Top 10 Purdue Boilermaker Basketball Players of All Time

Current players are not eligible for this list, but in April, Zack Edey will take his place on the list; the question will be, how high does Edey climb? The Tournament history for the Boilermakers is not great, but as far as the Big Ten goes, the Boilermakers are an elite program.

Criteria

Stats are huge, and championships won matter, so winning a Big Ten Championship helps, and making a run during the NCAA Tournament is also a big factor. Purdue has had its share of first-round Match Madness collapses, but winning a National Championship is hard.

10) JaJuan Johnson

Johnson followed in the footsteps of Steve Scheffler and Glenn Robinson by being honored as Big Ten Player of the Year during the 2010-11 season. Johnson averaged career highs with 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and one assist – earning All-American accolades due to this performance. With his help, The Purdue Boilermakers made four NCAA Tournament appearances and two Sweet 16 stops thanks to Johnson, ranking eighth overall for lifetime scoring (1,919) and rebound (854), seventh in made field goals (706), seventh in made field goals (706), third in blocks (263), and fifth in made free throws (492).

HIGHLIGHTS: Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson was dominant on the basketball court before playing overseas.

9) Troy Lewis

Purdue basketball had an incredible run during the late ’80s, winning back-to-back Big Ten regular-season championships in 1987 and ’88 with Lewis as a key contributor. Lewis earned first-team All-Big Ten honors each season while ranking fifth all-time with 2,038 points, ranking among its leaders for scoring average (16.4) and career-made field goals (783), minutes played (3,859) as well as shooting 49.9 per cent while making 100 out of 216 3-point attempts as a senior with averaged five assists per game for honorable mention All American from The Associated Press.

Big Ten’s Best Shooters! #9 Troy Lewis (Purdue)

8) Carsen Edwards

Edwards quickly established himself as one of Purdue’s star players during his three seasons at Purdue, averaging 18.5 points as a sophomore and 24 in 2018-19 – earning first-team All-Big Ten honors each time. Edwards earned second-team All-America honors, placing seventh on Purdue’s all-time scoring (1,920 points) and scoring average (17.8 ppg) lists. Check out our top March Madness betting trends.

Edwards holds the school career 3-pointer record with 281, averaging 22.4 points and shooting 39.6% from 3-point range across 10 NCAA Tournament contests for Purdue Boilers that reached two Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight during his Big Dance run. Edwards scored 42 against Villanova in round two before matching that total during an overtime loss against eventual national champion Virginia in the regional final.

Carsen Edwards: 2019 NCAA tournament highlights

7) Joe Barry Carroll

Carroll may be considered Purdue University’s greatest big man. As the only Boilermaker to record at least 1,000 rebounds (1,148), he averaged 9.3 for his career and led all-time in blocks (349). Additionally, Carroll was an outstanding scorer: second on the career list with 2,175 points, averaging 17.7 annually during 1979-80, leading the Boilermakers to their most recent Final Four appearance.

Joe Barry Carroll Talks About Purdue

6) Braden Smith

Braden Smith earned his place among the ten greatest players in Purdue basketball history by redefining what it means to be a point guard in West Lafayette. Despite standing just 6-foot, Smith became the engine that drove the Boilermakers through one of the most successful eras in program history. A two-time consensus First Team All-American, three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year, 2025 Bob Cousy Award winner, and 2026 Big Ten Tournament MVP, Smith consistently proved he was one of the nation’s elite floor generals.

Smith finished his Purdue career as both the school’s and NCAA Division I’s all-time assists leader while ranking among the Boilermakers’ all-time leaders in scoring, steals, and minutes played. His elite court vision, relentless competitiveness, defensive toughness, and ability to elevate the play of everyone around him made Purdue a perennial Big Ten contender and national championship threat. More than just a prolific passer, Smith developed into a complete player who could score, defend, and take over games in crucial moments. His leadership, consistency, and unmatched basketball IQ left an unforgettable legacy, making Braden Smith one of the greatest point guards in college basketball history and an unquestioned top-10 Purdue Boilermaker of all time.

