Sports

The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time 

Ranker NCAA Basketball
Updated January 16, 2020 1.1k votes 259 voters 4.2k views 30 items

List Rules Upvote the best basketball players in Gamecocks history based only on the player's college career.

South Carolina basketball fans, we’re ranking the best South Carolina Gamecocks of all-time. This list of South Carolina basketball players includes current and former players, along with the seasons played with the college. Featuring All-Americans, players in the NBA, and school legends who had their jerseys retired, the top players from University of South Carolina men's basketball team history include Alex English, BJ McKie, Renaldo Balkman, and Mike Dunleavy, Sr. Who is the best South Carolina Gamecock ever?

In the 2017-18 NCAA Division I men’s basketball season, the South Carolina Gamecocks roster has the starting five: Hassani Gravett, Evan Hinson, Justin Minaya, Chris Silva, and Maik Kotsar.

Vote up the ones you think are the greatest South Carolina basketball players in Gamecocks history. Feel free to add any Gamecock freshmen, NBA rookies, or South Carolina alumni missing from the list.

list ordered by
1
Alex English is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Small forward from Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America

Age: 65

Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets

Gamecocks career: 1972–1976

More Alex English ❯

#88 of 870 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #632 of 2,166 The Best Athletes Of All Time #39 of 151 The Best NBA Players with No Championship Rings

2
Sindarius Thornwell is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time

Gamecocks career: 2013–2017
3
John Roche is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
John Roche

Age: 70

Teams: New York Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets

Gamecocks career: 1968–1971
4
Mike Dunleavy, Sr. is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time

Age: 65

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks

Gamecocks career: 1972–1976

More Mike Dunleavy, Sr. ❯

#119 of 242 The Best White Players in NBA History #45 of 71 The All Time Greatest NBA Coaches #14 of 23 The Best Lakers Coaches of All Time, Ranked

5
BJ McKie is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
BJ McKie

Age: 42

Gamecocks career: 1996–1999
6
Brian Winters is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time

Age: 67

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks

Gamecocks career: 1971–1974
7
Devan Downey is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Devan Downey

Age: 32

Gamecocks career: 2007–2010
8
Renaldo Balkman is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Small forward and Power forward from New York City, New York

Age: 35

Teams: New York Knicks

Gamecocks career: 2003–2006
9
Kevin Joyce is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time

Age: 68

Teams: Indiana Pacers

Gamecocks career: 1970–1973
10
Jo Jo English is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time

Age: 49

Gamecocks career: 1988–1992
11
PJ Dozier is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Shooting guard from Columbia

Number: 35

Teams: Denver Nuggets

Gamecocks career: 2015–2017
12
Tom Owens is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Center from New York City, New York

Age: 70

Teams: Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons

Gamecocks career: 1968–1971
13
Tom Riker is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Center from Rockville Centre, New York

Age: 69

Teams: New York Knicks

Gamecocks career: 1969–1972
14
Zam Fredrick is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Zam Fredrick

Age: 60

Gamecocks career: 1977–1981
15
Grady Wallace is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Grady Wallace

Gamecocks career: 1955–1957
16
Larry Davis is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Larry Davis

Gamecocks career: 1995-1997
17
Melvin Watson is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Melvin Watson

Gamecocks career: 1994-1998
18
Cedrick Hordges is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Cedrick Hordges

Age: 58

Teams: Denver Nuggets

Gamecocks career: 1978–1980
19
Ryan Stack is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Power forward and Center from Nashville, Tennessee

Age: 44

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers

Gamecocks career: 1994–1998
20
Freddie Thompkins is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Freddie Thompkins

Gamecocks career: 1932-1934
21
Skip Harlicka is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Skip Harlicka

Age: 73

Teams: Atlanta Hawks

Gamecocks career: 1965–1968
22
Tarence Kinsey is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Shooting guard and Small forward from Tampa, Florida

Age: 35

Teams: Memphis Grizzlies

Gamecocks career: 2002–2006
23
Mike Brittain is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Center from Clearwater, Florida

Age: Dec. at 32 (1963-1995)

Gamecocks career: 1981–1985
24
Jim Slaughter is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Jim Slaughter Center from Roanoke, Virginia

Age: Dec. at 71 (1928-1999)

Teams: Baltimore Bullets

Gamecocks career: 1947–1951
25
Gary Gregor is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest South Carolina Basketball Players of All Time
Power forward and Center from Charles Town, West Virginia

Age: 74

Teams: Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Nets

Gamecocks career: 1965–1968