The 25 greatest players in Texas men’s basketball history

A multi-sport star for the Longhorns, Moers was a two-time All-Southwest Conference performer (1939, ’40) and All-American on the hardcourt. While Moers was a solid scorer while generating success for the Longhorns, who won the SWC title in ’39 and earned a spot in the 1939 NCAA Tournament (the inaugural edition), his ball-handling skills made him one of the great guards of the era. Moers was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor in 1964. 

Martin played at 5-foot-10 but was a larger-than-life presence on the basketball court. During his final collegiate season, Martin averaged 16 points and was named an All-American, and scored a then-school-record 49 points against TCU. He averaged nearly 13 points during his career, and was also known for his playmaking abilities. There are those basketball historians who credit Martin as being the game’s first incarnation of a point guard. A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Martin’s No. 15 jersey was retired at UT.

An All-Southwest Conference performer in both 1956 and ’57, Downs ranked among the nation’s top scorers during the former season while averaging 26.4 points per game — which is still the highest in school history. For his three-season career with the Longhorns, Downs totaled 1,558 points, and his 18 career games of 30 or more points are also the most by any player to suit up for the Longhorns. His 22.3 career scoring average ranks second in the annals of Texas basketball.

The pride of Lamesa, Texas, Robinson was twice named Southwest Conference Player of the Year (1972, ’74), and he also helped lead the Longhorns to a pair of league championships during his three seasons in Austin. A member of the University of Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, Robinson averaged 21.5 points (ranked third in program history) as a Longhorn, and scored 30 or more 12 times (third-most in school history) in a game. Robinson finished his stellar collegiate career with 1,377 points and 623 rebounds. 

Smooth and efficient on floor, Moore holds the honor of being Texas’ all-time assists leader with 714. He also owns four of the five-highest assist games in the history of Longhorns basketball, including a school-record 19 on two occasions. However, the two-time team MVP and All-SWC pick could also score the basketball at a high rate. He totaled 1,482 points while starting all 112 games he played for the Longhorns. Moore’s 609 made field goals ranked among the top 10 in school history.

Another one of Texas’ all-time great offensive performers after beginning his college career at Auburn. Krivacs averaged 19.5 points and totaled 1,673 — both among the school’s top 10 career list — during his three seasons with the Longhorns. The All-American averaged a career-high 22.0 points during the 1977-78 season, when he helped the Longhorns win the NIT. Krivacs scored 30 or more points 11 times and 40 twice while at Texas, where his 697 career made field goals rank fifth and his 86.9 field-goal percentage is second-best all time.

Baxter hit the ground running at Texas. He started all 26 games as a freshman (while averaging 16.7 points and 8.5 rebounds), and all but four of 116 during those four standout seasons for the Longhorns. A two-time All-SWC performer, Baxter averaged career highs with 19.0 points and 8.9 rebounds during Texas’ run to the NIT title during that 1977-78 campaign. Baxter’s 1,897 career points and 916 rebounds each rank among the school’s all-time top 10. He also registered 40 doubles-doubles while starring for the Longhorns.

Thompson was a complete stud during his three seasons with the Longhorns, especially when it came to cleaning the glass. For more than 20 years, Thompson was the school’s all-time rebounds leader with 1,027 — and first to reach 1,000 boards. Meanwhile, his 11.8 rebounds per game average remains a school record, as does his 13.5 rpg from 1981-82. Thompson also averaged 16.8 career points per game and his 1,463 total ranks among the top 20, while his 55.3 field-goal percentage is seventh in school history. A two-time All-SWC selection, Thompson went on to enjoy a 16-season NBA career.

There are two players in the history of Texas Longhorns basketball that have reached the 2,000-point mark. Mays is one of them, ranking second all time in school history with 2,279 points, spanning a brilliant four-year career at Texas. A three-time Southwest Conference First-Team selection, Mays was the league’s player of the year in 1989 and ’90. He averaged 21.9 points on 44.9-percent shooting in ’89, and 24.1 (third-best in school history for single season) the following campaign. In addition, Mays’ 758 career made field goals rank third at Texas, while his 664 made 3-pointers sit fourth entering the 2023-24 season.

