Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
Encyclopedia
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents WKU
in Bowling Green
, Kentucky
. (Women's teams at the school are Lady Toppers.) The Hilltoppers currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference
. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 2009
. The Hilltoppers are currently coached by Ken McDonald
.
The men's basketball program, led by Former Hilltopper and Texas assistant Ken McDonald, has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA
and has attained the 8th best winning percentage in NCAA history. The school has made one appearance in the NCAA Final Four
, in 1971, although later vacated. WKU also made three appearances in the NIT Final Four. It is very competitive in the Sun Belt Conference, usually finishing near the top of the conference and regularly competing for the conference championship. In Street & Smith's publication "100 Greatest Programs", WKU ranked #31.
WKU has had 30 All Americans play for them and has had 56 of their players play professionally.
KIAC – Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
SIAA – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
OVC – Ohio Valley Conference (T) Tournament
SBC – Sun Belt Conference (E) Eastern Division (T) Tournament
NCT - National Campus Tournament
NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
NIT – National Invitation Tournament
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association
Note: When the NIT started it was generally considered to be more prestigious than the NCAA tournament. It remained on par with the NCAA through the mid 1950’s.
One of the finest on-campus arenas in the
country, WKU’s E.A. Diddle Arena begins its
46th year of operation in 2008-09.
The building - named for legendary
Hilltopper coach E.A. Diddle
— was officially
dedicated in December 1963, and underwent a
$32 million renovation in 2002. The renovation
has been the focal point of WKU’s
extensive athletic complex makeover
Included in the Diddle Arena renovation were
a new playing floor, all-new seating, two “Pepsi
Vision” video boards and 16 luxury suites. But
those were just the changes made to the playing
arena. A new addition was added to the back
side of the arena, which houses new training and
weight rooms, as well as a 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²)
auxiliary gym complex, which contains two
regulation basketball courts with a firewall
divider. New locker rooms and office facilities
also were added for multiple sports and the
athletic administration.
The utility and versatility of the arena has
been amply demonstrated throughout the years.
It has been the site of NCAA regional tournaments
in both men’s and women’s basketball,
the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s
girls Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament, some ABA
games and an
NBA exhibition game.
2 Pattillo, Juan F 6-6 220 Sr. Las Vegas, Nev. (University of Oklahoma)
3 McDonald, Kahlil G 6-2 195 Jr. Brooklyn, N.Y. (Blinn College)
4 Gabbard, Mike G 6-0 180 Fr. Florence, Ky. (Boone County HS)
5 Dixon, Cliff F/C 6-10 210 Sr. Suitland, Md. (Hutchinson CC)
10 Dickerson, Caden G 6-4 193 So. Argyle, Texas (Argyle HS)
14 Crook, Jamal G 6-3 165 So. Louisville, Ky. (Bridgton Academy)
15 Anyigbo, Kene F 6-5 245 Fr. Bellaire, Texas (Bellaire HS)
22 Akol, Teeng F/C 6-11 220 So. Wian, Sudan (Oklahoma State University)
23 Peters, Brandon G 6-1 180 Fr. Houston, Texas (Yates HS)
24 Drane, Stephon F 6-7 210 Fr. Raleigh, N.C. (Garner HS)
30 Pettigrew, Steffphon F 6-5 223 Sr. Elizabethtown, Ky. (Elizabethtown HS)
52 Jenkins, Tyler F 6-8 220 Fr. Somerset, Ky. (Pulaski HS)
16 Saruulkhangai, Munkhkhuyag G 5-9 180 Orchlon, HS (Mongolia)
Note: The first jerseys retired in honor of Hilltopper basketball greats were hung in E.A. Diddle Arena during the 1999-2000 season. Also even though the jerseys are retired current and future players can and do use the numbers of the players whose jerseys are retired.
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
in Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. (Women's teams at the school are Lady Toppers.) The Hilltoppers currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 2009
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
. The Hilltoppers are currently coached by Ken McDonald
Ken McDonald (basketball coach)
Ken McDonald is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach at Western Kentucky University.McDonald spent from 2004 to 2008 at Texas under Rick Barnes...
.
