoring average led the nation. In the final two of his three college seasons, Curry earned All-American recognition and set the stage for his Hall-of-Fame professional career.

In just two seasons at Butler, Hayward etched himself a rather legendary career. A smooth shooter and pesky performer, Hayward averaged 14.4 points on 47-percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from distance in those two seasons. He also averaged 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists. In 2010, Hayward, the Horizon League Player of the Year, nearly led Butler to an upset of Duke in the national championship game, but his last-second heave from half-court hit the backboard and the rim before falling off. 

A three-time, first-team All-Mountain West Conference performer, Fredette might be the greatest player in BYU history -- from a statistical standpoint. Fredette is the Mountain West leader in career points (2,599) and was the nation's top scorer in 2010-11, when he averaged 28.9 points during his All-American campaign. Fredette shot 45.5 percent overall and 39.4 percent from 3-point range in four college seasons, and also dished out 5 assists per game for his career.

McDermott's collegiate success transcends the status of one's college. He's one of three players to record at least 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. His 3,150 points, spanning 145 games and four seasons, rank among the most in NCAA history, In addition, McDermott, who shot a ridiculous 55 percent overall and 45.8 percent from 3-point range for his career, recorded an NCAA-best 135 double-figure games, and named a first-team All-American by The Associated Press three times for the Bluejays. In 2013-14, McDermott averaged a nation-best 26.7 points.

Taking advantage of the extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis ranks second all time with 3,664 points -- just three behind the great Pete Maravich. The 6-1 Davis averaged 25.4 points while starting all 144 games he played for Detroit over a span of five seasons. His 28.3 average led the nation in 2022-23. Though not the best shooter (40.8), Davis did connect on 37.5 percent of his 3-point attempts in college. He was a five-time first-team All-Horizon League selection and two-time conference player of the year (2022, '23).