The 25 greatest players in Arizona men's basketball history

It can be argued that McCray, a Tucson native, was the first true star to come out of the Arizona program. During his three seasons with the Wildcats during the late 1950s and at the dawn of the '60s, McCray averaged 17.8 points (tied for seventh all-time in school history) and 10.8 rebounds (second all-time in school history). A member of the University of Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame, McCray was the first player in program history to score 500 points in a season. He was also a two-time All-Border Conference selection.

When Fleming's stellar four-season run at Arizona came to an end, he was the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,765 points. Entering the 2023-24 season, Fleming still resides in the top 10 of that category, and remains the school's career leader with 1,190 rebounds and 63 double-doubles. In addition, Fleming ranks in Arizona's basketball top 10 for made field goals (688), field goal percentage (58.3), made free throws (389) and average rebounds (10.4). In 2021, Fleming was inducted into the University of Arizona Athletics Ring of Honor.

Known as "Big Bird," due to a 6-foot-10 frame that made Elliott a rather dominant force for the Wildcats. In the annals of Arizona basketball, Elliott is the only player to reach the 2,000-point mark and 1,000-rebound milestone. He sits second in both categories with 2,131 points and 1,083 rebounds. Recognized as an All-American from various organizations, Elliott was also a three-time Academic All-American while starring for the Wildcats. Elliott also ranks among the school's career top five in scoring average (18.7 ppg), made field goals (808), made free throws (515) and average rebounds (10.8).

It's still quite remarkable that Kerr made 53.7 percent of his 3-point attempts (114-of-199) during the 1987-88 season — his final one at Arizona and the school's first that resulted in a Final Four appearance. That was a national single-season record, and etched his legacy of greatness that was established at Arizona. The two-time, First Team All-Pac-10 performer was a 54.8 percent overall shooter for his career and earned second-team All-American status from The Associated Press during that stellar senior season. Kerr's No. 25 was retired by the school.

Arguably the greatest player in the history of the Arizona basketball program. A two-time All-American, Elliott is the Wildcats' all-time leader with 2,555 points spanning four seasons, during which he started all 133 games played. In addition, Elliott holds school records for career made field goals (892) and made free throws (623). He also ranks within Arizona's top 10 in career scoring average (19.2 ppg), 3-point field-goal percentage (42.8), minutes (4,499), rebounds (808) and games started. A two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year, Elliott was named AP Player of the Year and winner of the Wooden Award for the 1988-89 season, when he averaged 22.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Elliott's No. 32 was retired by the school. 

Mills' college career got off to a rough start. Following a solid 1988-89 freshman season at Kentucky, Mills was kicked off the team for his alleged involvement in receiving payments from a booster. However, after sitting out the next season, Mills resurfaced at Arizona, where he found a home for three seasons. He started all 94 games he played with the Wildcats and was a two-time, First Team All-Pac-10 performer. Mills enjoyed his best collegiate season in his last, averaging a career-high 20.4 points, plus 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, while earning Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1992-93. He ranks among the school's top 10 in career scoring average (17.2 ppg) and made field goals (615)

Reeves certainly built his way up to star status during four splendid seasons with the Wildcats. When it was all said and done, the 6-1 Queens native totaled 1,925 points, which rank fifth in school history. Reeves also ranks among the school's top 10 in made field goals (646), made 3-pointers (186), made free throws (447) and steals (187). His best season came as a senior in 1993-94, when he averaged career highs of 24.2 points (for a school-record 848 total points) and 4.3 rebounds, while also recording 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game to earn First Team All-Pac-10 honors, consensus second-team All-American recognition and helping the Wildcats reach the Final Four for the second time.