The men's basketball program, led by Former Hilltopper and Texas assistant Ken McDonald, has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
and has attained the 8th best winning percentage in NCAA history. The school has made one appearance in the NCAA Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, in 1971, although later vacated. WKU also made three appearances in the NIT Final Four. It is very competitive in the Sun Belt Conference, usually finishing near the top of the conference and regularly competing for the conference championship. In Street & Smith's publication "100 Greatest Programs", WKU ranked #31.
WKU has had 30 All Americans play for them and has had 56 of their players play professionally.
Western Kentucky men’s basketball record
| Year | W-L Record | Conference Championships | National Tournament Appearances | Peak National Ranking | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | 5- 1 | Coach J. L. Authur | |||
| 1916 | 2- 1 | - | |||
| 1917 | - | - | - | - | No team 1917-1921 |
| 1922 | 3- 1 | Coach L. T. Smith | |||
| 1923 | 12- 2 | Coach E. A. Diddle | |||
| 1924 | 9- 9 | - | |||
| 1925 | 8- 6 | - | |||
| 1926 | 10- 4 | - | KIAC Chartered, Joined SIAA | ||
| 1927 | 12- 7 | - | - | ||
| 1928 | 10- 7 | - | - | ||
| 1929 | 8-10 | - | - | ||
| 1930 | 4-12 | - | - | ||
| 1931 | 11- 3 | - | - | ||
| 1932 | 15- 8 | 1st KIAC | - | ||
| 1933 | 16- 6 | 1st KIAC | - | ||
| 1934 | 28- 8 | 1st KIAC, 1st SIAA | - | ||
| 1935 | 24- 3 | 1st KIAC | - | ||
| 1936 | 26- 4 | 1st KIAC | National Olympic Trials | - | |
| 1937 | 21- 2 | 1st KIAC, 1st SIAA | - | NAIA tournament begins | |
| 1938 | 30- 3 | 1st KIAC, 1st SIAA | NAIA* | *NAIA game forfeited. NIT begins | |
| 1939 | 22- 3 | 1st KIAC, 1st SIAA | - | NCAA tournament begins | |
| 1940 | 24- 6 | 1st KIAC, 1st SIAA | NCAA | Only 8 teams invited to NCAA | |
| 1941 | 22- 4 | - - - - - - -, 1st SIAA | - | - | |
| 1942 | 29- 5 | 1st KIAC, 1st SIAA | NIT 2nd place | Declined NCAA bid | |
| 1943 | 24- 3 | 1st KIAC | NIT | - | |
| 1944 | 13- 9 | - | - | - | |
| 1945 | 17-10 | - | - | - | |
| 1946 | 15-19 | - | - | - | |
| 1947 | 25- 4 | 1st KIAC, 1st SIAA | - | - | |
| 1948 | 28- 2 | 1st KIAC | NIT 3rd Place | NCAA Annual Team Champions | |
| 1949 | 25- 4 | 1st OVC, 1st OVCT | NIT | AP-3 | OVC chartered. AP begins national poll. |
| 1950 | 25- 6 | 1st OVC | NIT 2nd Round | AP-7 | - |
| 1951 | 19-10 | - | NCT | - | - |
| 1952 | 26- 5 | - - - - - - , 1st OVCT | NIT 2nd Round | AP-11 | Final UPI ranking 16 |
| 1953 | 25- 6 | - - - - - - , 1st OVCT | NIT | AP-8 | Final UPI ranking 11 |
| 1954 | 29- 3 | 1st OVC, 1st OVCT | NIT 4th Place | AP-3 | Final UPI ranking 6 |
| 1955 | 18-10 | 1st OVC | - | AP-20 | - |
| 1956 | 16-12 | 1st OVC (tied) | - | - | OVC stops holding tournament. OVC receives automatic NCAA bid |
| 1957 | 17- 9 | 1st OVC (tied) | - | AP-12 | - |
| 1958 | 14-11 | - | - | AP-16 | - |
| 1959 | 16-10 | - | - | - | - |
| 1960 | 21- 7 | 1st OVC | NCAA Regional 3rd Place | AP-18 | - |
| 1961 | 18- 8 | 1st OVC (tied) | - | - | - |
| 1962 | 17-10 | 1st OVC | NCAA Regional 4th Place | - | - |
| 1963 | 5-16 | - | - | - | - |
| 1964 | 5-16 | - | - | - | OVC restarts tournament. |
