Who is on each Big East team’s Mount Rushmore since 2000?

In college sports, we only get around four or fewer years to truly appreciate the great players and that’s no different in basketball. This particular sport has had such immense change over recent years that it’s barely recognizable compared to the product from 10 or 20 years ago.

You could certainly make this argument about the Big East, a conference that boasted 16 teams in the early parts of the century before realignment really changed things. The conference was recreated with 10 teams in 2013 and added UConn a few years later, but the quality of basketball remains excellent.

Notable programs like Cincinnati, Louisville, and Syracuse may be gone, but the quality remains. The Big East is that non-football power conference that tends to get overlooked, but with four national championships in the last ten years it’s pretty hard to ignore, especially with what UConn and Villanova have been cooking.

Whether you’re considering the recent days or the Big East teams of old, some outstanding players have come through these schools over the years. We’ll be taking on another big task today, figuring out the best of the best from each of those schools with a Mount Rushmore from each one.

Each of the current 11 Big East members has played competitive basketball at a high level, though some have been more successful than others. We’ll dive into those talent pools and come up with our Mount Rushmores, even considering some great players from before these schools were in this league.

At the turn of the century, Butler was a Horizon League program with a historic arena known for a few notable postseason runs. Brad Stevens would change the trajectory of the program, leading the Bulldogs to two trips to the national title game as the program later transitioned to the Big East in 2013.

Gordon Hayward

Quite simply the most recognizable Bulldog in recent memory, Hayward is a 6-8 forward from nearby Brownsburg who truly shined in his brief time at Butler. He took on an important role during the most productive era in program history and was inches away from one of the sport’s most incredible shots.

The Horizon League Rookie of the Year in 2009 thanks to a brilliant start, Hayward’s second season was even more notable, averaging 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as the league’s Player of the Year. After those accolades, he would help take Butler all the way to the national title game, with a 22-point effort against Kansas State in the Elite Eight.

In more ways than one Hayward was the breakout start of a breakout season for the Bulldogs. He’d head to the NBA after his sophomore year and put together quite a career there, but clearly his two years in college ball won’t soon be forgotten. Hayward’s play impressed many and helped spearhead that history at Butler in 2010.

Matt Howard

Another major part of that historic run for the Bulldogs, Howard originally arrived in Indianapolis in 2007. By the time his four-year career came to an end he helped rewrite the record books for this program, starting over 130 games as well grabbing a ton of accolades.

Howard was actually named Horizon League Player of the Year as a sophomore, but it’s his upperclassman years that stand out. Howard helped the Bulldogs to the national title game in a smaller role as a junior before magically repeating the feat in 2011. That second deep Tourney run featured a buzzer beater over Old Dominion in the first round, while he also put up 16.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in an efficient campaign.

In his four years of college ball, Howard was part of 11 wins in the NCAA Tournament and that’s clearly an insane accomplishment for a Horizon League squad. He’s sitting pretty among the Bulldogs’ all-time leaders in points, rebounds, and blocks and was a significant piece of that frontcourt during all of his seasons at Butler.

Shelvin Mack

It wasn’t just forwards getting Butler through those deep Tournament runs, Mack played a significant part from the backcourt. Another major threat on both of those teams, Mack’s career began in 2008 before heading to the pros a year early though not before being a major asset on both Final Four runs.

Mack started all but one of the 108 games he played for the Bulldogs. He developed into one of the Horizon League’s top scoring assets and would eventually average 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his junior year. He had a swath of impressive showings in the Big Dance, including a 30-point game in their upset over Pittsburgh, and was actually named to the prestigious All-NCAA Tournament team twice in a row.

There have been Bulldogs with better statistics or personal accolades over the last quarter century but it’s hard to compare to Mack’s vital role on those deep Tournament runs. Butler’s success transcends beyond these two seasons but it’s hard not to prop up these heroes, especially with the games that Mack put together.

Kelan Martin

The lone inclusion not from those miracle runs in the early 2010’s, Martin showed up a few years later and was a major part of Chris Holtmann’s revival with the program. A 6-6 forward from Louisville, he arrived with Holtmann in 2014 with the Bulldogs coming off a disappointing season but would embody their return to prominence.

Martin played a decent role off the bench early in his career but turned into a notable scorer in the Big East by his upperclassman years. He earned three straight All-Big East honors and helped Butler to the Sweet Sixteen as a junior but really exploded as a senior, putting up 21.2 points and 6.3 rebounds under new coach LaVall Jordan.

His 2,047 career points rank second all-time in program history and that senior year is one of the best offensive seasons from any Bulldog. In addition to being a fantastic scorer and shooter, Martin was part of four straight NCAA Tournament teams, and the Bulldogs actually have not returned to the Big Dance since his departure in 2018.

No program has taken off over the last thirty years more than these Huskies, and that success has come both under Jim Calhoun and more recently with Dan Hurley. We’re looking at four legends in this program and all have contributed to those recent national championships, with UConn boasting five since the turn of the century alone.