Blanks’ college basketball career actually began at Virginia, where he started once in 38 games over two seasons. However, his two seasons were much different. at Texas — and certainly for the better. His 1,322 points are the most by any two-year player for the Longhorns. In his first season at Texas, Blanks averaged 19.7 points per game to go with 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals. A season later, he was scoring 20.3 points per game. That 20.0 career scoring average ranks fourth among Longhorns. Sadly, Blanks, who played in the NBA and was general manager of the Phoenix Suns in the early 2010s, took his own life in 2023.

Part of the “BMW Ultimate Scoring Machine,” along with the aforementioned Travis Mays and Lance Banks on those Longhorns teams of the late 1980s and into the ’90s. Wright began his career at Drake, then landed in Austin, where he averaged 18.8 points on 46.0-percent shooting. Considering Wright is the school’s all-time leader by shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, he might be the greatest shooter in the history of Texas basketball. His 1,819 career points rank seventh all time. A season after he averaged 19.5 points to help the Longhorns reach the Elite Eight in 1989-90, Wright averaged 21.2 points to earn all-SWC First-Team honors. 

In terms of national recognition, Burditt was an underrated talent. However, within the confines of the Texas Longhorns basketball program, Burditt fared well enough to earn a spot on our list. He should go down as one of the top defensive paint players in school history, ranking among the Longhorns’ all-time top 10 in rebounds (897), blocks (236) and steals (170). Burditt also topped the 1,000-point mark for his 113-game college career, and averaged 15.1 points during his final season of 1993-94.

Tyler’s college career got off to a slow start at DePaul, where he played in 17 games and averaged just under 3.0 points before making the move to Austin. Times were much better there for Tyler, who averaged better than 17 points per game in each of his three seasons, including 22.8 ppg and 6.3 assists when he was named Southwest Conference Player of the Year and third-team All-American (from The AP) in 1993-94. For his three seasons at Texas, Tyler totaled 1,552 points, 516 assists (third-most in school history) and 216 made 3-pointers (ranked sixth)

When it comes to overall talent on both ends of the court, there weren’t many better in the college game during the mid-1990s than Rencher. In addition to sitting atop Texas’ all-time scoring list with 2,306 points, he’s No. 1 on the school’s career steals list with 255. Rencher started 121 of the 124 games he played during his four seasons at Texas, where he was the Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year (1992) and two-time SWC first-teamer (1992. ’95). Rencher is also the Longhorns’ all-time leader with 826 made field goals and ranks seventh in assists (440).

A two-time all-conference first-team selection (1996, ’97), Freeman played 123 games at Texas, starting 93 and averaging 15.9 points per game. His 1,958 points during his four-year Longhorns career is the fourth-highest total in school history. He averaged a career-best 22.4 ppg in 1995-96 and 21.8 the following season; both averages rank among the highest in program history. Entering the 2023-24 campaign, Freeman’s 43 points versus Fresno State in Dec. 1996 are tied for the fifth-highest single-game effort at Texas.

Solidly dependable, Clack was as versatile as they come while starring for his hometown school. Entering the 2023-24 season, the Austin product ranks among the school’s all-time top 10 in points (1,592), rebounds (771) and steals (239). A 44.1-percent shooter for his four-year college career, Clack averaged a career-high 17.3 points in 1997-98 — the first of his two seasons earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. Clack averaged 13.3 points, 6.4 points and 2.0 assists and steals during his time with the Longhorns. 

The 7-footer enjoyed a highly productive three-season career at Texas, and should go down as one of the great big men in the history of the program. Mihm scored more than 1,400 points and shot nearly 50 percent with the Longhorns. Taking his accomplishments a step further, Mihm ranks fourth in school history with 945 rebounds and remains the Longhorns’ all-time leader with 264 blocked shots. He recorded 90-block seasons in both 1997-98 and 1999-2000. The latter earned Mihm, a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 Conference performer and twice named to the league’s all-defensive team, consensus All-American recognition.