Part of that stellar backup with the aforementioned Khalid Reeves, Stoudamire was a three-time, First Team All-Pac-10 performer for the Wildcats. He's also right behind Reeves on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,849 points. Not to mention, Stoudamire sits third in school history with 272 made 3-pointers and within the all-time top 10 for making 40.2 percent of his 3-point attempts. In addition, he's among the program's career leaders in assists (663) and steals (174). In 1994-95, Stoudamire was the Pac-10 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American for averaging 22.8 points, while making 46.5 percent of his 3-point attempts, with 7.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

College basketball fans of a certain age might forget that Dickerson was the leading scorer on Arizona's only national championship team from 1997, the one that stunned favored and defending champion Kentucky in overtime to win it all. Dickerson averaged a career-high 18.9 points. Over four seasons with the Wildcats, Dickerson posted 1,791 points, which rank among the school's all-time top 10. A two-time, First Team All-Pac-10 selection, Dickerson was named a third-team All-American for the 1997-98 campaign, during which he averaged 18.0 points, while shooting 51.0 percent from the field, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

While Simon might be best remembered for his two 30-point games in the 1997 NCAA Tournament and earning Most Outstanding Players honors during the Wildcats' run to the national championship, he was a pretty established performer throughout his four seasons at Arizona. For his career, the 1998 consensus All-American totaled 1,664 points, shot 46.3 percent from the field and 37.4 from beyond the arc. He also ranks among the school's top 10 in career made free throws (402). Simon's No. 34 was retired by the school.

The son of former NBA star Henry Bibby needed just 69 collegiate games — all starts — to build his own legacy at Arizona. While helping the Wildcats win their only national championship to conclude the 1996-97 season, Bibby averaged 13.5 points while shooting 39.4 percent from 3-point range, and 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals to win Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. The next season, Bibby won Pac-10 Player of the Year for averaging 17.2 points and making 38.7 percent of his 3-point attempts, to go along with 5.7 assists and 2.4 steals per contest. The All-American's No. 10 was retired by the school.

Terry proved to be a key reserve on a the 1996-97 national championship team, but by the time he was a senior, he solidified himself as one of the greats in Arizona basketball history. As a senior in 1998-99, Terry averaged 21.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3,3 rebounds and 2.8 steals — while also shooting 40 percent from 3-point range — en route to being named Pac-10 Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. Terry is Arizona's career leader with 245 steals, and also ranks within the school's top 10 in made 3-pointers (193) and assists (493). Terry's No. 31 was retired by the program.

Arizona's most recent trip to the Final Four came in 2001, and Arenas played a big part in that run. After he averaged 15.4 points and shot 45.3 percent as a freshman, Arenas earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors for averaging 16.2 points while shooting 48 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from beyond the arc, plus 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists, during his second and final season with the Wildcats. Twice Arenas topped the 20-point mark (21 each time) during that special 2001 NCAA Tournament.

Peruse the Arizona basketball record books and Gardner's name will turn up quite often. Spanning his brilliant four-year college career, which featured three First-Team All-Pac-10 selections, Gardner ranks among the school's top five in career scoring (1,984), made 3-pointers (318), made free throws (516), assists (622) and steals (225). Gardner is also the school's all-time leader in 3-point field-goal attempts (875), games started (135), minutes played (4,825) and average minutes (35.5). A third-team All-American in 2002 and consensus second-team All-American in 2003, Gardner's No. 22 was retired by Arizona.

Luke might be the son of UCLA and NBA great Bill Walton, but he certainly made his own name while at Arizona. After spending his first two college seasons mostly coming off the bench providing solid minutes and playing quality defense, Walton was a First-Team All-Pac-10 selection in each of his final two years with the Wildcats. As a junior in 2001-02, Walton averaged career highs of 15.7 points on 47-percent shooting, with 7.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists. He currently ranks among the school's career top 10 in assists (582).

Iguodala's stats over his two seasons at Arizona weren't eye-popping, but in terms of pure talent, he's considered one of the best to ever come out of the program. In his two seasons spanning 62 games, Iguodala averaged just 9.6 points. However, he was team MVP for the 2003-04 season, his last with the Wildcats, while averaging 12.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals and recording three double-doubles. As active and well-rounded a player as they came, Iguodala was also recognized as a First-Team Pac-10 performer and honorable mention All-American by The Associated Press in his final college campaign.

Frye enjoyed both individual and team success while at Arizona. A member of two Elite Eight teams, Frye was twice named a First Team All-Pac-10 performer (2004, '05). That's after he being part of the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team in 2022. For his career, Frye ranks among the school's top 10 in scoring (1,789), made field goals (707), field goal percentage (56.2), rebounds (975), blocks (258), games started (119), minutes (3,686) and double-doubles (30). He recorded eight of those double-doubles during 12 NCAA Tournament contests.

Cousin of the aforementioned Damon Stoudamire, Salim enjoyed a stellar four-year career at Arizona. His 1,960 career points rank fourth in school history, and he's the Wildcats' all-time leader with 342 made 3-pointers, while second at 45.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. In addition, Stoudamire ranks among the Arizona top 10 in made free throws (388), free throw percentage (87.0) and starts (109). The Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2002, Stoudamire was a First Team All-Pac-10 pick and consensus second-team All-American in 2004-05, when his shot in the final seconds against Oklahoma State sent Arizona to the Elite Eight.

The Wildcats have produced some notable one-and-done performers worthy of earning a spot on this list. Bayless gets our vote. In his only collegiate season of 2007-08, Bayless averaged 19.7 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field and 40.7 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. With that offensive effort, Bayless became the first Wildcats freshman since Sean Elliott to lead the team in scoring and earn MVP honors. Bayless also averaged 4.0 assists and almost three rebounds per game, plus 1.0 steals before heading to the NBA.

Only Sean Elliott (1,820) and Bob Elliott (1,701) have scored more points in their first three seasons at Arizona than Budinger, who totaled 1,697 during his three-year career with the Wildcats. Budinger — who ranks among the school's all-time top 10 in scoring average (17.0 ppg), made 3-pointers (190) and average minutes (35.4) — was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2006-07, a third-team all-league pick the next season and First-Team All-Pac-10 selection in his final 2008-09 campaign. The former California Mr. Basketball shot 47 percent from the field for his career and 38.3 percent from 3-point range.

Williams certainly enjoyed a high level of success in just two seasons at Arizona. He was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2009-10, when he averaged 15.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, while starting all but one of the 31 games he played. A season later, Williams was even better, averaging 19.5 points, on 59.5-percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year and a consensus second-team All-American. Williams' career 17.8 scoring average is tied for seventh-best in school history, while his 58.6 field goal percentage ranks fourth. He was a two-time, First-Team All-Pac-10 each season.

In three seasons at Arizona, Johnson got it done at both ends of the floor. However, he should go down as one of the great defenders in school history. He was twice a member of the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, but also honored as the conference's player of the year and a consensus All-American for the 2013-14 campaign. That season, his last with the Wildcats, Johnson averaged 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists. For his college career, Johnson totaled 1,333 points, shot 36 percent from 3-point range, recorded 304 assists and 137 steals.

Hard-nosed, in your face, and ready to give it all for the cause. McConnell's college career began in his native Pittsburgh at Duquesne, which was a quite successful two-year run. However, after transferring to Arizona, McConnell's national notoriety rose to significant levels. He started all 74 games he played in two seasons for the Wildcats, was twice named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and earned honorable mention All-American recognition from the AP in his senior season of 2014-15. That season, McConnell averaged 10.4 points, while shooting 49.8 percent from the field, and 6.3 assists, 3.8 boards and 2.2 steals for an Arizona squad that started 21-0 and reached the Elite Eight.

Ayton's lone season at Arizona was truly something special. In 35 games during the 2017-18 season, the 7'1" Ayton averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds 1.9 blocks and 1.6 assists to win Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and earn consensus All-American honors. Ayton's 405 rebounds are a school record for a single season, while his 276 made field goals are tied for the most by any Wildcat during a one-year span. Meanwhile, his 704 points rank fifth for any one season by an Arizona player.

The potential for this Canadian wonder was there during his freshman season of 2020-21, but Mathurin elevated his game to an All-American level the next season, his last as a Wildcat. Mathurin averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals to earn Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. That was good enough for Mathurin to jump ship to the NBA. In two seasons, Mathurin put up some impressive numbers, like shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.