The State of Indiana’s Top 20 Basketball players of all time

Greatest

This list will comprise anybody born in Indiana and went on to have a great career as a basketball player. You could have went out of state to play college or pro basketball but these players roots all started in Indiana.

20) Larry Humes

Larry Humes led Evansville Aces basketball to two consecutive NCAA Division II Championships between 1963-64 and 1964-65. Following the 1965 season, Humes received Honorable Mention All-America recognition from Sporting News, three times Indiana Collegiate Conference MVP awards (he scored 2,236 total points) as well as three-time MVP honors from Indiana Collegiate Conference MVP awards. He still stands as Evansville’s All-Time Leading Scorer with 2,236 points scored overall.

The Golden Era of University of Evansville Basketball

19) Bryce Drew

“The Shot” remains one of the most unforgettable NCAA Tournament moments ever seen. On March 13, 1998, Valparaiso University faced Ole Miss in the First Round as a 13-seed. They were trailing by two points with just under four seconds remaining when Valpo forward Bryce Drew made history by sinking a 23-foot three-point buzzer-beater  for Valparaiso University, becoming an NCAA Tournament legend and graduating with 2,142 points, 380 rebounds, and 626 assists.

Bryce Drew buzzer beater: Valpo vs. Ole Miss (1998)

18) Louie Dampier

Louie Dampier was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection during three seasons at Kentucky. Playing under Adolph Rupp, he helped lead the Wildcats to the 1966 NCAA Tournament Championship Game. By the time he graduated, Dampier had scored 1,575 points and grabbed 409 rebounds.

Louie Dampier Career Highlights

17) Terry Dischinger

Terry Dischinger was an all-purpose scoring and rebounding machine at Purdue University, averaging 28.3 points and 13.7 rebounds per game over his varsity career. Dischinger earned All-Big Ten recognition each of those seasons as well as Second Team All-American (second year), consensus First-Team All-American (third and fourth years), as well as nearly every scoring record held at Purdue, by the time he had left!

Terry Dischinger 13pts 10reb (Pistons at Bucks, 10.18.69 Full Highlights)

16) Luke Harangody

Harangody was Notre Dame’s first three-time All-American in over fifty years. In 2007-08 he averaged 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while winning Big East Player of the Year honors. By graduation time, he ranked second for both points (2,476) and rebounds (1,222).

luke harangody notre dame

15) Ron Bonham

As a sophomore, Ron Bonham was an integral component of Cincinnati’s 1962 NCAA Championship team. His outstanding play earned him first-team All-America honors during his junior campaign when he averaged 21.0 points per game, shooting 89% from the free-throw line en route to 1,6666 points over three years with the Bearcats.

1960 IHSAA State Championship: East Chicago Washington 75, Muncie Central 59

14) Dave Schellhase

Dave Schellhase excelled as an exceptional small forward at Purdue University, earning Boilermaker MVP honors and First Team All-Big Ten status for three straight seasons. As a senior, Schellhase scored 32.5 points per game, earning both Consensus All-American and Academic All-American honors, while his game-high 57-point performance placed second in school history only behind Rick Mount.

The Greatest Purdue Basketball Players Of All Time ✌

13) Kyle Macy

Kyle Macy had a stellar freshman season at Purdue in 1975-76, averaging 13.8 points per game on average. At Kentucky in 1976-77, he became a three-time All-American and All-SEC selection, going on to star on their 1978 NCAA National Championship Wildcat squad as well. He had a solid NBA career.

WildcatWorld.com – Highlights from Kentucky’s 1978 NCAA National Championship game

12) Don Schlundt

Don Schlundt’s four years at Indiana University from 1951-1955 saw him change history. Due to the Korean War, freshmen became eligible to play college basketball that year – giving Schlundt an advantage as an active 50s player who would continue for four years. Schlundt led the Hoosiers to an NCAA National Championship victory and was honored as an All-American three times: 1953, 1954 and 1955; leaving with 2,192 total points scored during his time there.

Indiana Athletics Celebrates the 1953 NCAA Champions

11) Steve Alford

While under Bob Knight, Steve Alford amassed 2,438 points as an all-time leading scorer of the Hoosiers. During his senior season, Indiana claimed its fifth national championship by defeating Syracuse, with Alford scoring 23 points – including an epic buzzer-beating three-point shot before halftime! Alford received four team MVP awards and All-Big Ten accolades during those final three collegiate years.

