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Kansas basketball: All-time starting lineup – Wilt Chamberlain headlines

By Mike Phillips

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - NOVEMBER 19: The Kansas Jayhawks mascot and fans cheer on the Kansas Jayhawks against East Tennessee State Buccaneers at Allen Fieldhouse on November 19, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - NOVEMBER 19: The Kansas Jayhawks mascot and fans cheer on the Kansas Jayhawks against East Tennessee State Buccaneers at Allen Fieldhouse on November 19, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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Kansas basketball all-time starting lineup
Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks stands in front of Danny Manning (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Kansas basketball is one of the most prestigious programs in the country, so making their all-time starting lineup is extremely tough to crack.

There are blue-bloods in college basketball and then there is Kansas, which can be considered one of the founders of the sport. Basketball itself was invented by Dr. James Naismith, who was the first head coach in the history of Kansas basketball in 1898.

There is a history of excellence when it comes to Kansas basketball, making the choice to select a starting five nearly impossible. A few players who just missed the cut include Paul Pierce, Clyde Lovellette, Charlie T. Black, Nick Collison, Raef LaFrentz and Sherron Collins.

That group of honorable mentions doesn’t even scratch the surface of the brilliance of Kansas basketball, so the top five is a prestigious lineup for sure. It is only fitting to begin the Jayhawks’ all-time starting lineup with one of the team’s early greats.

5. G Paul Endacott (1921-1923)

Before the NCAA Tournament crowned a national championship, the Helms Athletic Foundation took the time to research who would have been the best teams prior to 1939. Kansas were the champions in 1922 and 1923, with star guard Paul Endacott leading the way. Endacott was retroactively named as an All-American in both years as well as the National Player of the Year in 1923. The NBA did not exist yet, so Endacott didn’t get to have a long professional career, but he still was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1972.