[4everfsu]

I would have to say Pistol Pete Maravich. I never saw him in person but watched him play on SEC TV growing up. He is the all time major college scorer and he only played three years, freshmen could not play varsity at that time and before the three point shot. The things he could do on the court with the ball was amazing. Even better in life he accepted Christ and ran a summer BB school at Clearwater Christian college, across the bay from my home town.

[Stevev]

I would say either Bill Walton or David Thompson. Bill Walton was the perfect team player, he made everyone around him better. David Thompson was simply a guy that could carry a team with his athleticism.

[4everfsu]

David Thompson is a good choice I have to admit.

[TIMSCAR20]

Lew Alcindor
Elvin Hayes
Patrick Ewing
Christian Laetner
Grant Hill
David Thompson
Sam Perkins
Bill Walton
Pistol Pete

List is in no particular order. I would take any of those guys careers. Big E was amazing at University of Houston but I wouldn't protest if someone questione him. If you have a question about Laetner, go to the stats. More final 4's Game winning shots in big games, big numbers in big games, 2 NCAA championships etc. You could argue that his career was one of the most charmed ever. Was he an all time great? I think you have to consider him so regardless of his pro career. We are talking college here.

[TIMSCAR20]

If we are talking sheer talent I would have to say Larry Johnson from UNLV, Hang Gathers from Loyola Marymount, Len Bias Maryland, Chris Webber from Michigan, Michael Jordan, James Worthy from UNC, and again Grant Hill Duke. Shaquille O'Neal, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, and Isaiah Thomas need to be spoken of as well when talking about pure talent regardless of career success, length of career or other accolades used to judge this kind of list. Pure talent. Kareem (Alcindor) and Thompson should be here as well along with Maravich.

edit: And for Smoothie I need to include Ralph Sampson if we are talking about pure talent

[Sly Fox]

Come on, Scar. You are going to try and tell us you saw Lew Alcindor or Elvin Hayes play? I know we are old but let's not get carried away. And for the record, it was the Big E (who now sells car down here in suburban Houston) who won that mammoth showdown with the Bruins at the Astrodome before nearly 50k fans.

The top players I have seen play college ball in person in recent years:

Gilbert Arenas
TJ Ford
Dwyane Wade

Those three guys really stood out in college action. I saw just about everyone who came through the Big 12 in the past decade and C-USA in the past 4 years.

The best college ballers I saw play on television from the '70s to Early '90s:

David Thompson
Kyle Macy
Earvin Johnson
Larry Bird
Isiah Thomas
Ralph Sampson
Patrick Ewing
Akeem Olajuwon - He didn't add the 'H' to his name until the Rockets
Waymon Tisdale
James Worthy
Michael Jordan
Danny Manning
Shaquille O'Neal
Bobby Hurley
Larry Johnson
Derrick Coleman

When you talk the all-time greatest college players I'd add:

Wilt Chamberlain
John Havlicek
Jerry Lucas
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Lew Alcindor
Elvin Hayes
Bill Walton
Pete Maravich

At least that is what is popping into my head right now.

[A.G.]

I'd have to jump on the David Thompson bandwagon. The ACC of the mid-70's was a beast with CBB players:
Tate Armstrong-Duke (back when they were HORRIBLE)
Lucas, Elmore, McMillan--Maryland
Ford, O'Koren, Kupchak, W. Davis--Carolina
Thompson, Burleson, Towe--NC State (followed by Clyde Austin, Kenny Carr in the late 70's)
Skip Wise--Clemson (maybe the best FRESHMAN I ever saw)
Wally Walker--UVA (then Lamp, Raker, and Sampson in the 80's)
Skip Brown--Wake

[Libertine]

Christian Laettner, year in and year out. The night he hit "The Shot" vs Kentucky he was perfect. 10-10 from the field, 10-10 from the line.

Walt Williams at Maryland finally got a pair of contacts and was completely unstoppable for 3 months. It earned him a spot in the NBA lottery, at which point, he apparently took his contacts out again.