Alex Karaban

A 6-8 forward originally from Southborough, Massachusetts, you could easily argue that Karaban was just another frontcourt prospect when he joined the Huskies in 2021; after all he even redshirted his freshman season. What followed would be a dynamic and successful four-year career in which he started 150 games and made plenty of history.

Karaban earned several Big Eats honors over the next four seasons and won national titles with UConn as both a freshman and sophomore. His best personal figures came with 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game as a junior, though senior year ended in a similar place, helping take the Huskies all the way to the national title game for a third time.

Thanks to his brilliant work across those three deep Tourney runs, Karaban was an iconic person in Storrs these last four years. He’s among the program’s top scorers and that’s not a surprise with all those postseason opportunities. He didn’t have the flashiest numbers on those teams but was a major reason that this all happened for the Huskies.

Shabazz Napier

A former Top 100 prospect also out of Massachusetts, Napier was seen as a dynamic guard with potential and the Huskies certainly unlocked that during his career. He began his career during Jim Calhoun’s final seasons and won a national championship in 2011 as a freshman coming off the bench.

Napier was a major contributor throughout his time in Storrs in the Huskies’ final years in the Big East, though his senior year really stands out for good reason. Napier averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists and was named AAC Player of the Year and a First Team All-American. More importantly, he took UConn to another national title and was the 2014 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

No Huskies player has record more points or steals since the turn of the century than Napier and that’s just the counting stats. He was a key weapon on two different championship teams and was one of the most impressive point guards of the 2010’s, with that final season really standing as one of the best we’ve seen in recent memory.

Emeka Okafor

Okafor was a fringe Top 100 prospect when he arrived from Houston all the way back in 2001 but his accomplishments have ensured that nobody has forgotten a career that ended more than two decades ago. After all, he started all 103 games he’d play over three impressive seasons and finished his career on top of the college basketball world.

Quite frankly, Okafor was among the best rebounders and shot blockers in the entire nation throughout his career. His offensive game really took a step forward as a sophomore, though that third year clearly stands alone. Okafor put up 17.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game, leading the entire nation in total blocks for a second year. He was a First Team All-American and won national Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Lost in his defensive prowess and rim protection is the fact that Okafor spearheaded the Huskies to the national title in 2004, claiming the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player nod that year. He was a powerful frontcourt athlete and had one of the most productive careers in UConn history, holding the career blocks lead despite playing just three seasons. After all, he’d become the 2^nd pick in the NBA Draft just a few months later.

Kemba Walker

Another household name who spent just three seasons with the Huskies, Walker is a 6-1 guard from the Bronx who made his way to UConn back in 2008. Considered an elite prospect, he took on a decent role off the bench as a freshman during a Final Four season and then developed into one of the best backcourt pieces in the nation.

Walker’s numbers exploded from there, leading the Big East in steals as a sophomore before all those accolades in 2011. He averaged 23.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game and became a First Team All-American even before leading the Huskies all the way to the national championship, with impressive showings throughout that run.

While this program has had great success, no player can match just what Walker accomplished during that junior year on the basketball court. He became the epitome of must-watch basketball, with game-winning shots and game-changing plays. He’d become a lottery pick a few months later but built an undeniable legacy that remains strong 15 years later.

Following some incredible work as members of the Missouri Valley Conference, Creighton transitioned into the Big East in 2013 and have spent most of that time as legitimate contenders in this league. We’re looking at some really fantastic players from before, during, and after that transition and all of these names should be recognizable to most college basketball fans.

Ryan Kalkbrenner

Unquestionably one of the most dominant and impactful defensive players in recent times, Kalkbrenner was a beacon for the Bluejays across five productive seasons. The 7-footer from St. Louis arrived during the pandemic in 2020 and got that bonus season and built himself quite the career.

Kalkbrenner was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year for four straight seasons, led the league in field goal percentage four times, and blocks three times. He was a major contributor on an Elite Eight run as a junior and five straight trips to the Big Dance, notably averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in an All-American season in 2025.

Second all-time in Creighton history in points, rebounds, and blocked shots, Kalkbrenner left no doubt that he was one of the best defensive weapons in this sport year after year. He used his size magnificently and developed into an elite scorer and rim protector and was massive during that run of success for the Bluejays.

Kyle Korver

While likely less known among younger fans today, Korver was one of the game’s best pure shooters during his time in Creighton more than two decades ago. He was part of some MVC success, arriving way back in 1999 before departing for the NBA four years later, which plenty of scoring in between.

Korver led Dana Altman’s program to four straight trips to the Big Dance and was twice named MVC Player of the Year. He was among the nation’s best from long-range twice in his career and had solid steals figures as well. In his All-American senior season, Korver put up 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds with a staggering 48% mark from beyond the arc.

His 1,801 points put him in pretty good shape among the program’s leaders and we can’t forget those four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. Korver was quite frankly the best sharpshooter that has ever come through Creighton, making 45.3% of his 3-pointers across his career before a 17-year sojourn in the NBA.

