Syracuse

Point guard
Sherman Douglas
1985-1989
14.9 ppg 7 apg 53.8 FG pct 33.2 3PT pct

At the time, Douglas was one of the most successful point guards in NCAA history. During his senior season in 1989, Douglas set the NCAA all-time assists record with 960. He now ranks sixth on the all-time list. During that same season, Douglas tied another NCAA record for assists in a game with 22 against Providence. Nicknamed “The General” for his proficiency in running the point, the 1989 second-team All-American remains the hallmark for pass-first point guards at Syracuse.

Shooting guard
Dwayne “Pearl” Washington
1983-1986
15.6 ppg 6.7 apg 52.4 FG pct

Washington arrived at Syracuse as the No. 1 high school player in the nation, and is viewed by many as the individual player that meant the most to SU. Statistically, the guard may not stack up with some of the other players on this list, or even some that get left off, but the 1985 second-team All-American’s arrival at Syracuse was a turning point for the program.

Small forward
Carmelo Anthony
2002-2003
22.2 ppg 10 rpg 45.4 FG pct 33.7 3PT pct

Anthony played just one season at Syracuse, but no player had a bigger effect. A first-team All-American and the Big East Rookie of the Year, Anthony guided the Orangemen to the program’s first and only national championship. The small forward scored 20 points in the championship game against Kansas, 33 in the Final Four against Texas and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Power forward
Derrick Coleman
1986-1990
15 ppg 10.8 rpg 56.8 FG pct

Syracuse’s only No. 1 draft pick, Coleman had perhaps the most successful four-year career in SU history. The big man was a first-team All-American and Big East Player of the Year during his senior season, and were it not for a Keith Smart game-winner, he would have helped the Orangemen to its first national championship in 1987.

Center
Rony Seikaly
1984-1988

The Lebanon-native arrived at Syracuse after a high school career in Athens, Greece. During his time with the Orangemen, Seikaly became one of the most accomplished centers in school history. He was a second-team All-American during his senior season, and graduated as the school’s all-time rebounds leader, second in blocks and fourth in scoring. Seikaly also helped guide SU to the 1987 national championship game, averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds on the way.

Coach
Jim Boeheim
1976-present
912-308

It’s easy to forget there have been other coaches in Syracuse’s history. Boeheim became just the third head coach to join the 900-win club earlier this season, and brought the program its only national championship in 2003. Boeheim also took home five different coach of the year honors during the 2010 season, won the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching award in 2006, the Clair Bee Coach of the Year award in 2000 and is a four-time Big East Coach of the Year.

Georgetown

Point guard
Allen Iverson
1994-1996
23 ppg 4.6 apg 44 FG pct 31.5 3PT pct

Not often are undersized guards associated with Georgetown — usually it’s defensive-minded centers. Iverson was an exception, but it also made him the most exciting Hoya of all time. He only played two seasons, but guided GU to Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances, and was a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-American during his sophomore season, and became the first player to leave early under head coach John Thompson.

Shooting guard
Eric “Sleepy” Floyd
1978-1982
17.7 ppg 2.7 apg 49.6 FG pct

Numerically, Floyd may not stack up, but the point guard controlled games when he was at Georgetown, especially during the 1982 run to the national championship game. Floyd was a first-team All-American while scoring 16.7 points per game on a better-than-50-percent field goal percentage.

Small forward
Jeff Green
2004-2007
13.1 ppg 6.5 rpg 48.8 FG pct 35.9 3PT pct

By far the most recent player on this list, Green’s selection may surprise some. Green arrived at Georgetown when the program was caught in the doldrums, and by his senior year, had won a Big East Player of the Year award and guided the Hoyas to the Final Four. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA East Regional after hitting a game-winner in the Sweet 16 against Vanderbilt and guiding GU to its first Final Four since Patrick Ewing was in Washington, D.C.

Power forward
Alonzo Mourning
1988-1992
16.7 ppg 8.6 rpg 3.8 bpg 56.6 FG pct

Just three years after he graduated, legendary center Patrick Ewing was followed up by Mourning. The center led the nation in blocked shots as a freshman and was a two-time All-American. Mourning garnered second-team honors in 1990, and was a first-team All-American as a senior. That same year, he was named Big East Player of the Year and Big East tournament MVP.

Center
Patrick Ewing
1981-1985
15.3 ppg 9.2 rpg 3.4 bpg 62 FG pct

Ewing arrived at Georgetown as one of the most highly touted recruits of all time. The center played in three national championship games and won the 1984 title while also being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. During his senior season, the top-seeded Hoyas were victims to one of the greatest championship game upsets in history, falling to No. 8 Villanova. Still, Ewing was one of the best players in the nation that year, winning the Adolph Rupp Trophy.

Coach
John Thompson
1972-1999
596-239

Thompson is nearly as synonymous with Georgetown as Jim Boeheim is with Syracuse. Both head coaches led their respective programs to their only national championship and guided them to a pair of additional championship games. Thompson led the Hoyas to six Big East tournament championships and seven regular season conference titles. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

— Compiled by David Wilson, assistant sports editor, dbwilson@syr.edu

Published on February 22, 2013 at 2:12 am