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UCLA Bruins Basketball: Mt. Rushmore

By Evan Lovett

Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of statue of former UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden before an NCAA basketball game against the Southern California Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of statue of former UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden before an NCAA basketball game against the Southern California Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 15, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins celebrates with the championship trophy after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference college basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats 75-71. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins celebrates with the championship trophy after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference college basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats 75-71. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mentions:

Ed O’Bannon. The go-to player for 1995 national champions, O’Bannon was Player of the Year and All-American. O’Bannon went on to fight – and win – against the NCAA in a federal antitrust lawsuit regarding payment and compensation of athletes.

Sidney Wicks. Three straight championships from 1969 – 1971, two-time All-American and two-time player of the year, Wicks is one of the most accomplished yet overlooked UCLA athletes of all-time.

Keith (Jamaal) Wilkes. The three-time Academic All-American was nicknamed ‘Silk’ for his smooth jump shot, and was part of UCLA teams that won a record 88 consecutive games. He was a two-time All-American as a Bruin.

Reggie Miller. Played during the least successful period in UCLA basketball history, but did win a NIT Championship. Was only around for one year of the three-point line.

Marques Johnson. With one title and another Final Four appearance, the 1977 Player of the Year is amongst UCLA’s all-time leaders in points and rebounds.

Tyus Edney. 4.8 seconds.

Walt Hazzard. Was MVP of the first national championship team in 1964, named All-American and had his jersey retired. Came back to coach for the Bruins from 1984 -1988, compiling a 77-47 record as head man.

Don Barksdale. “The Jackie Robinson of Basketball” was the first African-American named to the All-America team in 1947. He later became the first African-American to play for the United States Olympic team and was the first African-American NBA All-Star.

David Greenwood. Bruins were 102-17 during his four seasons, and he was elected to the Pac-12 Ring of Honor. Three time all-conference, two-time All-American.

Don MacLean. All-time leading scorer at UCLA, elected to the UCLA Hall of Fame in 2002. Currently an analyst for the Bruins on TV and radio.

Concluding Remarks:

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One could make a case that John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor), Bill Walton and Gail Goodrich could form a Mount Rushmore not just for UCLA, but all of college basketball. Their contributions in Westwood enabled UCLA to scale heights previously unattainable by any program on the college basketball landscape.

Pauley Pavilion has become a cultural lodestone in Westwood, drawing celebrities amongst the denizens that room the legendary arena. With 11 title banners in the rafters to complement the ten retired jerseys, the history is palpable from court side to the nose-bleeds.

Next: Last Night's Ducks Recap

With Sidney Wicks, Keith (Jamaal) Wilkes, Don Barksdale, Walt Hazzard and many other deserving candidates, the Bruins could theoretically have two of the monuments. Though 22 years have passed since the Bruins last cut down the nets, the program remains indelibly imprinted on college basketball, and forever associated with greatness at any level.

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