Doug McDermott

No matter how you say it, McDermott had one of the most productive careers in college basketball since the turn of the century. He scored a ton of points, was impactful all over the court, and helped lead a successful transition for the Bluejays into the Big East, all while gaining three straight Player of the Year awards.

After a solid start, McDermott exploded onto the scene in his sophomore year by averaging 22.9 points per game and winning MVC Player of the Year. He’d repeat that feat with even better numbers as a junior before really standing out at the power conference level in 2014. As a senior, he had 26.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a night and was named Big East Player of the Year as well as a third-straight First Team All-American honor.

The 3,150 career points that McDermott scored don’t just stand out in Omaha; it’s still 7^th all-time in college basketball history. He was everything for the Bluejays, leading his leagues in field goal percentage and scoring basically every year while helping a strong mid-major take the first steps into the Big East.

Baylor Scheierman

Scheierman might not be the pick that many had in mind here; after all he did become revered for his three seasons at South Dakota State, even winning Summit League Player of the Year in 2022. However, his two years in Omaha really redefined his career and put him on that path to the next level.

For starters, Scheierman helped the Bluejays to the Elite Eight in his first season while averaging nearly 13 points a game. His final collegiate campaign was another step forward, putting up 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists a game while earning Third Team All-American honors. That season and his career culminated in a Sweet Sixteen run.

With just those two years you’re not going to find Scheierman as prominent on the leaderboards as these other three players but he was more than a prominent force for this team. One could argue that Scheierman was a missing piece that Greg McDermott masterfully turned into a top-level scorer and rebounder during some pretty great years for the program.

What DePaul has done in basketball in recent memory pales in comparison to basically every other team in this conference. The Blue Demons haven’t even made the NCAA Tournament since joining the Big East back in 2005 and seem to filter through coaches every half decade or so. Regardless, some notable players have still come through town and tried to make their mark on Blue Demons basketball.

Wilson Chandler

Certainly a notable figure in DePaul’s recent history, Chandler was considered a Top 75 prospect back in 2005 when he arrived in Chicago from Benton Harbor, Michigan. Many would later know him not just for his work with the Blue Demons but for his NBA years, but let’s not skip his importance here.

He was at DePaul for their first two seasons in the Big East and helped make that transition with a productive freshman campaign. Chandler gained significant attention on a 20-win team as a sophomore, averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while earning Second Team All-Big East honors.

A few months later, Chandler left DePaul and became a first round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after proving himself a great frontcourt player. While those numbers we shared don’t exactly jump off the page, consider that he was part of the most recent 20-win season in DePaul hoops and was the most recent first round draft pick out of the program as well.

Quentin Richardson

We’re cutting it close here with Richardson’s inclusion, as his college career ended in 2000, but he did have a few productive months playing since the turn of the century. The 6-6 forward was a Top 10 prospect back in 1998 and certainly showed that in his two seasons of ball with the Blue Demons under Pat Kennedy.

Richardson became one of the nation’s most prominent rebounders, leading Conference USA in that category in each of his two seasons. As a freshman, he was the league’s Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year after averaging 18.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game before helping DePaul to the Big Dance as a sophomore.

The pair of First Team All-CUSA honors make him stand out but let’s not ignore finishing Top 10 nationally in total rebounds in both seasons. Richardson emerged as a top-level scorer and rebounder and even developed his shooting touch and was part of only two teams to reach the NCAA Tournament for DePaul since the turn of the century.

Max Strus

A 6-6 guard from the nearby suburbs of Chicago, Strus made his way to DePaul back in 2017 but it was anything but a straightforward path. He put up brilliant numbers at Lewis, a nearby D2 school, before working his way into a DePaul star and future NBA guard.

Strus averaged nearly 17 points as a junior in his first year of D1 basketball and did even more as a senior. That final collegiate campaign saw him spearhead a standout season at DePaul with 19 wins while also averaging 20.1 points and 5.9 rebounds, earning All-Big East honors. Every part of his game took a step forward, even making 36% of his 3-pointers.

Only franchise legend Mark Aguirre has scored more points in a single season than Strus accomplished in that final year. He developed from an unheralded D2 recruit to a fantastic scorer in the Big East. He’s since spent parts of the last seven seasons playing in the NBA and continues to impress with his growth.

Brandon Young

The bad news for Young is that his brilliant four-year career did not include a single trip to the Big Dance; in fact the Blue Demons were never above .500 during his time in Chicago. However, this 6-4 guard out of Baltimore quickly developed into a high-level scorer and brilliant guard under Oliver Purnell.

Young started nearly every game he played at DePaul and averaged double digits in each season. His cabinet isn’t full of Big East awards but he played consistently, contributing 16.7 points and 4.6 assists per game as a junior before similar numbers as a senior, actually finishing 3^rd in the league in steals that season.

While the winning didn’t come for Young or Purnell, he does remain Top 5 in program history in points, assists, and steals, embodying the stat-stuffing guard that the Blue Demons loved running the show. Young needed a lot more talent around him during some tough years in Chicago, but it’s impossible to pin those struggles firmly on his shoulders.

