Who is the greatest Racer of them all?

We need your votes to celebrate the first 100 years of Racer Basketball

(Photo: David Eaton/Murray State Athletics)

As the curtain has officially dropped on the 100th year of Murray State Men’s Basketball, I thought this would be a great time to provide a platform of celebration and (hopefully) gentle disagreement. This is where I need your help.

It’s time for the Racer Nation to let their voice be heard.

Who is the greatest Racer of all-time?

Greatness means different things to different people. Were they the best player? Did they have the best stats? Did they win the most games? Did they make it to the NCAA Tournament the most times? Did their impact on the program surpass everyone else? How you define greatness is, obviously, entirely up to you.

Starting Memorial Day, I’ll begin the countdown of the 20 greatest players in Murray State history — as voted on by you, the Racer Nation.

To help get your voting juices flowing, below is a list of the 65 top scorers and players with retired numbers in program history with short biographical sketches. Try not to let recency bias cloud your judgement. One hundred years is a long time, and there have been a lot of fantastic Racers dating back decades.

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What I need from you is to send your Top 10 picks, ranked 1-10. After I compile the votes, we’ll start the unveiling (and likely some arguing) on May 26th. If you think I left somebody off the list of candidates, feel free to add them to your ballot. E-mail your picks to Jeff.Bidwell at gmail dot com.

One note: Only take into account what these players did AT Murray State. If they played at another school or played professionally, those accolades should not be weighed into your voting.

Without further adieu, in alphabetical order, here are your Racers to choose from. Have fun, and Go Racers!

(Photo: David Eaton/Murray State Athletics)

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• Frank Allen (1989-93) — 1811 points, 305 rebounds, 364 assists; 3x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 1990, 1991, 1992 NCAA Tournaments

• Ivan Aska (2008-12) — 1218 points, 678 rebounds, 57 assists; 1x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 2010, 2012 NCAA Tournaments

• Garrett Beshear (1949-53) — 1798 points, 525 rebounds; 3x All-OVC

• Hector Blondet (1968-71) — 1030 points, 492 rebounds; 1x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 1969 NCAA Tournament; #71 pick in 1971 NBA Draft

• Marcus Brown (1992-96) — 2236 points, 481 points, 294 assists; 3x All-OVC, 2x OVC Player of the Year; 3x OVC champion; 1995 NCAA Tournament; #46 pick in 1996 NBA Draft

• Tevin Brown (2018-22) — 1915 points, 645 rebounds, 407 assists; 3x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 2019, 2022 NCAA Tournaments

• Justin Burdine (1998-02) — 1209 points, 221 rebounds, 190 assists; 2x All-OVC; 2x OVC champion; 1999, 2002 NCAA Tournaments

• Isaiah Canaan (2009-13) — 2050 points, 366 rebounds, 385 assists; 3x All-OVC, 2x OVC Player of the Year; 3x OVC Champion; 2010, 2012 NCAA Tournaments; 2012 Consensus All-American; #34 pick in 2013 NBA Draft

• Mike Coleman (1972-74) — 1038 points, 560 rebounds, 67 assists; 2x All-OVC;

• Howie Crittenden (1952-56) — 2019 points, 550 rebounds; 2x All-OVC; #74 pick in 1956 NBA Draft

• Dick Cunningham (1965-68) — 981 points, 1292 rebounds; 2x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; #21 pick in 1968 NBA Draft

• Ed Daniel (2009-13) — 931 points, 719 rebounds, 81 assists; 1x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 2010, 2012 NCAA Tournaments

• Terry Darnall (1956-59) — 931 points, 450 rebounds; 2x All-OVC

• Tony Easley (2005-10) — 921 points, 613 rebounds, 72 assists; 1x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 2010 NCAA Tournament

• Joe Fulks (1941-43) — 621 points; Selected in 1946 NBA Draft

• Chuck Glass (1984-86) — 818 points, 362 rebounds, 194 assists; 1x All-OVC

• Glen Green (1979-83) — 1540 points, 629 rebounds, 423 assists; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 3x OVC champion; #129 pick in 1983 NBA Draft

• Cedric Gumm (1990-94) — 1030 points, 375 rebounds, 254 assists; 1x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 1991, 1992 NCAA Tournaments

• Kenney Hammonds (1978-82) — 919 points, 418 rebounds, 97 assists; 2x All-OVC; 2x OVC champion

• Tyler Holloway (2005-09) — 1083 points, 171 rebounds, 215 assists; 1x OVC champion; 2006 NCAA Tournament

• Ricky Hood (1981-83) — 860 points, 544 rebounds, 99 assists; 2x All-OVC; 2x OVC champion

• Jim Jennings (1961-64) — 1370 points, 1128 rebounds; 3x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 1x OVC champion; 1964 NCAA Tournament

• Stewart Johnson (1963-66) — 1275 points, 975 rebounds; 2x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 1964 NCAA Tournament; #21 pick in 1966 NBA Draft

• Popeye Jones (1988-92) — 2,057 points, 1374 rebounds, 221 assists; 3x All-OVC, 2x OVC Player of the Year; 4x OVC champion; 1990, 1991, 1992 NCAA Tournaments; #41 pick in 1992 NBA Draft

• Dick Kinder (1954-56) — 836 points, 153 rebounds

• Paul King (1987-91) — 1108 points, 398 rebounds, 219 assists; 2x All-OVC; 4x OVC champion; 1988, 1990, 1991 NCAA Tournaments

• Don Mann (1985-89) — 1449 points, 342 rebounds, 531 assists; 3x All-OVC; 2x OVC champion; 1988 NCAA Tournament

