14) ALONZO MOURNING

14. Alonzo Mourning: Georgetown - (1988-92) Chesapeake, VA

Four years: 16.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 3.8 bpg, 56.6% FG, 75.4% FT

Defensive Player of the Year (1989)

Defensive Player of the Year (1990)

Defensive Player of the Year (1992)

Player of the Year (1992)

Second Team Consensus All-American (1990)

First Team Consensus All-American (1992)

At the time he entered Georgetown, he was considered “the next Patrick Ewing”. While he failed short of that nearly impossible achievement, his combination of offense, rebounding, and defense still places him among the best centers in NCAA history.

As a freshman, Mourning earned his first triple double in only his third game and went on to average 13.1 ppg and 7.3 rpg, while shooting an amazingly efficient 60.3% from the field. But even more impressive was the then-NCAA record 169 blocks, an average of 5.0 a game. His 71 Big East blocks is still the best and his 169 blocks on the season is the 8th best shot blocking season in NCAA history, 2nd best as a freshman. As a sophomore, his block totals dropped to 2.2 bpg, but his offensive numbers rose to 16.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg. A bad foot injury during his junior year led his numbers to drop to 15.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 2.4 bpg. Healthy again as a senior, Mourning put together the best year of his college career earning Player of the Year honors as well as being named a First Team All-American. Excellent in every facet of the game, Mourning averaged 21.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 5.0 bpg, and even 1.7 apg. From the field, he shot 59.5%. His 93 Big East blocks is still a record as are his 156 free throws and 204 free throw attempts.

“He was the reason why I played in the Big East,” former Boston College star Bill Curley tells NBE. “I thought he was the best big man in the country when I came out of high school and I wanted to play against him. And I was right. He was awesome.”

For his career, Mourning accumulated 2,001 points and 1,032 rebounds, and he is 4th all-time in NCAA history for blocks. In the conference, Mourning’s 224 blocks are 3rd best, while he is also 2nd all-time in made free throws.

Selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the second overall pick in the NBA draft, Mourning played 15 seasons with Charlotte, Miami, and New Jersey, and was selected to seven all-star games.

Be Sociable, Share!

•