Hank Gathers was just a scary player. Eerily, he was supposed to be the second coming of Len Bias.

[PAmedic]

Shawn Bradley.

just like sticking his name in there, though he WAS Mr big shot coming outta BYU (at least, Philly thought so )

Actually was expecting more of you Southern people to say Bobby Hurley.

[Libertine]

Actually was expecting more of you Southern people to say Bobby Hurley.

Why? Is Billy Packer a registered user?

[4everfsu]

If you ever get to see game film of Pistol Pete there is one scene where he is on a fast break two on one. He takes the ball behind his back, passes thru the defender legs and the defender is running with Pistol to his team mate on a perfect bounce pass for a layup. Of course his team mates had bruises on their face thru out Pete's career, not knowing when Pistol would pass the ball.
Another interesting thing about Pete when he played JV ball as LSU, the gym was packed. When the game was over the gym was empty out even as the varsity team was getting ready to play.

[TIMSCAR20]

Sorry Sly, I wasn't taking the thread litterally. No I am not that old that I saw Kareem or Walton for that matter. The first year I watched college ball was in 1975-76 when IU won it all. So I guess I can amend my list somewhat. No Pistol, Walton, Kareem, Big E. I did see David Thompson play though. It was a pleasure to meet him the couple of times I have as well. Once he was in our office talking with coach Meyer when I was coaching and the other was a somewhat memorable speech he gave at FCA in Lynchburg late 2003. Mantlo and Martin sat at my table and they really loved to hear those stories.

[DukeFan]

Jason Williams.....his soph year. Simply dominating. Ask some maryland fans. Gone in 60 seconds ring a bell?

[thesportscritic]

tarheels all the way duke fan. but jason williams was a great player for Duke and I saw that game where Duke erased a 10 point lead at Maryland a few years back and that was unreal. Why not register and stay around for a while Duke Fan.

[PAmedic]

finally someone here to balance out the annoying 'Heel fanatics we have

thanx DUKIE

[thesportscritic]

finally someone here to balance out the annoying 'Heel fanatics we have

thanx DUKIE

Ha Ha !!!!!!!!! medic

[TIMSCAR20]

Jason Williams? Wow what a fan pick that is. I may have to throw in Ed Pinkney or Mark Macon. Jason may not even be a top 5 Duke player of all time. I like Duke a lot but I can't sanction that pick. Battier had a better career than J Will I would say IMHO.

[A.G.]

Half-way down page two, and no mention of the ACC's All-time Leading Scorer??

As much as "I love Duke", I cannot put JJ even in the top 10 all time in the ACC, let alone the top 50 in CBB.

[bigsmooth]

Ima biased so i will say ralph smapson, but seeing so many ACC games live, i would put lenny bias in the mix.

[LUconn]

I'd like to say Carmelo Anthony, but only playing 1 year probably eliminates him from the discussion. It's too hard to weight that aspect.

I'd also like to say Chis Webber, who's college image will always be tarnished because of his time out.

So I'll go with a homer pick and say Ray Allen.

[givemethemic]

If you are going to mention Ray Allen you have got to mention Allen Iverson, boy did he have some sick games under Coach Thompson!!!

[WinthropEagleFan]

If you are going to mention Ray Allen you have got to mention Allen Iverson, boy did he have some sick games under Coach Thompson!!!

When I was in high school, I got nose-bleed seats in the old Capital Centre to watch Iverson's Georgetown team play UConn and Ray Allen. Great game.

[LUconn]

If you are going to mention Ray Allen you have got to mention Allen Iverson, boy did he have some sick games under Coach Thompson!!!

I had actually considered bringing him up but I didn't want the Pennsylvanians to wet themselves.

[givemethemic]

Well he came from VA so we claim him... the PA people can wet themselves all they want

[Purple Haize]

Tim Scarborough
Chandler Thompson - Ball State
Shawn Kemp (Although I did outscore him 3 - 2 in our head to head match up!!)
Jay Edwards - IU
Chris Washburn - GED