Steve Alford- 1987 NCAA Tourney Scoring Highlights

10) Alan Henderson

Alan Henderson was a four-year leader on Indiana University’s Hoosiers team when it came to rebounding, ranking first all four seasons he played and ranking among their all-time leaders for career points (1.979), rebounds (1,091), blocked shots (213) and steals (148).

Ex-Hoosiers and NBA star Alan Henderson feels blessed

9) Scott Skiles

Skiles became a legend in High School leading Plymouth to the double overtime upset of Gary Roosevelt in 1982. He went on to a great college career and then a long stay as a starting point guard in the NBA.

Scott Skiles’ 30 Assists

8) Kent Benson

Kent Benson was one of the critical members of Indiana University’s legendary 1975-1976 Hoosier team that went undefeated, scoring 25 points in the championship game and being recognized as NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Additionally, Benson ended his career with 1,740 points – seventh all-time at Indiana – and 1,031 rebounds (3rd all-time in history!).

Undefeated with Kent Benson

7) Calbert Cheaney

Calbert Cheaney became an icon in Bloomington when he led Indiana Hoosiers to their Final Four appearance in 1992. Cheaney earned three All-American selections and became the Big Ten all-time leading scorer, while also becoming National Player of the Year after collecting both John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Awards that season.

Indiana vs Northwestern – 3/4/1993 – Calbert Cheaney Breaks Both Records

6) Glenn Robinson

Glenn Robinson earned the moniker “Big Dog” before ever stepping foot onto a Purdue court under coach Gene Keady; and it stuck. Over just two seasons for Gene Keady’s Boilermakers, Robinson totaled 1,706 points and 602 rebounds – leading his team to an Elite Eight appearance and receiving both John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Award nominations in that span!

Glenn Robinson 1994 Purdue Highlights

5) Rick Mount

Rick Mount was the first high schooler ever to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, scoring 2,323 points at Purdue over three seasons – an average of 32.2 per game! In 1969 he led Purdue to the Final Four before scoring an unforgettable “leaping lofter” game-winner against Marquette during overtime, before losing to UCLA in the Final! As a senior, Mount scored an NCAA single-game record 61 against Iowa; had the three-point lines been available, it would have been even higher!

Big Ten Icons: Rick Mount 4

4) Clyde Lovellette

Clyde Lovellette (6-foot-9 inches) is known for becoming the standard for tall, physical, and high-scoring centers. He led the Kansas Jayhawks to the 1952 NCAA National Championship and was named Tournament MVP. Lovellette is the only college player to lead the nation in scoring and winning the NCAA title in the same season. During his senior campaign, he scored 28.4 points per game and was named the Helms College Player of the Year.

Underrated Clyde Lovellette, The Bill Lambeer Of The 50’s/60’s

3) George McGinnis

George McGinnis may have only played one college season for the Indiana Hoosiers, yet his legacy remains profound. As the first sophomore ever to lead both scoring and rebounding for his conference – 29.9 points per game and 14.7 rebounds – as a sophomore, McGinnis earned both All-American and All-Big Ten honors during an unforgettable campaign for any Indiana college basketball player ever. He was a legendary high school player and a All Star at the pro level.

George McGinnis: Career Mixtape

2) Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson (the Big O), is one of the greatest NCAA basketball players ever. His scoring average of 33.8 points per game places him third all-time; during each of his three college seasons, he won the national scoring title, was recognized with All-American status and was named College Player of the Year. As leader of his Bearcats squad, he led them to two Final Four appearances with an overall 79-9 overall record spanning his tenure – setting a staggering 14 NCAA and 19 school records during that time!

Oscar Robertson Highlights | 4K | Mr. Triple Double

1) Larry Bird

Larry Bird revolutionized basketball with his tall frame and unique shooting ability, revolutionizing it completely during his three seasons at Indiana State University. Larry scored 2,850 points while also collecting 1,247 rebounds over that time frame, leading his Sycamores team all the way to the 1979 NCAA National Championship Game, where Earvin “Magic” Johnson faced him; that game received the highest ever TV ratings ever for any college basketball game! Furthermore, Bird was honored as Sporting News, AP, UPI, USBWA and Basketball Weekly College Player of the Year, Naismith Award, and John Wooden Award recipients that year. His career for the Boston Celtics is well known, and Bird is the greatest player to ever play the game.

Larry Bird College Highlights Indiana State Sycamores