Top 25 Maryland Terrapin Basketball Players Since 1970

The University of Maryland basketball program has produced some of the greatest players in not only the Atlantic Coast Conference, but all of college basketball.

Here is a subjective look at the top 25 Maryland Terrapins basketball players since 1970, along with honorable mentions.  Why 1970? Maryland had many great players before ’70, most notably All-Americans Louis Berger in the 1930s and Gene Shue in the 1950s.  But when Lefty Driesell arrived as coach in 1969, he ushered in a new era, leading Maryland to national prominence.  Teams led by Tom McMillen, Len Elmore, and John Lucas in the early ‘70s were among the best in the country. 

All-Americans Albert King and Buck Williams led Maryland to the 1980 ACC regular season title.

Then in the mid ‘80s there was the incomparable Len Bias.

Walt Williams helped save the program in the early 1990s.  Joe Smith was part of a group that got the Terps back to the NCAA tournament in 1994. That started a run of 11 straight NCAA appearances.

In 2002, coach Gary Williams led Maryland to its only national title behind the strong team play of Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, and Steve Blake.

Though the Terps have recently fallen on hard times, making only three NCAA tournaments in the past eight years, few programs have produced as many great players as Maryland has in the last four decades.

Honorable Mention

Honorable Mention:  Jeff Adkins (‘81-‘85), Lawrence Boston (’75-78), Owen Brown (‘72-‘75), Evers Burns (’89-93), Nik Caner-Medley (‘02-‘06), Ben Coleman (‘82-‘84), Obinna Ekezie (’95-‘99), Rodney Elliott (‘94-‘98), John Gilchrist (‘02-‘05), James Gist (‘04-‘08), Eric Hayes (‘06-‘10), Will Hetzel (1967-70), Exree Hipp (‘92-‘96), Tahj Holden (’99-03), Ekene Ibekwe (‘03-‘07), Sarunas Jasikevicius (‘94-‘98), Cedric Lewis (’87-91), Tony Massenburg (‘85-‘90), Kevin McLinton (’89-’93), Chris McCray (‘02-‘06), Landon Milbourne (’06-’10), Dutch Morley (‘78-‘82), Terence Morris (‘97-‘01), Sean Mosley (‘08-’12), Byron Mouton (‘00-‘02), Jerrod Mustaf (‘88-‘90), Drew Nicholas (‘99-‘03), Jim O'Brien (‘70-‘73), Laron Profit (‘95-’99), Duane Simpkins (‘94-‘98), Terrell Stoglin (‘10-’12), Terrell Stokes (‘95-‘99), Terell Stoglin (’10-’12),  D.J. Strawberry (‘03-‘07), Herman Veal (’80-84), Jordan Williams (’09-’11). 

This list was first published on March 24, 2010.

25. Larry Gibson

Larry Gibson, center, ’75-‘79.  Led Terps in rebounding and blocked shots three consecutive seasons, also was a solid scoring threat. 

24. Chris Wilcox

Chris Wilcox, power forward, ’00-‘02.  Athletic big man started on national championship team, outplaying Kansas’ Drew Gooden in Final Four and Indiana’s Jared Jeffries in final…Averaged 12 points and seven rebounds sophomore year. 

23. Derrick Lewis

Derrick Lewis, center, ‘84-‘88.  Phenomenal block shot artist who excelled on the defensive side of the ball…Once had 12 blocks in a game and still holds the Terps’ record for most blocks in a career…Averaged 4.4 blocks per game in ‘87 (younger brother Cedric averaged 5.5 in ‘91!)…Also led Terps in steals for three seasons.

22. Steve Sheppard

Steve Sheppard, small forward, ‘74-’77.  Led Terps in scoring in ’77, averaging more than 16 points per game…Played on gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team in ’76...Shot 53 percent from the field for his career.

