LOS ANGELES, CA – The UCLA Bruins have one of the most storied and legendary basketball programs in the history of college basketball. Some of the most talented players ever to play college hoops dawned the true blue and gold and some even went on to have Hall of Fame careers in the NBA.
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The prestige of UCLA basketball and its amazing legacy runs deep with one of the greatest coaches ever in John Wooden leading many of the championship teams during his sterling tenure. To name the top-10 players in the history of their program is a difficult task, but these 10 had the most success and longevity on the hardwood of Westwood.
10.) Don MacLean
One of the more underrated players in Bruins history, Don MacLean played four years at UCLA from 1988-1992 and is the school’s all-time current leader in points scored at 2,608. Also, he holds school records in most career 20-point games; most league points; most career double-figure games; and most free throws made.
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MacLean was also Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 1989 and made the First Team All-Pac-10 Team three times.
9.) Ed O’Bannon
He’s been known more for leading an antitrust class action lawsuit against the NCAA in recent years which has blazed the trail for college athletes to be compensated, but Ed O’Bannon was once one of the most talented college hoops players in the country leading the Bruins to their last national championship in 1995 during his senior season.
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That year O’Bannon took home some hardware. He was the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, the John R. Wooden Award, the USBWA College Player of the Year, and the Pac-10 co-Player of the Year. O’Bannon also made the First Team All-Pac-10 Team three times and his No. 31 was retired by UCLA.
8.) Reggie Miller
Before he was one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, Reggie Miller lit up the hardwood at UCLA for four years. Miller is second all-time in school history in points averaged in a single season and most career 30-point games trailing only Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) doing it without the help of the three-point line which wasn’t established in the NCAA until his senior year in 1987.
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Miller still holds season records of most league points scored and highest league scoring average and led the Bruins to the 1985 NIT Championship and was named MVP of the tournament. He made the First Team All-Pac-10 Team twice and like O’Bannon, his number 31 was also retired by the Bruins.
7.) Sidney Wicks
Sidney Wicks was apart of some amazing teams at UCLA where he won three straight national championships from 1969 through 1971, but was the star of the teams that won in ’70 and ’71, also winning the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player Award in 1970; the Sporting News Player of the Year and USBWA College Player of the Year in 1971 after averaging 21 points and 13 rebounds during his senior season.
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Wicks is fourth all-time at UCLA in career double-doubles with 46 and ninth all-time in rebounds with 894. He was also First Team All-Pac-8 two times and his no. 35 is retired by the Bruins.
6.) Marques Johnson
While many remember his NBA career, commentator jobs, and iconic film roles in “White Men Can’t Jump” and “Blue Chips,” few may remember that Marques Johnson was a very talented college basketball player at UCLA. In his sophomore season in 1975, he helped Wooden get his last national championship.
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Johnson’s last two seasons with the Bruins were superb averaging 17 points per game in 1976 and 21 points and 11 rebounds as a senior in 1977 while also winning the first ever John R. Wooden Award and was the Pac-8 Player of the Year. He also made First Team All-Pac-8 twice and his no. 54 was retired at UCLA.
5.) Jamaal Wilkes
Jamaal Wilkes had one of the smoothest and consistent jump shooters ever, Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn always called it “the 20-foot layup.” However, before he was winning championships with the Lakers, Wilkes was winning national championships with center Bill Walton and the Bruins in 1972 and 1973. He was also apart of the UCLA’s record 88-game winning streak over his three seasons in Westwood.
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After averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds in the ’72 NCAA tourney, Wilkes was named to the All-Tournament Team and was a two-time All-American and First Team All-Pac-8 two times. His no. 52 was retired by the Bruins.
4.) Walt Hazzard
Walt Hazzard sparked the winning tradition under Wooden at UCLA during his senior year helping to lead the Bruins to their first national championship in 1964 which included a perfect season at 30-0. Hazzard was named NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, USBWA Player of the Year, and Helms Player of the Year in 1964.
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Hazzard is 25th on the Bruins’ all-time scoring list averaging 16 points per game in his three years and his no. 42 is retired at UCLA. He also went on to have success as the Bruins head coach winning Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1987.
3.) Gail Goodrich
Along with Hazzard, Gail Goodrich was also a big part of that perfect title-winning season in 1964 averaging 21 points per game. He also helped UCLA repeat as national champs in 1965 averaging 24 points a game making the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament in both years as well as the Helms Foundation co-Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American in 1965. Goodrich was also known for scoring 42 points against Michigan in the NCAA Championship game.
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His scoring, ball-handling, and court vision made Goodrich one of the most talented players ever at UCLA which would eventually lead to a successful NBA career. His no. 25 is also retired by the Bruins.
2.) Bill Walton
One of the most dominant, well-rounded centers in the history of college hoops, Bill Walton was a force to be reckoned with in Westwood. In his sophomore and junior seasons in 1972 and 1973, Walton (along with Wilkes) led UCLA to a 60-0 record with consecutive perfect seasons that also led to back-to-back national titles.
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Walton dominated the 1973 title game against Memphis State scoring 44 points on 21 of 22 shooting, setting the record for most points scored in an NCAA championship game, a record that still stands today. Walton was a two-time NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, three-time National College Player of the Year, and has the most career rebounds and second highest field goal percentage in team history. His no. 32 was retired by UCLA.
1.) Lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
As Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is considered one of the greatest NBA players ever, there’s no doubt Lew Alcindor is one of the greatest college players ever and thus the greatest Bruin ever. Not to mention it was because of the size and skill of Alcindor that made the NCAA ban the dunk.
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Alcindor’s dominance on both ends led UCLA to three straight national championships between 1967-1969 setting school records in most career field goals, most points in a season, most points in a game, and highest scoring average.
He also won the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, National College Player of the Year, and First Team All-American three times. Of course, his number 33 was retired by the Bruins.
While they haven’t had as much success in recent years, UCLA still has a level of prestige, a rich history of winning, and a number of incredible athletes that is matched by few others.