The basketball program at Georgetown has been a shell of its former self in recent memory, with just one trip to the NCAA Tournament over the last decade. However, there has still been some glory for the Hoyas since the turn of the century and we’ll be looking at a cluster of players from that more formidable era.

Jeff Green

A fantastic part of Georgetown’s most recent national success, Green started 102 games across his three important seasons with the Hoyas. A 6-9 forward from nearby Hyattsville, Maryland, he arrived back in 2004 just as John Thompson III became head coach and helped him turn this program back into a contender.

Green was among the Big East’s most notable forwards throughout his career, putting up 13 points a game as a freshman before helping the Hoyas to the Sweet Sixteen as a sophomore. In his third and final year in town, Green put up 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and was named Big East Player of the Year before guiding Georgetown all the way to the Final Four.

As the leading scorer on the only Final Four in the last forty years, Green certainly stands out in recent program lore. The future NBA lottery pick accomplished quite a bit in his abbreviated career and contributed on more than 70 wins with some fantastic scoring, rebounding, and leadership.

Roy Hibbert

Another massive piece in Thompson’s early success helming the Hoyas, Hibbert is a 7-2 center also from Maryland who really emerged as a top-level weapon. He showed potential off the bench early in his career before developing not only into one of the Big East’s best weapons, but one of the best big’s in the country.

Hibbert was All-Big East three straight years and had some pretty grand defensive figures in his career. In his junior year, he was a big part of that Final Four run in 2007 while also leading the Big East by making 67% of his field goal attempts. Hibbert earned Second Team All-American honors as a senior when he contributed 13.4 points and 6.4 rebounds for a Hoyas team that won 28 games but couldn’t quite match that postseason success.

Another future NBA first round pick and impactful presence at the next level, Hibbert’s size and presence were clearly significant during that time at Georgetown. He’s among the program’s top shot blockers of all-time and was clearly necessary for that important Final Four journey and certainly hasn’t been forgotten in DC.

Greg Monroe

Yet another impactful big who developed under Thompson’s coaching, Monroe was already a known commodity when he arrived on the scene back in 2008. The 6-11 center from New Orleans was a 5-star prospect considered one of the best in the nation and used his two years of college ball to prove those scouts right.

He arrived just as Hibbert departed and helped fill that void with a productive freshman campaign. In his second and final season, Monroe got Georgetown back into the Big Dance while averaging 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. An impressive sophomore leap saw him named the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year while taking his game to the next level as a scorer, rebounder, and defender.

He’d be taken 7^th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft but this isn’t about his time at the next level. Monroe helped the Hoyas maintain their national relevance as the next great center and put up the kind of numbers you’d expect from an athlete with his talent and potential. The current day Hoyas sure wish someone of his caliber would join the frontcourt.

Otto Porter

The most recent of these notable Georgetown stars, Porter came around in 2011 and was another revered prospect. The 6-8 forward, the latest in a line of impressive frontcourt weapons trained under Thompson, was a Top 40 prospect out of Missouri who transformed into a national star very quickly with these Hoyas.

Porter started a few games and did decent work as a freshman before a monumental step forward in year two. His sophomore season saw Big East Player of the Year honors after putting up 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, also leading the conference at 48% field goal percentage. Porter was named First Team All-American and got Georgetown a 2-seed in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

Ignoring what exactly happened to the Hoyas in that event, Porter himself was a fantastic player who really emerged in those circumstances. In addition to those gaudy numbers in his sophomore year he was also among the Big East’s best in steals and really put everything together, making it not a surprise when he became pick #3 in the NBA Draft that June.

The Golden Eagles have had some really impressive teams and moments in recent memory and there has also been disappointment too. We’re clearly focusing on the good and we have a lot of notable names to choose from, but these players contributed greatly to those bright moments and even fair-weather fans should recognize them all.

Jimmy Butler

Largely more notable across an impressive NBA career, we can’t forget what Butler accomplished during his time at Marquette. A 6-7 guard out of Texas, he joined Buzz Williams as he took over the Golden Eagles in 2008 and was a major part of three successful years for the Golden Eagles, with three trips to the Big Dance.

Butler was a decent bench piece as a freshman before taking a big step and averaging nearly 15 points a game as a junior. He developed into one of the best offensive players in the Big East in his junior year, taking Marquette to the Sweet Sixteen while putting up 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

He’d be a late first round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and has done plenty at that next level over the last 15 years but remember that we’re talking about Marquette here. Even back then it was clear that Butler was really talented and was a vital piece on a few of Williams’ great teams in the early 2010’s, with Marquette hanging around with some top-level competition in this league.

Markus Howard

A complete package on offense, Howard is a 5-11 shooting guard who spent four seasons with the Golden Eagles and didn’t waste a moment. He transformed into one of the most productive players in program history, with a pair of Tourney appearances and a lot of points over his career.