One of the greatest players in the history of the Big 12, Ford was a playmaker who made it look very easy. He started all 66 games he played in two seasons with the Longhorns, and became the first freshman to lead the nation in assists (8.3 per game) during the 2001-02 season. In his second, and final, collegiate campaign of 2002-03, Ford averaged 15.0 points, 7.7 assists and 2.0 steals while leading the Longhorns to their most recent Final Four appearance — and winning the Wooden Award and Naismith Player of the Year.

Tucker had an interesting career at Texas, filled with plenty of promise, which eventually led to a successful run in the NBA. Tucker averaged 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 33 games as a freshman. However, academic issues limited him to 17 games in 2004-05, when he put up 13.7 points and grabbed 8.0 boards per game. However, 2005-06 proved to be Tucker’s shining moment with the Longhorns. He set career highs with 16.1 points per game, 9.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals to win Big 12 Player of the Year. 

Aldridge certainly enjoyed a strong NBA career, but while his college days weren’t overly dominant, from a statistical standpoint he was one of the finest overall talents to ever suit up for the Longhorns. Aldridge laid the ground work while starting all 16 games he played during a freshman campaign that was limited due to a shoulder issue. However, as a sophomore, Aldridge averaged 15 points and 9.2 rebounds, while also being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. His 58.6 career field-goal percentage ranks third in school history.

It’s more than fair to put Durant up there with Carmelo Anthony and Anthony Davis when it comes to the great one-and-done college players of all time. During his lone season for the Longhorns in 2006-07, the 6-9 Durant averaged 25.8 points per game (second-highest in school history for a season and tops for a career), 11.1 rebounds (third at Texas for a season) and 1.3 assists to become the first freshman to earn consensus national player of the year honors — highlighted by winning the Wooden and Naismith College Player of the Year Awards. Durant also holds the school’s single-season record for points (903) and made field goals (306).

Arguably the greatest 3-point shooter in the history of Texas Longhorns basketball, at least from a statistical standpoint. Abrams is the school’s all-time leader with 389 made 3-pointers, which also set a Big 12 Conference record. He also made at least 105 3s in each of his final three seasons at Texas, where he was twice named an All-Big 12 Second Team selection. For his career, Abrams ranks third in school history with 1,969 points, while shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc as a Longhorn.

Augustin played just two seasons in Austin but has long been lauded as one of the program’s great players. As a freshman, playing alongside Kevin Durant and A.J. Abrams, Augustin averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 assists while starting all 35 games to earn Big 12 Rookie of the Year honors. A season later, Augustin took on more of a scoring role, by posting a team-high 19.2 points, and recording nearly six assists per contest while being named a consensus All-American and winning the Bob Cousy Award, honoring the nation’s top point guard. Augustin’s 452 assists rank among the school’s all-time top 10

While Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin garnered most of the attention during the Longhorns’ 2007-08 season, James started all 35 games as a freshman for the Longhorns. When his four-year playing career at Texas came to an end, James had started 140 of 142 games, totaled 1,917 points (fifth-most in school history) and a Longhorns-record 1,318 rebounds. That played out to averages of 13.5 points and 9.3 boards. In 2009-10, James was third-team All-American honors from The Associated Press for averaging career bests of 18.0 points — on 50.1-percent shooting — and 10.3 rebounds. 

One season was all Thompson needed to etch his name along with the other greats in Longhorns basketball history. Thompson earned team MVP honors during his lone 2010-11 campaign, when he averaged 13.1 points and team-highs of 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. All while helping those Longhorns go 28-8 and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Thompson also won Big 12 Freshman of the Year before deciding he would strike out on his own in the NBA, where he won a world championship with Cleveland in 2016.