7 Greatest College Basketball Players From New York
New York is known for producing some of the greatest basketball players that have ever played the game. Decades of talent got their start on the NY playgrounds before becoming great college players.
Here are the 7 greatest college basketball players from New York. Check out the NY legends below and check out online MSW programs in New York.
7. Dolph Schayes (The Bronx)
Dolph Schayes set the standard for top players coming out of NY. The Bronx legend set the original public school record of 30 points in a game before going to NYU.
At NYU, Schayes became a college Hall of Famer and was one of the first to hit the 1,000 point mark. He only got better in the NBA as he became a 12x champion and a 12x all star.
For setting the standard, Dolph Schayes starts the 7 greatest college basketball players from New York list.
6. Marcus Camby (New York City)
Marcus Camby comes in next on the 7 greatest college basketball players from New York list. The Knick great first made his name on the famous NY street courts before going to high school in Connecticut.
Camby was then recruited by UMass where he led the team during one of their best eras. His two-way dominance helped lead UMass to back-to-back Elite Eight and Final Four appearances as a junior and senior.
As a pro, Camby was one of the top defenders during his career. He spent five of his 17 NBA seasons playing for his hometown team in the Knicks.
5. Lenny Wilkins (Brooklyn)
Before he was an all-time great coach, Lenny Wilkins was one of the 7 greatest college basketball players from New York. As a teen, Wilkins became a NY high school legend playing at the Boys High School in Brooklyn.
His basketball prowess earned him a scholarship at Providence University. Wilkins was the starting point guard and averaged 15.4 points and 6.7 assists.
Wilkins later played in the NBA for 15 years, but he’s most known for his coaching career. He recorded 1332 career wins and became a Hall of Famer.
4. Sihugo “Si” Green (New York City)
Sihugo “Si” Green helped set the standard for great point guards from New York. Si grew up playing street ball in NYC and played in the same boy’s school as Lenny Wilkins.
His talent earned him a scholarship to Duquesne University, he became a 2x All-American. Green’s junior year was his best as he averaged a double-double with 24.5 points and 13.2 rebounds.
He went on to play a decade in the NBA for multiple teams.
3. Kemba Walker (The Bronx)
Kemba Walker grew his talent playing in the Bronx for Rice High School and became a touted prospect. This led UConn’s Jim Calhoun to recruit Walker to play for the Huskies in Connecticut.
Walker became the anchor for one of the great college teams of the last generation. He got people talking his junior year as he averaged 23.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.5 rebounds.
During his senior year, he reached his potential as he led UConn to win the national title. The Final Four MVP went on to play 14 NBA seasons and recently retired last season.
2. Chris Mullins (Brooklyn)
No list of the 7 greatest college basketball players from New York would be respectable without the great Chris Mullins. The Brooklyn great was a lights out shooter who was beloved in his city.
Mullins decided to stay home and play for St John’s where he became a legend. New York’s “Mr. Basketball” let St. John’s to the 1985 Final Fours his senior year.
During his collegiate career, Mullins was a 3x Big East POTY during the conference’s greatest era. Mullins went on to have a great NBA career and won Olympic gold with the Dream Team.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (New York City)
It’s an undebatable fact that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is #1 on the 7 greatest college basketball players from New York list. When you read the NYC native’s college stats, they don’t seem believable.
Under the legendary John Wooden, Kareem was the best college basketball player of all-time. He won three straight national titles and was a 3x Final Four MVP.
Kareem was also the first recipient of the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1969. His stats speak for themselves and he’s one of the greatest basketball players to ever step on the court.
