$Creating LSU Basketball\'s All-Time Starting Five$

Creating LSU Basketball's All-Time Starting Five

By Brian Kalchik

Creating the LSU Tigers’ All-Time Starting 5

Dale Brown LSU — LSU is a powerhouse in football, but the Tigers are also a good basketball school historically. They have appeared in four Final Fours and have legendary players in Pete Maravich, Shaquille O'Neal and Bob Pettit. So if we were to construct an all-time starting five based solely from LSU, who would make the cut?

PG: Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson LSU

PG: Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson LSU — Chris Jackson, or Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, set the NCAA record for points by a freshman (965) and points per game by a freshman (30.2). He was also named SEC Player of the Year and a First-team All-American. As a sophomore, Abdul-Rauf did mostly the same, winning both honors again.

SG: Pete Maravich

Pete Maravich Hawks

SG: Pete Maravich

Pete Maravich Hawks — Although he never won anything significant as LSU, Pete Maravich torched the record books, most of which still stand after 40 years. In only three years playing on the varsity team, Maravich scored 3,667 points while averaging 43.8, 44.2 and 44.5 points per game, respectively. He is the NCAA all-time points leader and was a three-time All-American.

SF: Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons LSU

SF: Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons LSU — Is it premature to put Ben Simmons here? Yes, but he's already proven to be better than advertised. Before this season, Simmons was named the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year and earned Associated Press preseason All-America team honors. Despite the Tigers' 7-5 start, Simmons has recorded double-doubles in eight of his 12 games so far.

PF: Bob Pettit

Bob Pettit Hawks

PF: Bob Pettit

Bob Pettit Hawks — Bob Pettit was a three-time All-SEC selection and a two-time All-American as a Tiger. During his career, he averaged 27.8 points per game. He led the SEC in scoring in each of his three seasons, and he was the first athlete in LSU history to have his jersey retired.

C: Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal Magic

C: Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal Magic — While playing for Dale Brown at LSU, Shaquille O'Neal was a two-time All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year and was the NCAA men's basketball player of the year in 1991. O'Neal was also inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame.

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