| 1965 | 18- 9 | - - - - - - , 1st OVCT | NIT 2nd Round | - | Coach John Oldham |
| 1966 | 25- 3 | 1st OVC, 1st OVCT | NCAA Regional 3rd Place | AP-10 | - |
| 1967 | 23- 3 | 1st OVC | NCAA | AP-3 | Final UPI ranking 7 |
| 1968 | 18- 7 | - | - | - | OVC stops holding tournament. |
| 1969 | 16-10 | - | - | AP-15 | - |
| 1970 | 22- 3 | 1st OVC | NCAA | AP-12 | Final UPI ranking 17 |
| 1971 | 24- 6 | 1st OVC | NCAA 3rd Place* | AP-5 | Final UPI ranking 7. *Vacated by NCAA |
| 1972 | 15-11 | 1st OVC (tied) | - | - | Coach Jim Richards |
| 1973 | 10-16 | - | - | - | NCAA Probation |
| 1974 | 15-10 | - | - | - | NCAA Probation |
| 1975 | 16- 8 | - | - | - | NCAA Probation. OVC restarts Tournament |
| 1976 | 20- 9 | 1st OVC, 1st OVCT | NCAA | - | - |
| 1977 | 10-16 | - | - | - | - |
| 1978 | 16-14 | - - - - - - , 1st OVCT | NCAA Sweet 16 | - | - |
| 1979 | 17-11 | - | - | - | Coach Gene Keady |
| 1980 | 21- 8 | t-1st OVC, 1st OVCT | NCAA | - | - |
| 1981 | 21- 8 | 1st OVC, 1st OVCT | NCAA | - | Coach Clem Haskins |
| 1982 | 19-10 | 1st OVC (tied) | NIT | - | - |
| 1983 | 12-16 | - | - | - | Joined SBC |
| 1984 | 12-17 | - | - | - | - |
| 1985 | 14-14 | - | - | - | - |
| 1986 | 23- 8 | - | NCAA 2nd Round | AP-19 | - |
| 1987 | 29- 9 | 1st SBC | NCAA 2nd Round | AP-8, UPI-10 | Coach Murray Arnold, 2nd Preseason NIT |
| 1988 | 15-13 | - | - | - | - |
| 1989 | 14-15 | - | - | - | - |
| 1990 | 13-17 | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 14-14 | - | - | - | Coach Ralph Willard |
| 1992 | 21-11 | - | NIT | - | - |
| 1993 | 26- 6 | - - - - - - , 1st SBCT | NCAA Sweet 16 | AP-20, CNN-25 | - |
| 1994 | 20-11 | 1st SBC | NCAA | AP-25 | - |
| 1995 | 27- 4 | 1st SBC, 1st SBCT | NCAA 2nd Round | AP-21 | Coach Matt Kilcullen |
| 1996 | 13-14 | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 | 12-15 | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 | 10-19 | - | - | - | - |
| 1999 | 13-16 | - | - | - | Coach Dennis Felton |
| 2000 | 11-18 | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 | 24- 7 | 1st SBC(E), 1st SBCT | NCAA | - | - |
| 2002 | 28- 4 | 1st SBC(E), 1st SBCT | NCAA | AP-17, ESPN-20 | - |
| 2003 | 24- 9 | 1st SBC(E), 1st SBCT | NCAA | AP-19 | - |
| 2004 | 15-13 | - | - | - | Coach Darrin Horn |
| 2005 | 22- 9 | - | NIT 2nd Round | - | - |
| 2006 | 23- 8 | 1st SBC(E) | NIT | - | - |
| 2007 | 22-11 | - | - | - | - |
| 2008 | 29- 7 | t-1st SBC(E), 1st SBCT | NCAA Sweet 16 | ESPN-22 | - |
| 2009 | 25- 9 | 1st SBC(E), 1st SBCT | NCAA 2nd Round | - | Coach Ken McDonald |
| 2010 | 21-13 | - | - | - | Declined to participate in CBI or CIT |
| 2011 | 16-16 | - | - | - | - |
KIAC – Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
SIAA – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
OVC – Ohio Valley Conference (T) Tournament
SBC – Sun Belt Conference (E) Eastern Division (T) Tournament
NCT - National Campus Tournament
NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
NIT – National Invitation Tournament
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association
Note: When the NIT started it was generally considered to be more prestigious than the NCAA tournament. It remained on par with the NCAA through the mid 1950’s.