Howard led the Big East in 3-point shooting as a freshman before jumping to over 20 points a game as a sophomore. He was a Second Team All-American putting in 25.0 point a night in year three but his senior year somehow blew that away. In the pandemic-shortened season, Howard was good for 27.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, leading the nation in scoring while earning First Team All-American honors.

It’s hard to believe that Howard’s career was cut short, considering his 2,761 career points is a significant lead in Golden Eagles history. He was a walking bucket throughout his time in Milwaukee and a major contributor. Those teams weren’t exactly the best of all-time for the Golden Eagles but he was undeniably an icon for Marquette basketball.

Tyler Kolek

A 6-3 guard out of Rhode Island, Kolek excelled as a freshman at George Mason but really came into his own when he transferred to Marquette in 2021. He joined new head coach Shaka Smart and became a major leader across his three seasons, developing into one of the best point guards in the entire nation.

Kolek led the Big East in assists in all three of those years, playing a major role on three Tournament teams as well. He was a Third Team All-American and Big East Player of the Year as a junior but somehow put up even better numbers as a senior. That final year saw 15.3 points and a nation-leading 7.7 assists per game while taking Marquette to the Sweet Sixteen.

Kolek keyed efforts on both sides of the ball and is second in Golden Eagles history in assists despite playing just three seasons. His important in that Marquette backcourt cannot be understated, really develop into a top-level floor general as the Golden Eagles transformed back into a Big East contender by the time he left in 2024.

Dwyane Wade

Another former Marquette guard known for his time in the NBA, Wade was far from a slouch during his time in Milwaukee. The 6-4 guard from Chicago headed to Marquette and played a pair of seasons for Tom Crean in the early 2000’s and left town as one of the most impactful names in program history.

As a freshman, Wade wasted no time adjusting to the college game leading Conference USA in steals, but it’s his sophomore year that made the money. He put up 21.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists and became a First Team All-American. After he was CUSA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Wade led the Golden Eagles on a Final Four run, including a triple-double in their Elite Eight upset win over Kentucky.

From a level of personal productivity, it’s hard to find another season over the last half century that can match what he meant to Marquette basketball. Wade was a top-level scorer, defender, and game-changer who spearheaded the program’s only Final Four since the national title won in 1977. The future NBA superstar basically did everything possible except cut down the nets in just two years in Milwaukee.

Much of the notable success for Providence basketball comes before the turn of the century but this program has certainly had some highlights since then. Things haven’t always gone according to plan for this program, especially in recent years, but we’re still able to shine a light on some really talented players from a few very different eras of Friars basketball.

Devin Carter

We only got to see two seasons for Carter wearing that Providence uniform but he certainly made an impression. The 6-3 guard out of Miami debuted collegiately at South Carolina and showed potential but really came into his own when he joined the Friars back in 2022.

Carter was a very solid piece in what became Ed Cooley’s last season with the program, putting up 13.0 points per game as a sophomore. Under another new system, Carter took an exaggerated step forward as a junior with a Big East-leading 19.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He was named Big East Player of the Year and took Providence to 21 wins for a second-straight season.

Those two years in Providence saw Carter become a top-notch offensive weapon while also recording some nice steals numbers too. Virtually every part of his game took a step forward, including his long-range touch and he’d become a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Additionally, these last two seasons without him around weren’t very pretty for the Friars.

Bryce Cotton

Similarly, Cotton was also a holdover who took a big step under a new head coach, but he actually arrived in Providence way back in 2010. The 6-1 guard out of Tucson was recruited by Keno Davis and had a bench role in Davis’s final season before coming into his own in the early days of Cooley’s leadership.

Cotton jumped into a major role right off the bat and was even the Big East’s top scorer in his junior year. During his senior season, he helped Providence break a decade-long NCAA Tournament drought while averaging 21.8 points and 5.9 assists per game. Not only was he the league’s assist leader, he was Big East Tournament MVP and an immense part of the program’s early breakthrough under Cooley.

With just under 2,000 career points, Cotton ranks pretty highly among the scoring leaders in Friars history. He wasn’t expected to become quite this type of weapon but instead helped materialize the first of what would become five straight trips to the Big Dance.

Kris Dunn

A Top 20 prospect from the Class of 2012, Dunn was a major weapon brought to town from Cooley’s first recruiting class. Over the next four years, Dunn would help not only jumpstart that turnaround for the program but to firmly establish his own place in Friars history. He was alright as a freshman before missing most of his second year with a shoulder injury but was on another level once he returned.

Dunn led the Big East in both assists and steals as a junior and really started racking up the accolades. Not only did he lead Providence to the Big Dance in those seasons, he was Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year twice as well. As a senior, the Second Team All-American averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.5 steals per game on a 24-win squad.

The sheer production in those last two seasons was off the charts and Dunn sits pretty on several Providence all-time lists despite missing nearly an entire season of his career. Dunn’s work was fantastic and helped really turn the Friars into a contender after the reformation of the Big East and would lead to him being the 5^th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Ryan Gomes

The Tim Welsh years in Providence weren’t exactly revered for their on-court success but Gomes was certainly the most memorable byproduct. He was a prominent piece of the Friars’ frontcourt from 2001 to 2005 and left town after making some major changes in the record books.

