Kentucky basketball: All-time starting 5 – From Anthony Davis to Jamal Mashburn

Kentucky basketball players have left a lasting legacy in Lexington, but none loom larger than these five who make up the Kentucky all-time starting lineup.

Kentucky basketball is college basketball royalty.

Dating back to Adolph Rupp — the namesake for Rupp Arena — patrolled the sidelines the Wildcats have been a mainstay atop the NCAA hierarchy. Big Blue Nation is one of the most dedicated fan bases in the country and for the majority of their lives, they’ve been spoiled with a highly talented roster.

That’s been bolstered over the past decade as John Calipari brought a new class of elite “one-and-done” prospects to Lexington during his tenure as head coach. Coach Cal’s player’s first approach has helped Kentucky hold on to its status as one of the top programs in collegiate sports.

The Wildcats have a history behind their college basketball program that few other schools can match. Their teams are constantly used as a measuring stick for other universities to see where they stand in comparison to a team that is perennially one of the contenders to bring home a national title.

As is the case with all lists, there were, unfortunately, some names (and pretty big ones at that given the university we’re talking about) that had to be left off. The toughest battles came at the point guard and center position where cases can be made for multiple players to be worthy of having their name placed on the slides that follow. Below you’ll find the names of the 10 players that came closest to being chosen as a member of the Wildcats’ all-time starting lineup.

Honorable Mention: Sam Bowie, DeMarcus Cousins, Rex Chapman, De’Aaron Fox, Tayshaun Prince, Julius Randle, Pat Riley, Rajon Rondo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Antoine Walker