21. Mo Howard

Mo Howard, shooting guard ‘72-’76.  An excellent shooter who was part of teams that won 80% of their games (92-23)…Led Maryland in field goal percentage twice...Named all-ACC in '75.
 

20. Keith Gatlin

Keith Gatlin, point guard, ‘83-‘88.  Rangy point guard could pass and score with style...Ranks second all-time among Terps in assists and averaged 7.7 assists in NCAA tournament…Part of four NCAA tournament teams. 

19. Johnny Rhodes

Johnny Rhodes, shooting guard, ‘92-‘96. Maryland’s all-time steals leader averaged an incredible 3.7 per game in ‘96 and led Terps in steals each of his four seasons…Best rebounder of all guards who played at Maryland… Part of teams that went to Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons after Terps missed NCAA tournament for five seasons…A defensive specialist, Rhodes still averaged 16.7 points in ‘97. 

18. Greg Manning

Greg Manning, shooting guard, ‘77-‘81…Great pure shooter who could also penetrate to the basket for layups…Shot an unheard of (for a guard) 64.3percent from the field in ’80 when he was named to the all-ACC team…Was also good at distributing to teammates.

17. Steve Francis

Steve Francis, shooting guard, ’98-‘99.  All-around player who could score, pass, and rebound and had unbelievable explosion to the basket…Named to All-American team…Led Terps to season-ending number five ranking.  Averaged 17 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game in his single season with Terps…Picked second overall in the ’99 NBA draft. 

16. Lonny Baxter

Lonny Baxter, center, ‘98-‘02. At 6-7, outplayed many bigger players…Along with Dixon and Blake, led Maryland to national championship win in ’02…Named first-team All-American in ‘02.  Ranks second on Maryland’s all-time rebounding list and seventh in scoring…Named all-conference three seasons.  

15. Adrian Branch

Adrian Branch, small forward, ‘81-‘85.  Led Maryland in scoring two seasons…One of the best pure shooters ever to play at Maryland…Fifth on Terps all-time scoring list and also led Terps in steals two seasons…Two-time all-ACC selection…In ’84, led Maryland to its first ACC tournament title in 26 years. 

14. Brad Davis

Brad Davis, point guard, ‘74-‘77.  Elite point guard was an adept passer who was also a solid scorer...Led Terps to Elite Eight in ‘75 season...Led Maryland in assists three years in a row including ’75 and ’76 when he played with Lucas…Averaged 5.9 
assists in ’76…Two-time all-ACC selection. 

13. Ernest Graham

Ernest Graham, shooting guard/small forward, ‘77-‘81.  Third star alongside King and Buck Williams could drive to the hoop and hit the outside jumper...Still holds Terps record for most points in a game with 44 vs. N.C. State in ’78…Led Terps in assists junior and senior seasons. 

12. Steve Blake

Steve Blake, point guard, ‘99-‘03.  Started on two Final Four teams including ‘02 championship-winning squad…Played with great quickness, threading the needle on many fast break passes, and was a skilled three-point shooter…Became the first ACC player to record 1,000 points, 800 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals… Averaged seven assists per game over his career…Started Maryland record 136 games. 

11. Keith Booth

Keith Booth, power forward, ‘93-‘97.  Averaged 19.5 points as a senior, made more free throws than any player in Terp history and ranks sixth on Maryland’s all-time rebounding list despite being only 6-4 and playing power forward...Played a key role in Maryland’s resurgence to NCAA tournament after five-year absence…Decision to attend Maryland opened pipeline for other Baltimore players to play for the Terps. 

10. Greivis Vasquez

Greivis Vasquez, shooting guard, ‘06-‘10.  Scored from inside and out, also an excellent passer and rebounder for his size…Only player in ACC history with 2,000 points, 700 assists, and 600 rebounds…Was voted ‘10 ACC Player of the Year…Maryland’s second all-time leading scorer...Only Terrapin basketball player to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists in a single season…Had triple double in win vs. eventual national champion North Carolina junior year…Scored 10 points in final two minutes of final college game, an NCAA second round loss to Michigan State. 