Gomes was already a notable scorer as a true freshman before nearly averaging a double-double for the rest of his career. He played in the NCAA Tournament and was named a First Team All-American as a junior before putting up 21.6 points and 8.2 rebounds in his most productive campaign, earning a third-straight All-Big East nod.

While Providence wasn’t exactly a winning machine during his time on the court, Gomes is the program’s all-time scoring leader with his 2,138 points. He was an excellent interior scorer and rebounder and despite playing more than two decades ago certainly hasn’t been forgotten in Rhode Island for his individual achievements.

These Pirates weren’t exactly world beaters before the Big East reformed in 2013, but the program has had something of a revival at times since then. Regardless, Seton Hall has had some great basketball players come through their doors both before and after the conference changed and we’re covering a bit of both here.

Andre Barrett

It’s been more than twenty years since Barrett was roaming the court for the Pirates and plenty has changed in the sport. Regardless, the 5-10 point guard was a highly-regarded prospect and lived up to that billing with Seton Hall, starting all 122 games he played across his four seasons.

A double-digit scorer throughout his career, Barrett earned multiple All-Big East honors and put up at least 16 points per game in each of his final three seasons. He’d finish among the Top 6 in assists in the league in each season and most notably averaged 17.3 points and 5.9 assists in a senior season that ended in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.

Barrett trails only current Pirates head coach Shaheen Holloway in career assists in program history, establishing himself from the jump as a reliable floor general. His work didn’t come during Seton Hall’s most prosperous years, but he got that one trip to the Big Dance and put up some impressive numbers, landing in the Top 10 in career points as well.

Jeremy Hazell

Hazell is an another impressive athlete who came through Seton Hall during a less than prosperous time for the program but still left his mark. A 6-5 guard out of Harlem, he became a reliable shooter and scorer for the Pirates, developing into one of the Big East’s very best by the end of his career.

By his sophomore year, Hazell was already a machine, averaging 22.7 points per game for the Pirates while earning his first of three All-Big East honors. He put up right around 20 points a game in each of his last two seasons, though he missed time after being shot during his senior year. Regardless, he was a reliable weapon and overlapped briefly with Kevin Willard in that final season.

The 2,416 career points are fourth all-time in program history, placing him in some pretty impressive company. It’s easy to bypass the overall body of work since Seton Hall never even flirted with the NCAA Tournament during his time there, but Hazell was an important figure on the court and of determination with his comeback after those injuries.

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Much more of a known commodity during some great basketball for this program, Mamukelashvili is a 6-11 forward originally from the country of Georgia. He was a minor bench piece as a freshman before finding his footing later in his career, slowly developing from an afterthought to one of the best bigs in the Big East.

Mamukelashvili played in the NCAA Tournament in each of his two seasons and showed great growth in his pandemic-shortened junior year. Everything came together after that, as he put up 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in his final collegiate campaign. He shined and laid claim to the Big East Player of the Year as one of the league’s top scorers and rebounders.

It did take time for his development and you won’t find him near the top of many all-time statistics, but Mamukelashvili’s impact was certainly felt near the tail end of Willard’s time with the program. The Georgian big man found his footing and his feel for the game and became a late pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Myles Powell

Certainly the most impressive player for Seton Hall since the turn of the century, Powell spent four seasons building all kinds of memories with the Pirates. The Trenton native was a double-digit scorer off the bench as a freshman before taking on a significant role later in his career, playing on three straight Tourney teams before the pandemic.

His best work came as an upperclassman, averaging 23.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in a brilliant junior season where he also made 36% of his 3-pointers. The long-range shot wasn’t quite as efficient in year four, but Big East Player of the Year honors came instead. Powell put up 21.0 points a game and was named a First Team All-American as a senior, establishing himself as one of the nation’s best offensive players.

Powell wasn’t part of some deep postseason run with the Pirates and had his career shortened when the pandemic arrived in 2020, but he’s third all-time in scoring and left behind an undeniable legacy. He was exactly the type of scoring guard who could take control of games and became a Big East star and something that future Pirates are hoping to replicate.

It’s not rocket science to say that St. John’s is currently in the midst of their best basketball in recent memory, especially fresh off a Sweet Sixteen team. We’ll look at some of the reason why the Red Storm have broken through in recent years but that’s not the only notable era represented by these selections.

Zuby Ejiofor

The recent years have truly been the best at St. John’s and it shouldn’t be a shock to see such an important person to that success included here. Ejiofor was a Top 50 recruit when he arrived at Kansas in 2022 but he found his real home with Rick Pitino and the Red Storm a year later. He didn’t see a ton of the court as a sophomore but really came into his own as an upperclassman.

