Kentucky all-time starting 5?

502 Wildcat

Heisman
Sep 11, 2007
22,310
24,112
113
PG: John Wall
SG: Tony Delk
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Dan Issel
C: Anthony Davis

Bench:
Louie Dampier
Jamal Mashburn
Ron Mercer
Rex Chapman
DeMarcus Cousins
 
Jan 29, 2003
18,120
12,185
0
Wall
Issel
Davis
Mashburn

Those 4 are relatively easy. The 2 is a little challenging. Grevey? Rex? Delk? I’d have to think about that for a bit.

And that’s just the 5 “best” - if you’re actually putting together a team, that might lead to a different answer. In that case, for example, be hard to keep MKG off the floor.

Edit: I forgot about Kenny Walker, who was truly dominant in a way I’m not sure any individual UK player has been since. And Jody Meeks, his last year was as good as any of the 2 guards under discussion..
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ABlockalypseBrow

jrpross_rivals

Heisman
Feb 21, 2008
17,553
36,086
113
I feel like the 2-guard is the biggest question mark. Wall is the point, Mash, Davis, and Issel have the 3-5 pretty well locked up. You could make a case for Delk, Chapman, Grevey, or Louis Dampier at the 2. I’m partial to Delk cuz I saw him play and his shooting prowess in his senior year was just stupid good.
Wall
Delk
Mash
Issel
Davis
So personally I’d agree with this one.
 

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
16,041
28,507
113
I just have a personal bias for Tay, loved watching him play. Mash deserves the starting role but my list my rules lol

Ha, I hear ya. I was at UK when Tayshaun was there, graduated in '03. Plenty of fond memories and was at Rupp for his baby hook game winner vs Florida and the UNC game.

Mash is my favorite all time player and one of the reasons I'm such a fan today. Sill have his '92 basketball squeeze poster hanging in my office at home.

 
Last edited:

kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
LOL The youngsters have no idea about Issel. They didn't make silly mix tapes back then so they don't realize what he brought to the table. The Horse has to be the first one on the starting 5.

Following would be Delk, Wall, Bowie and Davis. Gotta have Cousins and Townes on the bench along with Mash, Prince, Macy and Chapman. Or maybe Sheppard. Tough to choose between those two. I want to say Magloire too. Need somebody to bring the pain.
 
Last edited:

RoyKent

Heisman
Feb 3, 2015
22,911
32,808
66
Wall, Delk, Davis, Issel are locks. Not sure how anyone could disagree. The other spot is a tossup between a bunch of guys but I lean to Mashburn.

Not sure you can create a better lineup than that.

I’d put that 5 against any 5 you can come up with from any other school.
 

BlueBomb

Heisman
Apr 3, 2009
10,714
19,606
103
How in the hell can you people not put Kenny Sky Walker on your lists. I mean, really?

Let’s go old school:
Wah Wah Jones
Rex Chapman
Dan Issel
Sky Walker
Monster Mash
Bowie (6th man)

Come at me!
 

sa_hunt

All-Conference
Sep 2, 2009
3,042
2,822
0
Wall
Issel
Davis
Mashburn

Those 4 are relatively easy. The 2 is a little challenging. Grevey? Rex? Delk? I’d have to think about that for a bit.

And that’s just the 5 “best” - if you’re actually putting together a team, that might lead to a different answer. In that case, for example, be hard to keep MKG off the floor.

Edit: I forgot about Kenny Walker, who was truly dominant in a way I’m not sure any individual UK player has been since. And Jody Meeks, his last year was as good as any of the 2 guards under discussion..
This is my 5 also and agree with every word. The 5 best and the best team are for sure 2 different things.
Wall
Mashburn
Walker
Issel
Davis
 
  • Like
Reactions: SuporChin

Hoskins91_rivals

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2011
6,750
1,619
50
How in the hell can you people not put Kenny Sky Walker on your lists. I mean, really?