Braden Smith highlights: Purdue All-American’s ELECTRIC season | College Basketball on NBC Sports

5) Dave Schellhase

Schellhase quickly established himself as one of Purdue’s premier players after Terry Dischinger left, averaging 28.8 points during his three years there – second-best overall in school history, 32.5 as a senior. His performance against Michigan in February 1966 is the second-highest scoring game by any Boilermaker; in that game alone, he scored 57 points! A first and second-team All-American selection, Schellhase became the first Purdue player ever to hit 2,000 career points, eventually reaching 2,074, which ranks fourth overall among college players today.

4) Terry Dischinger

Dischinger earned Parade All-America status in 1958 before continuing his basketball dominance at Purdue University, averaging 28.3 points over three seasons (third best in school history), including 30.3 in 1961-62 (which ranks third). Overall, he scored 2,074 points during his Purdue career and finished second among Boilermakers with 958 rebounds for an outstanding 13.7 career rebounding average; two times consensus first-team All-American and winner of an Olympic basketball gold medal for Team USA!

Chariot Auto Group Monday Night Memories: Purdue legend Terry Dischinger tribute

3) Glenn Robinson

Robinson earned the affectionate moniker “Big Dog.” As one of Gary, Indiana’s favorite sons and two seasons at Purdue University. During 1993-94 alone, as a 6-foot-8 sophomore he averaged 30.3 points (school record 1,030 points) and 10.10 rebounds to earn recognition from The Associated Press, Naismith and Big Ten Player and Athlete of the Year awards – joining John Wooden as the only other consensus Player and Athlete honoree. For the Boilermakers, Robinson averaged 27.5 points (4th best in school history) and 9.7 boards (6th best).

Glenn Robinson- Legends Edition

2) Rick Mount

Mount, born and raised in Lebanon, Indiana, had long been revered in his community before stepping foot onto Purdue’s court as a Boilermaker. Indiana’s Mr Basketball in 1966 and the first high school player ever featured on Sports Illustrated cover in 1969 as Indiana Mr Basketball; “The Rocket” mounted a historic run during which his Boilermakers reached both Final Four and the national title game; Mount was a two-time first-team all-American. He holds career leadership in points (2 323), scoring average (32.3), made field goals (910) etc. Mount should be near the top of the list when it comes to selecting the best Big Ten basketball players of all-time.

Big Ten Icons: Rick Mount 4

1. Zach Edey

Few players in Purdue basketball history have dominated the college game the way Zach Edey did. A two-time unanimous National Player of the Year, Edey became the face of the Boilermakers during one of the most successful stretches in program history. He led Purdue to multiple Big Ten championships and carried the Boilermakers to the 2024 NCAA National Championship game, cementing his place among the program’s all-time greats. Edey left West Lafayette as Purdue’s all-time leader in both points and rebounds while ranking among the greatest players in Big Ten history. His combination of size, footwork, touch around the basket, rebounding, and defensive presence made him nearly impossible to stop. Beyond the statistics, Edey embraced the pressure of being college basketball’s biggest star and consistently delivered in the biggest moments. Winning back-to-back National Player of the Year awards, something accomplished by only a handful of legends, places him in rare company. His individual accomplishments, leadership, and lasting impact on Purdue basketball make Zach Edey an unquestioned top-10 Boilermaker of all time and one of the greatest centers in college basketball history.

2024 Senior Highlights: Purdue C Zach Edey | Purdue Men’s Basketball

Honorable Mentions

E’Twaun Moore

Moore was one of college basketball’s premier players during the 2000s and currently ranks third in Purdue history with 2,136 points. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and twice an honorable mention All-American from The Associated Press, Moore averaged 15.3 points over his Purdue career and 18.0 during his senior campaign – ranking fourth for 780 made field goals (fourth overall for 3-point makes (243)). Additionally, Moore started an impressive 136 of 140 games played while starting all but three minutes played – surpassing even Paul Wood as the longest-active Boilermaker ever. Moore’s 4,517 minutes played are second second-highest in Purdue program history!

John Wooden

Purdue’s Wooden was a pre-NCAA star. As a Boilermaker, he earned All-Big Ten, All-Midwestern, and first-team All-American honors before being selected as consensus national player of the year. Additionally, a statue commemorating him stands on campus today.

People tend to forget how great a player Wooden was in college, but he deserves to be at least mentioned on this list.