Ejiofor was the Big East Most Improved Player after taking a major step forward on that 31-win team in 2025 but let’s focus on his final campaign. Senior year was big business for Ejiofor, who averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game and was named Big East Player of the Year. He also helped St. John’s to a Sweet Sixteen run, the program’s first since the turn of the century.

Three years was more than enough for Ejiofor to carve out his place in St. John’s lore. He’s among the program’s best shot blockers in just three seasons and did plenty of other great things during those two 30-win campaigns. The return to prominence for St. John’s basketball under Pitino doesn’t happen without Ejiofor’s rise as an upperclassman these last few seasons.

Marcus Hatten

The path was not straightforward for Hatten, a talented point guard from Baltimore who began his career down at Tallahassee Community College. After a pair of standout JUCO campaigns, Hatten found his new home with St. John’s under Mike Jarvis back in 2001 and did not disappoint.

Twice named First Team All-Big East, Hatten became a scoring machine and impressive point for the Red Storm, surpassing 20 points per game as a junior. In his final year, he helped St. John’s to a (later vacated) NIT title after putting up 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. The stat stuffer and all-around star led the Big East in steals and impacted every game on all ends.

Hatten was around for a lot of vacated winning but let’s not let that rain on our parade. He had two sensationally productive seasons and would likely have been among the program’s leaders in every stat had he had more than two seasons. He’s responsible for the two most prolific steals seasons in St. John’s history and certainly had his presence felt more than two decades ago.

RJ Luis Jr.

Another brilliant piece in Pitino’s recent turnaround, Luis is a Miami native who started his career playing for Frank Martin at UMass, but the impressive freshman found a new home at St. John’s in 2023. Luis would settle into a bigger role for the Red Storm over the next two seasons before heading to the next level.

Luis put up double-figures largely off the bench in Pitino’s first season, but his junior year was where everything clicked. He’d average 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds a game, earning Big East Player of the Year and a few other accolades. The Second Team All-American led that massive turnaround as St. John’s won the Big East title and returned to the Big Dance.

Some are still questioning his decision to leave after his junior season, but Luis accomplished plenty during his two seasons in Queens. He transformed from a decent A-10 guard to a nationally relevant scorer and leader and it’s hard to argue against the results, both for St. John’s and his individual figures.

Shamorie Ponds

Former St. John’s star Chris Mullin had just four seasons as head coach of the program but three of those featured sensational play out of Ponds. A 6-1 guard from Brooklyn and a Top 40 recruit, he arrived in 2016 and would start all 96 games he played for the Red Storm while becoming one of the best players in the Big East.

Ponds led the Big East in steals twice and scoring once across an incredibly productive three-year run. He put up 21.6 points per game in his sophomore season before leading the Red Storm to the 2019 NCAA Tournament as a junior, improving both his outside shot and his leadership skills as his career continued.

He averaged just under 20 points a night across an impressive career and sits 5^th all-time in scoring and 2^nd in steals for the Red Storm despite skipping his senior year.  Ponds honestly did a bit of everything and was of massive importance during Mullin’s tenure with the program and that raw production and postseason breakthrough aren’t forgotten even with more recent success.

The arrival of Jay Wright in 2001 really was a catalyst for change as Villanova turned back into a nationally relevant program. The Wildcats made four different trips to the Final Four under his leadership and we’ve got a pretty solid representation of the very best that he brought to eastern Pennsylvania.

Jalen Brunson

Long before he became an NBA champion and the savior of the New York Knicks, Brunson was already a household name for his marvelous work at Villanova. A 6-3 guard from the suburbs of Chicago, Brunson was a Top 20 recruit who arrived in 2015 and left town three years later with a ton of accolades and a pair of national championships.

Brunson jumped right into the thick of things, winning a national title as a full-time starter as a freshman. He was even more productive in year two but that pales in comparison to his junior season. Brunson then averaged 18.9 points and 4.6 assists per game and was named AP Player of the Year, claiming a ton of national honors. Weeks later he took Villanova to another national championship.

With two national titles and a Naismith in a three-year run, it’s hard to compare many college basketball players to what Brunson accomplished at Villanova. His work was outstanding on the court for the Wildcats, blossoming into a true leader and a future NBA star, even if he was just a second round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Randy Foye

While not part of the program’s more recent success, Foye was one of the first big recruits under Jay Wright and starred for the Wildcats back in the early 2000’s. A 6-4 guard out of Newark, he started most of the 131 games he played at Villanova and certainly came into his own by the end of his career.

After decent figures as an underclassman, Foye led the Big East in steals and took the Wildcats to the Sweet Sixteen as a junior. His final campaign was even better, putting up 20.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a night, becoming a First Team All-American and Big East Player of the Year before taking the Wildcats to the Elite Eight.

The last two seasons really jump off the page, though the entire body of work places Foye among the program’s best in points and steals. He was a great and flashy athlete who really developed into a star and helped ignite Wright’s tenure with those deep postseason runs. You could argue that others have been more notable than him but he was the first true star after the turn of the century.