Let’s go old school:
Wah Wah Jones
Rex Chapman
Dan Issel
Sky Walker
Monster Mash
Bowie (6th man)

Come at me!
He’s redundant because we’ve had better players that serve that same role.
 

Hoskins91_rivals

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2011
6,750
1,619
50
LOL The youngsters have no idea about Issel. They didn't make silly mix tapes back then so they don't realize what he brought to the table. The Horse has to be the first one on the starting 5.

Following would be Delk, Wall, Bowie and Davis. Gotta have Cousins and Townes on the bench along with Mash, Prince, Macy and Chapman. Or maybe Sheppard. Tough to choose between those two. I want to say Magloire too. Need somebody to bring the pain.
Maybe don’t question the intelligence of others when you have 5 centers on your roster.
 

billoliver40

All-American
Dec 16, 2015
6,736
9,444
0
Issel
Davis
Givens
Ullis
Meeks
Issel at 4, Davis the 5 spot, Givens small forward, Ullis at point and Meeks the shooter.
 

sa_hunt

All-Conference
Sep 2, 2009
3,042
2,822
0
Wall, Delk, Davis, Issel are locks. Not sure how anyone could disagree. The other spot is a tossup between a bunch of guys but I lean to Mashburn.

Not sure you can create a better lineup than that.

I’d put that 5 against any 5 you can come up with from any other school.
I'll try this one.

Michael Jordan
Vince Carter
James Worthy
Rasheed Wallace
Bob McAdoo

Maybe

Kyrie Irving
Grant Hill
Zion Williamson
Christian Laettner
JJ Redick


Maybe

Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Russell Westbrook
Bill Walton
Reggie Miller
Kevin Love

Maybe
Mario Chalmers
Paul Pierce
Danny Manning
Joel Embiid
Wilt Chamberlain


I'm not sure you'd win those games.
 
Last edited:

fatguy87

All-American
Oct 8, 2004
13,764
9,093
0
Replace Teague with Ulis on the 2012 team.

Ulis
Lamb
MKG
Jones
AD

That’s an incredible starting lineup. Throw in Miller if you need more shooting.
 
Last edited:

ThwKentuckyKid

All-American
Jul 4, 2015
4,078
7,297
0
I know there are better players but I'm going off what I know so my starting 5 is based off what I've personally witnessed.

PG-Wall
SG-Meeks
SF-Prince
PF-Davis
C- Cousins
 

fredmanthecatfan

All-Conference
Apr 23, 2002
17,558
3,297
0
Pretty impossible. Initially I’d say:
Wall
Delk
Anderson
Mash
Davis

But how can you leave off the Horse? The Goose? Sky Walker? Chapman? Dirk? Macy? Cousins? Sam?

There are some really good ones to choose from
 

Drcats2025

Heisman
Nov 13, 2012
7,945
15,761
93
How about the best complete UK team?
1. Wall
2. Chapman
3. Mashburn
4. Issell
5. Davis
Bench:
Givens
Delk
Prince
Cousins
MKG
Anderson
Macy
 

kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
Maybe don’t question the intelligence of others when you have 5 centers on your roster.
They just asked for a starting 5. I tossed in some of my favorites. Also, Sam was a PF. Davis can play any spot, coach and sell popcorn.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sa_hunt
A

anon_013cn8yrfncx2

Guest
Mash and Nash at the forwards

Davis in the middle

Rondo and DA at the guards
 

PowerK

All-American
Sep 4, 2015
2,541
5,590
113
Based solely off Kentucky career. I had to pick 10. Two at each position.

Wall/Ulis
Delk/Chapman
Mashburn/Givens
Issel/A. Walker
Davis/Towns

Honorable mention Prince,
 
  • Like
Reactions: ukfan041

ukfan041

All-American
Apr 3, 2007
8,650
7,315
73
Wall
Delk
Mashburn
AD
Issel

Honestly, there are so many potential great combinations. A team that I’d love would to watch would be...

Ulis
DA
Mercer
Toine
McCarty

Talk about up and down!