9. Len Elmore

Len Elmore, power forward, ‘71-‘74.  Named first-team All-American in ‘74…Maryland's all-time leading rebounder, averaged 14.7 rebounds in ‘74…Along with McMillen, led Maryland to 73-17 record in his three seasons…Cerebral player later earned law degree from Harvard. 

8. Albert King

Albert King, small forward, ‘77-‘81.  King had a silky smooth jump shot and quick moves to the basket…Two-time All-American was named ACC Player of the Year in ‘80, averaging 21.7 points…Was Maryland’s fourth all-time leading scorer and best rebounder for a non-center/power forward. 

7. Joe Smith

Joe Smith, center, ‘93-‘95.  Athletic center dominated the ACC his sophomore year…Won ‘95 College Player of the Year award…Averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds for his two-year career…Terps made Sweet 16 in both his seasons after five-year NCAA drought...Drafted number one overall in ‘95 NBA draft. 

6. Buck Williams

Buck Williams, center, ‘78-‘81. The 6-8 Williams consistently outplayed Virginia’s 7-4 three-time College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson…Scored 15.5 points per game his final two years and averaged 10.9 rebounds for his career, leading the ACC in rebounding twice…Holds team record for best shooting percentage in a season (64.7 percent in ‘81)…Selected to the ‘80 USA Olympic basketball team. 

5. Tom McMillen

Tom McMillen, center, ‘71-‘74.  Rangy left-handed big man had a crafty scoring and rebounding touch and was an intelligent player who became a Rhodes Scholar…Three-time All-American averaged 20.5 points and 9.8 rebounds during his three-year career…Led Maryland to the Elite Eight in ’73 and season-ending No. 4 ranking in ‘74…Member of ‘72 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team.

4. Walt Williams

Walt Williams, shooting guard/small forward/point guard, ‘88-‘92.  It’s not an exaggeration to say the “Wizard” saved the Maryland program when he decided to stay after the Terps were put on NCAA probation from ’91-‘93…In ‘92, Williams averaged a school-record 26.8 points per game, and also had 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals...Named All-American senior year when he scored more than 30 points in seven straight ACC games. 

3. John Lucas

John Lucas, point guard, ‘72-‘76. Master at creating shots for himself and his teammates, running a Terp offense that averaged 90 points a game in ‘75, before the advent of the three-point shot…Three-time All-American led Maryland to the Elite Eight in ‘73 and ‘75 seasons…First freshman to play on the Maryland varsity…Averaged more than 19 points each of his last three seasons…No. 1 overall pick in the 1976 NBA draft. 

2. Juan Dixon

Juan Dixon, shooting guard, ‘98-‘02.  Excelled at mid-range jumpers, three-pointers, defense, and steals and played with a lot of heart…Team leader brought Maryland to back to back Final Fours including its only national championship in ’02, and was named first-team All-American…Earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the ‘02 Final Four, averaging 25.8 points in NCAA tournament that year…Was Maryland's all-time leader in scoring and three-pointers and second in steals…Averaged 20 points a game in ‘02…Led Terps to 109 wins in four seasons. 

1. Len Bias

Len Bias, small forward/power forward, 1982-1986.  Bias could do it all.  It’s still hard to find a player today, college or pro, who compares favorably with Bias.  With otherworldly, supreme athleticism, he could take it to the basket, shoot jumpers, defend, rebound, block shots and pass.  Bias took over games with ruthless competitiveness...Improved every season, averaging 23.2 points in ‘86…Two-time ACC Player of the Year…Named ACC tournament MVP in ‘84…Consensus first-team All-American in ‘86…Played in four NCAA tournaments, reaching Sweet 16 twice…Second player picked in ‘86 NBA draft…Best and most exciting player in Maryland history.  Greatest player in ACC history.