• Jeff Martin (1985-89) — 2484 points, 669 rebounds, 215 assists; 3x All-OVC, 2x OVC Player of the Year; 2x OVC champion; 1988 NCAA Tournament; #31 pick in 1989 NBA Draft

• De’Teri Mayes (1996-98) — 1340 points, 342 rebounds, 116 assists; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 2x OVC champion; 1997, 1998 NCAA Tournaments

• Herb McPherson (1964-67) — 1513 points, 596 rebounds; 2x All-OVC; #55 pick in 1967 NBA Draft

• Isacc Miles (2008-11) — 1022 points; 265 rebounds, 374 assists; 2x All-OVC; 2x OVC champion; 2010 NCAA Tournament

• Terrell Miller (2016-18) —1012 points, 544 rebounds, 96 assists; 2x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 2018 NCAA Tournament

• Ja Morant (2017-19) — 1213 points, 396 rebounds, 532 assists; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 2x OVC champion; 2018, 2019 NCAA Tournaments; 2019 Consensus All-American; #2 pick in 2019 NBA Draft

• Jeffery Moss (2012-16) — 1409 points, 432 rebounds, 249 assists; 1x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion

• Mike Muff (1976-78) — 1,077 points, 457 rebounds, 106 assists; 2x All-OVC; #193 pick in 1978 NBA Draft

• Rod Murray (1997-00) — 852 points, 410 rebounds, 174 assists; 1x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 1998, 1999 NCAA Tournaments

• John Namciu (1962-65) — 1,003 points, 419 rebounds; 1x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 1964 NCAA Tournament

• Chris Ogden (1986-90) — 968 points, 690 rebounds, 131 assists; 1x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 1988, 1990 NCAA Tournaments

• Cameron Payne (2013-15) —1279 points, 252 rebounds, 394 assists; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 1x OVC champion; #14 pick in 2015 NBA Draft

• Rob Perry (2022-24) — 839 points, 316 rebounds, 123 assists; 1x All-MVC

• Donte Poole (2008-12) — 882 points; 315 rebounds, 129 assists; 1x All-OVC; 2x OVC champion; 2010, 2012 NCAA Tournaments

• Bennie Purcell (1948-52) — 1054 points; 2x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; #98 pick in 1952 NBA Draft

• Vincent Rainey (1993-97) — 1888 points, 645 rebounds, 187 assists; 3x All-OVC; 4x OVC champion; 1995, 1997 NCAA Tournaments

• Johnny Reagan (1944-48) — 778 points; Selection in 1948 NBA Draft

• Aubrey Reese (1997-00) — 1271 points, 395 rebounds, 383 assists; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 3x OVC champion; 1998, 1999 NCAA Tournaments

• Chris Shumate (1999-04) — 1207 points, 389 rebounds, 252 assists; 1x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 2002, 2004 NCAA Tournaments

• Lamont Sleets (1979-84) — 1902 points, 299 rebounds, 458 assists; 4x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion

• Isaac Spencer (1997-01) — 2248 points, 976 rebounds, 357 assists; 4x All-OVC; 3x OVC champion; 1998, 1999 NCAA Tournaments

• Jonathan Stark (2016-18) — 1408 points, 213 rebounds, 298 assists; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 1x OVC champion; 2018 NCAA Tournament

• Marcelous Starks (1971-74) — 1096 points, 875 rebounds

• Quitman Sullins (1954-58) — 879 points, 788 points; 2x All-OVC; #33 pick in 1958 NBA Draft

• Les Taylor (1970-73) — 1477 points, 539 rebounds; 3x All-OVC, 2x OVC Player of the Year; #142 pick in 1973 NBA Draft

• Danero Thomas (2006-10) — 1277 points, 508 rebounds, 195 assists; 2x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 2010 NCAA Tournament

• Chad Townsend (1996-98) — 855 points, 268 rebounds, 383 assists; 2x All-OVC; 2x OVC champion; 1997, 1998 NCAA Tournaments

• Al Varnas (1961-64) — 891 points, 399 rebounds; 1x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 1964 NCAA Tournament

• Cuthbert Victor (2000-04) — 1485 points, 935 rebounds, 209 assists; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 2002, 2004 NCAA Tournaments

• Claude Virden (1967-70) — 1490 points, 778 rebounds; 2x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 2x OVC champion; 1969 NCAA Tournament; #142 pick in 1970 NBA Draft

• Antoine Whelchel (2000-04) — 1335 points, 791 rebounds, 326 assists; 2002, 2004 NCAA Tournaments

• Jarvis Williams (2013-15) — 1055 points, 631 rebounds, 54 assists; 2x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion

• Jesse Williams (1972-76) — 1515 points, 746 rebounds, 138 assists; 2x All-OVC

• KJ Williams (2018-22) — 1667 points, 888 rebounds, 97 assists; 3x All-OVC, 1x OVC Player of the Year; 3x OVC champion; 2019, 2022 NCAA Tournaments

• Shawn Witherspoon (2002-07) — 1065 points, 662 rebounds, 237 assists; 1x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 2004, 2006 NCAA Tournaments

• JaCobi Wood (2022-25) — 1146 points, 370 rebounds, 439 assists

• Grover Woolard (1973-77) — 1363 points, 469 rebounds, 379 assists; 1x All-OVC; #131 pick in 1977 NBA Draft

• Jimmy Young (1968-71) — 1128 points, 173 rebounds; 2x All-OVC; 1x OVC champion; 1969 NCAA Tournament