Brad Miller

Miller became the first Boilermakers ever to record at least 1,500 points, 800 rebounds and 250 assists during his career at Purdue. His 1,530 points (12.0 per game) rank among Purdue’s Top 25 all-time scorers, while his 862 rebounds tied for sixth all-time, and 257 assists averaged out to 2.0 average assists per game as an all-around contributor. During 1997-98 as a senior he averaged 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds while helping propel Purdue into Sweet 16 contention. Miller also ranks among Purdue’s Top 10 All Time scorers all time for blocked and steals combined;

Russell Cross

Cross averaged 16.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 assists during his three seasons at Purdue before opting out of his senior year for the NBA Draft. A first-team All-Big Ten selection in the 1982-83 campaign, Cross left his mark on Boilermakers basketball with 1,529 points scored (including a freshman-record 540 score in 80-81) as well as 175 blocks blocked (placed 25th out of 25 scorers and 10th for blocks).

Bruce Parkinson

Parkinson is Purdue’s all-time leading assist man with 690 assists over his five seasons of play for the Boilermakers. A school record-setting average assist rate was achieved during those seasons he held the honor, starting all 112 games (a record), averaging 10.9 points and ranking among their all-time leaders with 3,845 minutes played – including leading Purdue to victory at the 1974 NIT championship tournament! Inductee to Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame!

Brian Cardinal

Cardinal, commonly called “The Janitor,” did not shy away from doing the dirty work on the basketball court and did not mind throwing his body around. No player worked harder for Purdue basketball than Cardinal, who helped lead them to an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2000. Cardinal ranks 20th on Purdue’s career scoring list with 1,584 points (12.0 per game), 10th with 749 rebounds (5.75 rpg), second among all Boilermakers for career steals with 259 and ranks among its top 10 for made free throws (464), starts (125), minutes played (3,693) as well as personal fouls (a record school record 409 personals).

Herm Gilliam

Gilliam served as co-captain as both junior and senior while at Purdue and twice earned Team MVP honors. During his collegiate career, he amassed 1,118 points – an average of 16.0 per game – he still sits eight all-time in rebounds for a career..

Robbie Hummel

At first glance, Hummel seemed like he was at Purdue forever. Unfortunately, however, a knee injury sidelined him. Still, in 2011-12 as a redshirt senior, he returned for another impressive redshirt season. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.2 boards and 1.2 blocks per game for career-high averages that earned him third All-Big Ten first-team nod and second honorable mention All-American recognition from The Associated Press. For his Purdue career overall, Hummel ranks in the top 10 points (1.772), made 3-pointers (236), free-throw percentage (84.1), steals (132), minutes played (3,830), minutes played (3,820-minutes played (3,83) and starts (120).

Steven Scheffler

Scheffler became the inaugural Boilermaker to officially win Big Ten Player of the Year status during the 1989-90 season, averaging career highs with 16.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game for Purdue Boilers. At that time, he set an NCAA record 68.5 field goal percentage that remains the best at Purdue today – totalling 1,155 points (10.5 per game) and 538 rebounds (4.99).

Billy Keller

Keller was integral to Purdue’s 1968-69 success as they won their conference championship and made it to the NCAA Championship game, known as “Mr. Hustle”. As a senior, he received the Frances Pomeroy Award, honoring him as one of the country’s best under-six-foot players He achieved a 85.9 career free-throw percentage at Purdue.

Charles”Stretch” Murphy

Under legendary coach Ward Lambert, Murphy became one of Purdue’s early stars during its early days. He set a Big Ten scoring record of 143 points while averaging 11.9 as a freshman, then averaged 11.4 as a senior while helping Purdue go undefeated in 1930 in league play. Murphy earned three All-American selections while at Purdue, including consensus picks his junior and senior campaigns, earning him induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Walter Jordan

Jordan currently ranks ninth in school history with 1,813 career points, stands among Purdue’s best with an average per game scoring total of 16.6, and is recognised twice as first-team All-Big Ten selection—a native of Fort Wayne who played high school ball at Oakwood Preparatory School. Jordan amassed 882 rebounds during his time with the Purdue Boilermakers while averaging 8.11 boards each game; additionally being awarded two team MVP awards and sitting among Purdue’s all-time leaders for made field goals (746) and consecutive game started (102).