Josh Hart

Another recent NBA champion with those Knicks, Hart was a fringe Top 100 prospect out of Maryland way back in 2013. He came off the bench as an underclassman and grew into a reliable weapon before truly taking off later in his career, contributing towards that national championship in 2016.

After brilliant work as a sixth man, Hart helped the Wildcats to that title as a junior in his first year as a starter and even earned some All-American honors. His best work came the following season, averaging 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a First Team All-American and the Big East Player of the Year.

Hart won a national championship, earned significant accolades, and was a fantastic scorer and contributor across his career. He excelled in multiple different roles for the Wildcats and was a valuable asset throughout those four seasons. It’s hard to argue against his inclusion and relevance for this program, even if he wasn’t the one involved with that memorable buzzer beater.

Scottie Reynolds

We could have easily slipped in a third member of Villanova’s recent title-winning teams, but Reynolds isn’t here by some accident. He was another big part of Wright’s earlier years leading the Wildcats, though things really came into fruition during Reynolds’ productive career at Villanova.

Reynolds was already averaging nearly 15 points a game as a freshman and earned several Big East honors in his career. After a Sweet Sixteen run as a sophomore, he helped lead the charge as the Wildcats advanced to the Final Four in 2009. His final collegiate campaign wasn’t another deep run but was his most productive with 18.2 points, 3.3 assists, and a nod as First Team All-American.

He’s third all-time in Villanova history in points and steals and was a renegade on both sides of the ball. Reynolds played an enormous role in that breakthrough success with the Final Four run and did a lot of good during his four years with the program. It’s hard to argue against 2,222 career points and being the catalyst on a deep postseason run.

Another former mid-major program who’s made it big in recent years, Xavier joined the Big East in 2013 after some fantastic work throughout their time in the A-10. In fact, we’re looking at a number of standouts from before that conference realignment today, though all of these players truly embodied Xavier basketball.

Trevon Bluiett

The time Bluiett spent in Cincinnati was very productive, becoming a major piece of the puzzle at wing for the Musketeers. He would star during what became Chris Mack’s final years leading the charge at Xavier and both certainly left their mark on the program in the 2010’s.

His production increased with each passing season, averaging 11.0 points a game as a freshman before becoming one of the top scorers in the Big East. He helped a Sweet Sixteen run that year and an Elite Eight as a junior before putting up 19.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in his senior season. Bluiett was named a Second Team All-American and helped Xavier grab a top-seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Thanks to that impressive work, especially late in his career, Bluiett ranks second in scoring in Xavier history. He contributed during a great run of success for the program and was a major playmaker and reliable scorer, making 38% of his 3-pointers in his career.

Tu Holloway

Holloway’s run at Xavier came near the end of the program’s time in the Atlantic 10, just before the Big East reform in 2013. A 6-0 guard out of New York, Holloway showed potential largely off the bench as a freshman before turning into one of the best backcourt players at the mid-major level and a major catalyst for the Musketeers’ continued success.

Playing under both Sean Miller and Chris Mack, Holloway helped lead Xavier to three Sweet Sixteen’s and four total trips to the Big Dance in his career. He was named A-10 Player of the Year as a junior for averaging 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while also leading the league in free throw shooting and minutes played in other seasons.

Xavier won 100 games during Holloway’s four seasons on campus while he still remains Top 10 in program history in both points and assists. It’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve a significant place in Musketeers history and certainly helped push the program into the Big East with those results.

Romain Sato

We’re more than two decades removed from Sato’s time with the Musketeers but he was a major contributor on yet another fruitful era of Xavier basketball. A Top 60 recruit from the class of 2000, he was brought to Xavier by Skip Prosser and further developed into a top-level guard under Thad Matta during four straight trips to the Big Dance for the program.

Sato would blossom into a key weapon on both sides of the ball. He was the A-10’s best 3-point shooter as a sophomore and would earn his place on the All-A-10 and All-Defense teams each of his last three seasons. He most notably averaged 18.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as a junior before helping guide the Musketeers to the Elite Eight in 2004 in his final season.

He’s among the top scorers in Xavier history with his 2,005 career points and did brilliant work during those formidable seasons in the early 2000’s. Sato is another impressive figure for the Musketeers who racked up nice stats and played important postseason games and ensured his place in their history.

David West

It’s hard not to call West the most explosive prospect and greatest Musketeer since the turn of the century even though his time with the program actually began in 1999. The 6-9 forward developed into a national star under both Prosser and Matta for his contributions all over the basketball court.

West led the A-10 in rebounding all four years, made three trips to the NCAA Tournament, and was among the most efficient scorers and shot blockers as well. He won three straight A-10 Player of the Year awards and several defensive honors too. In his final campaign, West was named AP Player of the Year after averaging 20.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, finishing second in the nation in rebounding.

It’s hard to even find the right words to describe how important and prolific West was on court for the Musketeers. Winning all of those conference and national awards was impressive while getting Xavier on the right track and becoming the program’s all-time leader in blocks. He remains among the top scorers and rebounders and continued onwards after his selection in the 2003 NBA Draft.