Texas Basketball: Ranking the 15 Best Longhorns of All Time

Over the years, the Texas Longhorns have had some fantastic players come through Austin. Many games have been won and even more records have been broken by this talented group of Longhorns.

As is expected with a powerhouse like the University of Texas, many of the players went on to pursue NBA dreams early, but that doesn't effect the impact they made on the program.

Furthermore, here is a list of the 15 best Longhorns of all time. 

15. Damion James

James was one of the rare highly-touted players that Rick Barnes was able to keep around in Austin for four years. 

An all around scoring threat who could hit the three or take it to the lane, James improved his scoring total every season he was with the 'Horns, capping out at 18 points per game his senior season.

The extra time in Austin certainly helped improve his game, as he was one of their best scoring threats as a junior and senior. 

James now plays for the New Jersey Nets, and after starting in the team's first seven games, is sitting out the rest of the season with a broken foot. 

14. Ron Baxter

One of the first big time recruits the Longhorns landed, Baxter was a force of nature during his time in Austin.

He is fourth in school history in points scored and rebounds, and was a three-time first-team All-SWC pick. 

The Los Angeles native was one of the first imported recruits (meaning not from Texas) to make a big-time impact for the 'Horns. He is third in Texas history with 40 double-doubles. 

13. James Thomas

James Thomas was a beast on the boards, and is the school's all-time leading rebounder. He headlined a great Longhorns squad alongside T.J. Ford and Royal Ivey. 

He is one of only two players at Texas to finish his career with 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Those statistics prove Thomas was a double-double machine during his time in Austin.

He played a few years in the NBA and the D-league after Texas.

12. Royal Ivey

A defensive mastermind and all-around solid combo guard, Ivey didn't quite get the credit he deserved playing alongside T.J. Ford.

He was only at Texas for three years before jumping to the NBA, but managed to set a Longhorns record for most games started in a career with 126. 

Ivey's efforts earned him two-time Big 12 all-defense team honors. He now plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a backup role. 

11. Jim Krivacs

A transfer from Auburn, Krivacs was one of the best players the Longhorns had come through in the 1970s. Along with Ron Baxter, Krivacs led the 'Horns to back-to-back SWC championships in 1978 and 1979 during the Abe Lemons years. 

He was an All-American selection in 1978, and guided the team to an NIT Championship.

Krivacs was an all around steady hand at point guard who averaged 19.5 points per game during his college career. 

10. LaSalle Thompson

A star center out of Cincinnati, Thompson was one of the best true centers the Longhorns have ever seen. He only spent three years in Austin, but left quite a mark on the program. 

An All-American pick in 1982, Thompson was a scoring and rebounding machine. He is second on the school list in rebounds, and has more double doubles (55) than any other player. 

Thompson went on to have a solid NBA career, and played a key role on the competitive 1990s Indiana Pacers team. 

9. P.J. Tucker

Tucker was basically a power forward in a small forward's body. For only standing at 6'5", he was a beast on the boards during his three seasons at Texas, and was a pretty good scorer as well. 

Like Damion James, Tucker hung around longer than most star freshmen and gradually saw his stats increase the longer he played, averaging 16.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game his junior season.

Just think if Kevin Durant or Avery Bradley stayed a little longer. 

Tucker didn't last too long in the NBA and is now playing in Europe. 

8. Chris Mihm

A local Austin boy who happened to be a seven-footer, it was only natural Mihm would attend the University of Texas.

Mihm was a shot blocking and double-double machine for the Longhorns, and earned a first-team All-American selection in 2000. 

He owns the school record for blocked shots with 264. Mihm went on to be drafted seventh overall in 2000 and played nine seasons in the NBA. 

7. Travis Mays

Mays was an elite scorer who led the 'Horns to an elite eight appearance in 1990 as a part of the "BMW Ultimate Scoring Machine," that also included Lance Blanks and Joey Wright.

He is second on the all-time scoring list at Texas after four decorated seasons, two of which (his junior and senior years) he earned SWC Player of the Year honors.

Mays went on to be drafted into the NBA and then had a long European career after. 

6. D.J. Augustin

Being in such a talented recruiting class that featured Kevin Durant, Damion James and Dexter Pittman, it would be easy for some of the other guys to be overlooked.

That was not the case for DJ Augustin. 

Augustin started at point guard his freshman year, and averaged 14.4 points a game on a very talented Longhorns squad. He made the smart choice to return for his sophomore season, as he was the team leader in points.

From such a talented recruiting class, Augustin showed he was a star among the rest. He is now the starting point guard for the Charlotte Bobcats. 

5. Terrence Rencher

First on the all-time scoring list at Texas, Rencher was a true scoring guard who simply couldn't be stopped.

He was one of the first true freshmen to really emerge as a star at the school, earning a few Freshman of the Year honors. 

He scored 30 or more points ten times while in Austin, and was twice a first team SWC pick.

He is now an assistant coach at Tulsa.

4. LaMarcus Aldridge

If Aldridge would have stayed at Texas for a full four year duration, he could have become the best postman in Longhorns history.

The 6'11" power forward from Dallas was a monster in his sophomore season, averaging 15 points, 9.2 rebounds and two blocks a game. 

After leading the 'Horns to an Elite Eight appearance, Aldridge was the highest draft pick from Texas (now tied with Kevin Durant), going No. 2 overall to the Portland Trailblazers.

He is now the Blazers best low post scorer.

3. Slater Martin

One of the first players at UT to really put the program on the map, Martin was a two-time all-American who led the team to the 1947 Final Four. 

He is the only Longhorn to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He went on to win five NBA championships in the 1950's with the Minneapolis Lakers and St. Louis Hawks. 

2. T.J. Ford

Ford was probably the most talented true point guard in Texas basketball history.

As a freshman, he led the nation in assists per game, and was the first Longhorn to win the Naismith College Player of the Year and John Wooden awards in 2003.

He led the 'Horns to their first Final Four since 1947 in that season, and subsequently left after his sophomore year after accomplishing so much.

Ford never matched his success in the NBA after dealing with multiple injuries and officially retired earlier this season.  

1. Kevin Durant

One of the finest freshmen to ever grace the sport with his presence, Durant was the clear-cut best player to go one-and-done in Longhorns history.

In his only season as a Longhorn, Durant averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and nearly two blocks a game. 

Durant was so good in his freshman season, they retired his No. 35 jersey even before he was drafted into the NBA. He was the first freshman to ever win the Naismith award.

The best player to ever play for Texas only stayed for one year. So fitting for a guy who played for Rick Barnes.