Fave Five All-Time Wildcats

Well, we have a little lull now that the season is over waiting for the lottery and draft and the new recruits to arrive.  So, I thought it would be a good time to ask who the best and your favorite all-time wildcat players are.  I haven't come up with my list yet, so I'll set the parameters here with nothing particular in mind.  Choose your player(s) with this as a guideline.

A)  You had to see the player play live or on TV for the wildcats; he may or may not have been a pro.  (though you can use pro career to help support your case)

B)  It might be most fun to pick a lineup (C, PF, SF, SG, PG), maybe a best all-time lineup and a favorite all-time lineup.  Be clear as to which players you are picking as the best, and which you pick as your favorites.

C)  Give some props to your players and tell us why they deserve your vote.

Be creative - think back to the good old days -  let's put those great players of past and present out there for recognition.

I should disclaim that I'll just put Kerr and Elliott up top right here as they are the above and elite for a variety of reasons in 'Cats history.

The rest I organized into rough lineups, but sometimes a player is off by 1 position (PF playing C, or similar)

Best Five all-time:  Mike Bibby, Gilbert Arenas, Andre Igoudala, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye

Honorable Mention to Jason Terry, Damon and Salim Stoudamire, Jud Buechler, Ricky Anderson, Michael Dickerson

Fav Five all-time:  Khalid Reeves, Miles Simon, Hassan Adams, Chris Mills, Luke Walton

Also, I loved rooting for Chris Rodgers (when he was playing then not then playing lol) Bennett Davidson, Ben Davis, Wayne Womack, Harvey Mason......

I'm sure I'm forgetting dozens .....

Best: Guards - Steve Kerr (isn't he also the NBA's best all-time 3pt % shooter?) and Mike Bibby (thanks for '97 as a Frosh)...........Forwards - Sean Elliott (thanks for staying all 4 years even though you could have left early and made ton of money that year, Pac-10 alltime scoring leader for awhile) and Richard Jefferson (one of the most athletic we've ever had at this position and has done great in the NBA)......Center - Anthony Cook (all time block leader).

Favorites:  Guards - Matt Muehlbach (friends with him in K.C., won more games than any other Wildcat in history, never lost at McKale, and who didn't love saying "Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuehlbach" whenever he'd hit those 3's???), Kenny Loftin- gave me front row seats to a Royals vs Indians baseball game and who wouldn't love a guy that was great in two sports??..................Forwards - Luke Walton (made some incredible passes and was funny in his interviews, Michael Dickerson (it's a '97 thing again).......Center - Sean Rooks (gave me a black-eye in a pick-up game at that basketball court that was on the west-side of the football stadium, underneat stands - I, all 5'11" of me, jumped up to get a rebound and jumped into his elbow).

My picks are not based just on talent or what would make the best starting lineup. Just the guys I have had the most fun watching and/or getting to know.

G -- Steve Kerr (Steeeeeeve Kerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!)

G -- Mike Bibby

(I know they're both point guards, but those are my favorites. Both were the "glue" for their teams. One helped UA to its first Final Four. The other to its first National Championship. I also played softball against Steve right before the Final Four and he was one of the most down-to-earth guys.)

F -- Sean Elliott. This was the player who put UofA on the map. When he stayed in Tucson, the program took off. Collegiate player of the year. First Final Four. And a class guy all the way around. Met him on campus a lot. He never had a big head or attitude.

F -- Luke Walton. Arizona ran its offense through him. Amazing passer for his size. Led the Pac-10 in assists ... as a FORWARD! I also like Richard Jefferson, but Luke stayed all four years.

C -- Sean Rooks. Wookie was a beast in the paint and a funny guy off the court.

Other honorable mentions:

F -- Tom Tolbert. The shot he hit against North Carolina on the way to the Final Four was incredible. And he's a cut up off the court. Just look at some of the suits he wears now as a TV analyst.

C -- Joe Turner. JoJo was a riot. I'd catch up with him at Louis' Lower Level at lunch quite a bit. He always had a joke. He was a role player for the Cats, but a lot of fun to be around. After graduation he played in Australia and was scoring like 25 a game. "Just call me Crocodile Joe," he told me.