Milestones
| Date | Milestone | Opponent | Result (Won/Loss) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914–1915 | First win | Bethel (Ky.) | 38-21 (W) |
| 1/28/1932 | 100th win | Birmingham Southern | 37-25 (W) |
| 12/5/1949 | 500th win | Kentucky Wesleyan | 89-45 (W) |
| 2/19/1977 | 1,000th win | Murray State | 82-81 (W) |
| 2/5/2005 | 1,500th win | Arkansas State | 76-72 (W) |
| 1914–1915 | First game | Bethel (Ky.) | 38-21 (W) |
| 2/6/1943 | 500th game | LaSalle | 52-44 (W) |
| 12/6/1960 | 1,000th game | Lamar | 74-71 (W) |
| 1/25/1997 | 2,000th game | New Orleans | 70-66 (L) |
E.A.Diddle Arena
country, WKU’s E.A. Diddle Arena begins its
46th year of operation in 2008-09.
The building - named for legendary
Hilltopper coach E.A. Diddle
Edgar Diddle
Edgar Allen Diddle was a college men's basketball coach. He is known for coaching at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky from 1922 to 1964. Diddle became the first coach in history to coach 1,000 games at one school...
— was officially
dedicated in December 1963, and underwent a
$32 million renovation in 2002. The renovation
has been the focal point of WKU’s
extensive athletic complex makeover
Included in the Diddle Arena renovation were
a new playing floor, all-new seating, two “Pepsi
Vision” video boards and 16 luxury suites. But
those were just the changes made to the playing
arena. A new addition was added to the back
side of the arena, which houses new training and
weight rooms, as well as a 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²)
auxiliary gym complex, which contains two
regulation basketball courts with a firewall
divider. New locker rooms and office facilities
also were added for multiple sports and the
athletic administration.
The utility and versatility of the arena has
been amply demonstrated throughout the years.
It has been the site of NCAA regional tournaments
in both men’s and women’s basketball,
the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s
girls Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament, some ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
games and an
NBA exhibition game.
Current coaching staff
- Ken McDonaldKen McDonald (basketball coach)Ken McDonald is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach at Western Kentucky University.McDonald spent from 2004 to 2008 at Texas under Rick Barnes...
Head coach (ProvidenceProvidence CollegeProvidence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
'92) - Ray Harper Assistant coach (Kentucky Wesleyan '85)
- Lawrence Brenneman Assistant coach (Geneva [Pa.] '85)
- David Boyden Assistant coach (WKU '03)
- Todor Pandov Strength & Conditioning
- Anthony Winchester Graduate Intern (WKU '07)
- Geoff Shyatt Graduate Intern
Current Roster
1 Kerusch, Sergio F 6-5 225 Sr. Memphis, Tenn. (Itawamba CC)2 Pattillo, Juan F 6-6 220 Sr. Las Vegas, Nev. (University of Oklahoma)
3 McDonald, Kahlil G 6-2 195 Jr. Brooklyn, N.Y. (Blinn College)
4 Gabbard, Mike G 6-0 180 Fr. Florence, Ky. (Boone County HS)
5 Dixon, Cliff F/C 6-10 210 Sr. Suitland, Md. (Hutchinson CC)
10 Dickerson, Caden G 6-4 193 So. Argyle, Texas (Argyle HS)
14 Crook, Jamal G 6-3 165 So. Louisville, Ky. (Bridgton Academy)
15 Anyigbo, Kene F 6-5 245 Fr. Bellaire, Texas (Bellaire HS)
22 Akol, Teeng F/C 6-11 220 So. Wian, Sudan (Oklahoma State University)
23 Peters, Brandon G 6-1 180 Fr. Houston, Texas (Yates HS)
24 Drane, Stephon F 6-7 210 Fr. Raleigh, N.C. (Garner HS)
30 Pettigrew, Steffphon F 6-5 223 Sr. Elizabethtown, Ky. (Elizabethtown HS)
52 Jenkins, Tyler F 6-8 220 Fr. Somerset, Ky. (Pulaski HS)
16 Saruulkhangai, Munkhkhuyag G 5-9 180 Orchlon, HS (Mongolia)
All-Americans
| Year | Name | Position | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | William “Red” McCrocklin | Center | (Chuck Taylor) |
| 1940 | Carlisle Towery Carlisle Towery William Carlisle Towery , nicknamed "Blackie" or "Big Boy", is a retired American basketball player.A 6'5" forward/center, Towery played for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers from 1938 to 1941. He was a two-time All-America selection and the first Hilltopper to score 1,000 points... |
