Louisville basketball: Ranking the top 100 players of all time
By Alan Thomas
6: Russ Smith (30 points)
“Russdiculous” was probably the greatest to ever drive into the lane at Louisville. He was a heart-attack waiting to happen, but time and time again he came through. He was a starting guard on the 2013 National Championship team, as well as the 2012 Final Four squad the year before.
Russ was a First-team All-American in 2014, a year in which many did not expect him to return for his senior season. He is the school’s all-time leader in steals. In 2013 he was named the Midwest Regional MOP.
Smith started 73 games in his junior and senior years while averaging over 18 ppg. in those seasons. He is U of L’s #7 all-time leading scorer.
5: DeJuan Wheat (36 points)
Pound-for-pound, DeJuan was perhaps the greatest player in Louisville basketball history. The sleek 6’0″ point guard was strikingly quick. In 1997 he was named Honorable Mention All-American, though many of us knew in our hearts that he deserved First-team recognition.
As a senior he led the Cardinals in scoring, assists, steals, three-pointers, and minutes played. He is the school’s 2nd all-time leader in scoring, 4th in field goals made, 2nd in 3-pointers made, 4th in assists, and 7th in steals.
Had it not been for a sprained ankle in the 1997 NCAA Tourney, it is my gut feeling that Louisville would’ve cracked the Final Four or even went all the way. Wheat was the first player in NCAA history to have 2,000 points, 450 assists, 300 three-pointers, and 200 steals. Someone retire this man’s #32 jersey.
4: Wes Unseld (42 points)
Unseld was perhaps the most intimidating player in Louisville basketball folklore. The stout, 6’7″ beast was a prolific scorer, relentless glass-eater, and the greatest outlet passer in the sport of basketball’s history.
From 1965-1967, Wes averaged over 19 rebounds per game. He also averaged over 20 points per game in his career as a whole, becoming the 2nd all-time rebounder and the 11th all-time leading scorer. His 55.8% ranks 10th all-time in career field goal percentage.
He was a consensus All-American in the 1967-68 season and is one of four players to have his jersey retired at U of L (#31)