How About the Top 5 IU Basketball Players of All-Time

[MichaelSoCal]

While this may be hard as many are not familiar or saw real "Old School Guys" play I will start the discussion with my thoughts.I can't go back to the Bobby Leonard or Don Schlundt days. I would be curious to read others ideas on the subject.
1. Isiah Thomas-Probably the most gifted IU player ever. One of a handful of IU players whose game transcended to the NBA.
2. Walt Bellamy-This is as old school as I can go. Dominant college and NBA player.
3. Scott May-Great college player on perhaps the best college team over two years of all time. I still think IU's "75" team was more talented than "76" but he broke his wrist and Kentucky broke our hearts that year. I thought he would make it at the next level but ended up a journeyman for a couple years in NBA with knee problems.
4. Kent Benson-Very dominate college player. One of the last players to use the hook shot as a weapon. He was never the same as a player after Kareem busted his face in his first game as a pro.
5. Steve Alford-Great shooter and college player. What Indiana basketball is all about. Not a pro-style player though. Lucky the Pacers choose Reggie Miller instead of Alford in the draft like fans wanted.
6. Honorable mention. This is for debate as they played little for IU so I am projecting greatness if they would have stayed in school. McGinnis and Gordon probably would replace other listed above if they played more than one year.
A. George McGinnis-The first prototype NBA power forward that combined extreme strength and quickness. Got a little wild sometimes but dominated the Big Ten during his one year tenure at IU. To this day, he may have been my most favorite player to watch. Very lucky he left the year before Bobby Knight came though. His game was so different than Knight's style if would have been a car crash ready to happen.
B. Eric Gordon- Great player (and kid) on a troubled team. Deja Vu -He is now a Clipper!
C. Jay Edwards-Foolishly left school early on bad advice but not sure he was really a high character college student/athlete anyway. Incredible college talent but his game did not translate to the NBA. Ended up in CBA.
D. Landon Turner- Okay this may be a sympathy vote based on the early tragic end to his career from an auto accident leaving him paralyzed.

[kevin burton]

1. Steve Alford
2. Scott May
3. Isiah Thomas
4. Calbert Chaney
5. George McInnis - I think if he didn't have to take the hardship route to the nba, he very well could have been the best ever .
honorable mention : Steve Downing , Kent Benson , Walt Bellamy , Mike Woodson , Don Schlundt .

[MichaelSoCal]

Good call. I forgot about Calbert Chaney. Can't remember them all!

[Dave from Bloomington]

My All Time Starting 5-

Cheaney
Bellamy
Benson
Isiah
Alford

Off the bench-

McGinnis
Woodson
Buckner

[Jay]

I would have to consider Jimmy Rayl and Quinn Buckner before Alford.
I think that one-on-one Bellamy would have taken Benson every time.

It was always my understanding that Knight told McGinnis to leave because there was impending chaos if he stayed. George played a lot of "me" basketball, not much "team" basketball.

Knight supposedly told Thomas to play his game, when they won the NCAA, but Thomas had to leave at the end of the year, regardless.

Another player, and I'm not suggesting he is in the five, would be Bobby Wilkerson. He was very important to those teams of 75 and 76, and he was the prototype big guard with long arms and tall.

[Mark Wolfe]

I have followed IU basketball for 37 years. It was always my understanding that McGinnis left due to his father's illness or death. Someone had to support the family and George was in a position to do so after leading the Big10 in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore. Can you imagine how good IU would have been with McGinnis joining Steve Downing, John Ritter & Joby Wright?

My all-time IU team would be ...Isiah Thomas (6'1"), Mike Woodson(6'5"), Walt Bellemy(6'11"), Calbert Cheaney(6'7")& Quinn Buckner(6'3"). Five bench players to be Alford(6'2"), May(6'7"), Benson(6'11"), Kitchel(6'8") and Downing(6'9"). Someone has to score, yes; but you need defenders, too. I picked Buckner because he is a proven winner and yet not a great scorer. Kitchel makes my team because he was an absolute warrior. I think you'd have great size, quickness and BB IQ.

[kurk81]

Can't argue much, but I too would put Rayl ahead of Alford (after all, Isaiah could play point on this "team" and Jimmy wouldn't have to worry about passing up shots). I would definitely put McGinnis ahead of Bennie. Nothing against Benson, but to see Big Mac in his prime was an awe-inspiring experience and we already have Bells to play the post. And Calbert ahead of May - Scottie was a great grinder, but Cheney was an artist. That gives me Bellamy, Cheney, McGinnis, Thomas, and Rayl. There's a team. By the way, Landon was on his way to being one of the all-time greats, I'm convinced after having seen in person most of the home games his last year. He doesn't need a 'sympathy vote' to get on my second team.

[Zach Root]

Sorry but Dave from Bloomington has one issue, How is Scott May not at least coming of the bench. I mean are you serious. I am one of the younger generation of IU fans, my most exciting player had to be A.J. Moye's play off the bench which makes him my favorite player off the bench. Another issue I have with alot of lists is that Jarred Jeffries should be in the top 5 is the the most versitile player I have ever seen at IU. I dont know he might be the most versitile, I mean who would dribble pass shot block and score like him. He was a huge reason Mike Davis had one of two successful seasons here at IU. I mean seriously look what happend to all the shooters after Jeffries left. Honsby couldn't get as open! Coverdale couldn't penetrate like the year before. Thats just a new age perspective.

[TC]

What about AJ Guyton....he should probably be mentioned in this talk somewhere.

[Adam]

A.J. Guyton was a great player but could have been even better I think so he can't be on the list.... One guy I am very suprised that has not been mentioned yet... Actually 2... Alan Henderson and Damon Bailey... At least honarable mention for both...

[Dan]

1. Isiah Thomas
2. Scott May
3. Calbert Chenney
4. Walt Bellamy

[Hoosier Lady]

Eric Gordon should not be on this list. This is "of all time" and he is just not comparable to Isiah Thomas, Scott May, Calber Chenney among others. Sorry!

[Robert Hazel]

Maybe this should be the top twenty five players since there were so many. Landon Turner would have been a top 5 pick by the NBA. There weren't that many big men like him in the NBA in those days. How could you forgett Steve Downing