Center | (Chuck Taylor) |
| 1941 | Carlisle Towery Carlisle Towery William Carlisle Towery , nicknamed "Blackie" or "Big Boy", is a retired American basketball player.A 6'5" forward/center, Towery played for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers from 1938 to 1941. He was a two-time All-America selection and the first Hilltopper to score 1,000 points... |
Center | (Chuck Taylor) |
| 1943 | Oran McKinney | Center | (Helms Foundation) |
| 1948 | Dee Gibson | Guard | (Associated Press***) |
| 1948 | Don Ray | Forward | (Helms Foundation*) |
| 1948 | Odie Spears Odie Spears Marion Odicea "Odie" Spears was an American basketball player.A 6'5" guard from Scottsville, Kentucky, Spears attended nearby Western Kentucky University but saw little playing time during his first two seasons... |
Forward | (Associated Press***) |
| 1949 | Bob Lavoy | Center | (Associated Press***) |
| 1949 | John Oldham John Oldham (basketball) John Oldham is a former college player, athletic director and basketball coach who gave the idea of Western Kentucky University's "Red Towel" logo, an iconic towel used by former coach E.A. Diddle.... |
Guard | (United Press**, Associated Press***) |
| 1950 | Buddy Cate | Forward | (Associated Press***) |
| 1950 | Bob Lavoy | Center | (Chuck Taylor*, Associated Press***) |
| 1951 | Rip Gish | Forward-Center | |
| 1953 | Tom Marshall Tom Marshall (basketball) John Thomas Marshall is a former basketball player and coach. He graduated from Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet,Tennessee. He was a star at Western Kentucky University in the 1950s, where he was a 2-time All-American. His number 41 is one of only six retired at WKU.He was named to the OVC... |
Forward | (Look Magazine**, Associated Press***) |
| 1953 | Art Spoelstra | Center | (Associated Press***) |
| 1954 | Tom Marshall Tom Marshall (basketball) John Thomas Marshall is a former basketball player and coach. He graduated from Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet,Tennessee. He was a star at Western Kentucky University in the 1950s, where he was a 2-time All-American. His number 41 is one of only six retired at WKU.He was named to the OVC... |
Forward | (Associated Press*, United Press*, Look Magazine*) |
| 1958 | Ralph Crosthwaite Ralph Crosthwaite Ralph E. Crosthwaite was an American basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at Western Kentucky University between 1954–55 and 1958–59. Within the WKU community, he is considered to be one of the greatest players in program history.-Freshman:Crosthwaite enrolled at WKU... |
Center | |
| 1962 | Bobby Rascoe | Guard | |
| 1964 | Darel Carrier Darel Carrier James Darel Carrier is a former professional basketball player. Carrier played his high school basketball at the now defunct Bristow High School. A 6'3" guard, Carrier played college basketball at Western Kentucky University. Carrier was selected in the 9th round of the 1964 NBA Draft by the... |
Guard | (Helms Foundation) |
| 1965 | Clem Haskins Clem Haskins Clem Smith Haskins is a retired American college and professional basketball player and college basketball coach. He and star player Dwight Smith became the first black athletes to integrate the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball program in the fall of 1963. This put Western Kentucky at the... |
Forward | (Associated Press***, United Press***) |
| 1966 | Clem Haskins Clem Haskins Clem Smith Haskins is a retired American college and professional basketball player and college basketball coach. He and star player Dwight Smith became the first black athletes to integrate the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball program in the fall of 1963. This put Western Kentucky at the... |
Forward | (Associated Press, United Press, Converse*) |
| 1967 | Clem Haskins Clem Haskins Clem Smith Haskins is a retired American college and professional basketball player and college basketball coach. He and star player Dwight Smith became the first black athletes to integrate the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball program in the fall of 1963. This put Western Kentucky at the... |
