Ranking the Top 25 players in South Carolina men’s basketball history
1. John Roche (1968-71)
Gave Frank McGuire’s teams their identity – tough, hard-nosed, elite.
2. Alex English (1972-76)
An athletic specimen who could do anything he wanted on the court (and always did).
3. BJ McKie (1995-99)
Career-leading scorer who paced USC’s only SEC champion.
4. Devan Downey (2007-10)
Hard to find a player who gave more than the scoring dervish from Chester.
5. Kevin Joyce (1970-73)
All-American, 15th on the career scoring list, retired jersey – and the key player on USC’s only ACC champion.
----- ALSO SEE: The Top 25 players in South Carolina women’s basketball history -----
6. Grady Wallace (1955-57)
11th in career scoring despite only playing two seasons, helped by a nation’s-best 31.3 ppg in 1956-57.
7. Jimmy Foster (1980-84)
Fifth in career scoring and rebounding, the wild man was a throwback to the McGuire days.
8. Mike Dunleavy (1972-76)
Had the 3-pointer been around in his day, he may have been USC’s career-best scorer.
9. Tom Owens (1968-71)
Only USC player to score 1,000 points and haul in 1,000 rebounds over three seasons.
10. Art Whisnant (1959-62)
Three-time All-ACC selection still ninth in career scoring.
11. Carlos Powell (2001-05)
No. 7 career scorer and awesomely talented forward who could play any spot.
12. Jack Thompson (1966-68)
Perhaps the best point guard in USC history.
13. Gary Gregor (1965-68)
All-ACC and league’s best rebounder for two seasons, with a double-double average.
14. Jim Slaughter (1947-51)
If official rebounding records had been kept his entire career, he could have set a mark that never would have been broken.
15. Terry Dozier (1985-89)
USC’s first McDonald’s All-American who is 12th on the career scoring chart.
16. Nate Davis (1973-77)
A bruiser who played much bigger than his 6-4 height, Davis finished with 1,345 points.
17. Jo Jo English (1988-92)
Averaged over 15 points per game for final three seasons.
18. Skip Harlicka (1966-68)
17.5 ppg average as a part of McGuire’s first wave of recruits.
19. Tom Riker (1970-72)
19th on the career scoring chart and a man you never, ever messed with.
20. Zam Fredrick (1977-81)
USC’s second national scoring champ. If McGuire had let him do what he did naturally, he’d have had a lot more than 1,383 points.
21. Melvin Watson (1994-98)
Smooth PG who helped USC to back-to-back NCAA tournaments.
22. Brian Winters (1971-74)
Long-range shooter who had a solid career despite injuries.
23. Freddie Tompkins (1932-34)
The star of USC’s first champion, the Southern Conference kings of 1932-33.
24. Joe Smith (1951-55)
23rd in career scoring, fifth in career rebounding.
25. Michael Carrera (2012-16)
If ever a man personified “Fightin’ Gamecock,” it’s him.
This story was originally published November 8, 2016 at 11:22 PM.