The 20 greatest players in LSU men's basketball history

It can be argued that Dean was LSU's first basketball star. Sure, he may not have been held in as high regard as others on this list, but Dean could certainly play the game at a high level — for the time. For his three college seasons, Dean totaled 1,116 points, and his 14.7 points per game scoring average was the highest in Tigers history at the time. A two-time All-SEC performer, Dean was the first LSU basketball to be selected in the NBA Draft. He later returned to his alma mater as athletic director, a spot he held from 1987-2000.

A Hall of Famer in every sense, Pettit is simply one of the greatest basketball players — at the college and pro level — of all time. He ranks among the school's top six in both career scoring (1,916 points) and rebounding (1,039). A three-time, First Team All-SEC selection, Pettit helped the Tigers to a pair of conference titles and their first Final Four berth in 1953. In 1954, Pettit was an undeniable force while averaging 31.4 points and 17.3 rebounds to earn first-team All-American honors. Pettit was also the first LSU basketball player to have his number retired by the program.

Simply put, the man known as "Pistol Pete" might be the greatest college basketball player of all time. Three pages of the LSU basketball record book are devoted to Maravich's list of accomplishments while playing for his father Press, the grandest being his NCAA record for career points (3,667), for a ridiculous 44.2 ppg average. The 6-foot-5 inch shooting whiz led the nation in scoring for each of his three seasons — back at a time when freshman couldn't play varsity ball. He scored more than 60 points in a game three times, highlighted by a school-record 69 versus Alabama in February 1970. Maravich was a three-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year who never played in the NCAA Tournament. The Hall of Famer had his number retired in 1970, and a statue unveiled on the LSU campus in 2022.

Outside of Baton Rouge and his hometown of Owensboro, Ky., Higgs might not be a notable name. However, within the annals of LSU basketball, Higgs is the school's all-time leader with 645 assists, and ranks among the top 10 in scoring (1,896 points). During his sophomore 1975-76 season, Higgs averaged 22.2 points and 6.7 assists. A season later, Higgs dished out 239 assists for an average of 8.9 per contest. For his career, Higgs averaged 6.1 assists. He recorded 19 against Mississippi State in 1978.

The recruit that helped LSU earn national team prominence under legendary coach Dale Brown. A product of Louisville, Ky., Macklin shunned his vaunted hometown collegiate power to take a chance on the Tigers. The result was one of the great college careers in program history. In his first college game, the 6-foot-7 Macklin grabbed 32 rebounds. After missing most of the 1978-79 season due to injury, Macklin returned to earn All-American status in 1980 and '81, and help the Tigers reach the Final Four during the latter season. Macklin, whose number was retired by the school in 2010, ranks second at LSU in points (2,080) and is the program's all-time leader with 1,217 boards.

Only three other players in LSU history have scored more points than the man known as "Hi-C." Carter posted 1,942 points while starring for the Tigers during the early 1980s. He averaged 10 points as a freshman, then he put up 16.0 points per game while pulling down 4.1 rebounds a contest while helping the Tigers reach the 1981 Final Four. Carter was named to three All-SEC teams, and a first-teamer in 1981-82, when he averaged 17.6 points 4.1 boards. Carter's 4,276 career minutes played are the most in school history. 

The Brooklyn native put together a solid career at LSU after transferring from Wisconsin. Upon completion of his three seasons with the Tigers, Reynolds was among the school's all-time top 10 in steals (194). During his redshirt freshman season at LSU in 1982-83, Reynolds averaged 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and posted a team-high 65 steals. One of the great defensive players in school history, Reynolds averaged team highs in points (14.2), rebounding (8.2) and had 81 steals as a sophomore, while shooting 52.8 percent. Though Reynolds' numbers dropped as a junior (11.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg), he still starred on the defensive end of the floor. For his career, Reynolds totaled 1,071 points and 613 rebounds.

Chris Jackson was his name while playing at LSU, and then he became Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. His run with the Tigers was just two seasons, but was good enough to laud Jackson as one of the best players in college basketball in the late 1980s and early '90s. Jackson's 1,854 career points rank eighth at LSU, and produced a 29.0 scoring average. He shot 47.4 percent during his 64-game LSU career and was named SEC Player of the Year in each of his college seasons. He's still the only freshman to average at least 30 points (30.2) for a collegiate season. He topped the 40-point mark 11 times and more than 50 on four occasions. 

One of the most famous sports personalities on the planet, Shaq began his path to basketball dominance and acclaim at LSU. A 7-foot-1 superstar known for his thundering dunks and massive physical play, O'Neal was the twice-named SEC Player of the year (1991, '92). In 1990-91, Shaq received national player-of-the-year recognition while averaging 27.6 points and 14.7 rebounds, both career highs. In three seasons for the Tigers, O'Neal ranks among the school's top five in scoring (1,941 points), rebounding (1,217) and is the leader with 412 blocks. His number was retired by the school in 2000.

A native of Shreveport, Swift spent just two seasons with the Tigers. However, he had a major hand in taking LSU from a last-place SEC finish in 1998-99 to winning the conference title the next season. In 1999-2000, Swift led the team in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (8.2 rpg), field goal percentage (60.8) and blocked shots (95), while being named Co-SEC Player of the Year and earning consensus second-team All-American honors. In a career that spanned 50 games, Swift ranks among the school's top 10 with a 56.0 field-goal percentage and sits fourth all-time at LSU with 130 blocks.

Rather quietly, Dupree put together an impressive career at LSU. Through 129 games, spanning his four college seasons, Dupree totaled 1,726 points and 907 rebounds — both among the top 10 in school history. As a sophomore in 2000-01, Dupree led the SEC in scoring (17.3 ppg) and finished second in rebounding (8.8 rpg) — both career-high averages. Twice Dupree was a Second Team All-SEC selection (2002, '03) and also received a third-team nod (2001), even if those outside of Baton Rouge might not remember him. 

Another player who didn't spend a lot of time with the Tigers but made the most of the opportunity. In two seasons, Bass started all but one of the 59 games he played, and averaged 15.1 points, while shooting 54 percent, and 8.2 rebounds. After being named SEC Rookie of the Year in 2004, Bass took it one step further and earned SEC Player of the Year honors for the 2004-05 season, averaging 17.3 points on 56.7 percent shooting from the field and going 12-of-26 from beyond the 3-point arc, in addition to pulling down 9.1 rebounds per contest. His 104 career blocks rank among the school's top 10.

The hometown Baton Rouge product known as "Big Baby." Davis enjoyed a stellar three-season career at LSU, averaging 16.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per contest. A massive, 6-foot-8 post presence, Davis was the SEC Rookie of the Year in 2005 and the league's player of the year in 2006, when he averaged 18.6 points and 9.7 rebounds while helping lead LSU to its most recent Final Four appearance in 2006. Davis, who then averaged a double-double during the 2006-07 campaign, ranks among the school's top 10 in career rebounds (916) and blocks (110).

Mitchell should be known for more than just hitting one of the biggest shots in LSU basketball history. Yes, it was his last-second 3-pointer in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament that sent LSU past Texas A&M during a run that reached the Final Four. However, the unassuming Mitchell was a team leader, glue guy and one of the most important players in program history. Mitchell — who averaged career highs with 16.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals during that magical 2005-06 season for the Tigers — ranks among the school's top 10 in assists (367) and steals (219).

One season was all it took for Thomas to earn his place among LSU's hardcourt greats. As a redshirt freshman in 2005-06, the 6-foot-9 Thomas broke out, notably for his ability to play at and above the rim en route to be being named SEC Freshman of the Year. In 32 games, Thomas averaged 12.3 points, while shooting 60.8 percent, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. However, it was his performance in the NCAA Tournament that essentially paved the way for Thomas to become an NBA lottery pick after that season. He pulled down 13 rebounds and recorded five blocks as LSU stunned No. 1 Duke in the Sweet 16, then scored 21 and grabbed another 13 boards — while also blocking three shots — as the Tigers punched their ticket to the Final Four with a win over Texas in the regional finals. Thomas' 99 blocked shots that season still rank among the top 10 on the school's career list.

It can be argued that Temple is the best defender in the history of the LSU basketball program. Sure, that's saying quite a lot, but Temple is among the school's all-time leaders with 191 steals and was an integral part — as a freshman — of the LSU squad that allowed an average of 58.8 points and 40.4 opponents' field-goal percentage during its NCAA Tournament run to the Final Four in 2005-06. In 2008-09, Temple was named a member of the All-SEC Defensive Team when he set career highs for averages in rebounds (4.5), steals (1.7), assists (3.8) and points (7.1). Temple started 131 of the 134 games he played over four seasons.

Another Baton Rouge product, this Mitchell was known for his offensive process. His 1,989 career points rank behind only Pete Maravich and Rudy Macklin on the school's all-time scoring list. That was good for a 14.5 point average, to go along with his 46.5 shooting percentage from the field and 34.5 percent from 3-point range. Mitchell averaged 11.4 points while starting all 36 games on the Tigers' 2005-06 Final Four team. After missing most of his junior season (2007-08) due to leg and ankle injuries, Mitchell returned to average 16.3 points the next year and career bests of 16.8 and 9.4 rebounds in his final 2009-10 campaign.

Thornton's career began at a junior college in Texas, and then he truly made a name for himself at LSU. In two seasons, he averaged 20.4 points on 45.5-percent shooting, plus 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists through 66 games — with 65 starts. In 2008-09, Thornton was named SEC Player of the Year while averaging 21.1 points, and shooting betting than 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range, along with 6.9 boards. He's another example of a player who did not need a lot of time to etch his name into the annals of LSU basketball history

Simmons has taken his lumps as a pro, but there has been plenty of good when it comes to that portion of his basketball legacy. On the college level, Simmons' one-and-done campaign certainly deems him worthy of being among the greatest players in LSU history. Though the Tigers went a disappointing 19-14 during that much-hyped 2015-16 season, the 6-10 Simmons earned first-team All-American honors for averaging 19.2 points — while shooting 56.0 percent from the field — 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals. Simmons' 199 made free throws rank third in LSU history. 

One of the most recent stars for the Tigers, Mays twice earned All-SEC honors and totaled 1,617 points, good enough for 10th in school history entering the 2023-24 season. Mays started 121 of the 130 games he played at LSU. He also ranks among the school's all-time top 10 in assists (382) and steals (213). As a senior in 2019-20, Mays averaged career highs of 16.7 points, while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from 3-point range, and 5.0 rebounds. He was also a three-time Academic All-American.