Forward | (USBWA, Associated Press,United Press,Helms Foundation, NABC*) |
| 1969 | Jim McDaniels Jim McDaniels James Ronald McDaniels is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'11" power forward/center, McDaniels averaged nearly 40 points per game as a senior at Allen County High School in Kentucky. From 1968 to 1971, he played at Western Kentucky University, leading his team to a third place... |
Center | (Helms Foundation, Associated Press***, United Press***, Converse***) |
| 1970 | Jim McDaniels Jim McDaniels James Ronald McDaniels is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'11" power forward/center, McDaniels averaged nearly 40 points per game as a senior at Allen County High School in Kentucky. From 1968 to 1971, he played at Western Kentucky University, leading his team to a third place... |
Center | (Helms Foundation, Associated Press***, United Press***, Converse*) |
| 1971 | Jim McDaniels Jim McDaniels James Ronald McDaniels is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'11" power forward/center, McDaniels averaged nearly 40 points per game as a senior at Allen County High School in Kentucky. From 1968 to 1971, he played at Western Kentucky University, leading his team to a third place... |
Center | (NABC, USBWA, Associated Press, Sporting News, United Press, NBA) |
| 1976 | Johnny Britt | Guard | (Associated Press***) |
| 1982 | Craig McCormick | Center | (Associated Press***) |
| 1984 | Kannard Johnson Kannard Johnson Kannard Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player. He was selected by the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers with the 41st overall pick of the 1987 NBA Draft.... |
Forward | (Sporting News All-Freshman) |
| 1987 | Tellis Frank Tellis Frank Tellis Joseph Frank Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. Frank is a 1983 graduate of Lew Wallace High School.... |
Forward | (Associated Press***, Sporting News***) |
| 1989 | Brett McNeal | Guard | (Associated Press***, Basketball Times***) |
| 1993 | Darnell Mee Darnell Mee LaFarrell Darnell Mee is an American-Australian basketball player and former NBA player. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 34th overall pick of the 1993 NBA Draft.... |
Guard | (Associated Press***) |
| 1996 | Chris Robinson | Forward-Guard | (Basketball Weekly***) |
| 2001 | Chris Marcus Chris Marcus Christopher Lee "Chris" Marcus is a former American basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at Western Kentucky University between 1999–2000 and 2002–03.... |
Center | (Associated Press***) |
| 2002 | Chris Marcus Chris Marcus Christopher Lee "Chris" Marcus is a former American basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at Western Kentucky University between 1999–2000 and 2002–03.... |
Center | (Associated Press***, Basketball America***) |
| 2004 | Nigel Dixon | Center | (SI.com***) |
| 2004 | Mike Wells | Guard | (Associated Press***) |
| 2006 | Anthony Winchester | Guard | (Associated Press***) |
| 2008 | Courtney Lee Courtney Lee Courtney Lee is an American basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the NBA. He was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the 22nd pick overall in the 2008 NBA Draft... |
Guard | (Associated Press***,The NBA Draft Report**, Basketball Times**) |
| 2009 | Orlando Mendez Valdez | Guard | (Associated Press***) |
| *Second Team | **Third Team | ***Honorable Mention |
Retired Jerseys
 E.A. Diddle 1923-64 Coach |
 Tom Marshal 1951-54 Forward |
 Jim McDaniels 1969-71 Center |
 Clem Haskins 1965-67 Forward |
 John Oldham 1943;47-49 Guard |
 Carlisle Towery 1939-41 Center |
Note: The first jerseys retired in honor of Hilltopper basketball greats were hung in E.A. Diddle Arena during the 1999-2000 season. Also even though the jerseys are retired current and future players can and do use the numbers of the players whose jerseys are retired.
Notable former WKU basketball players and coaches
- :Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball coaches
- :Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball players