Pitt Men's Basketball All-Time Starting Five

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Lamarr Fields

It wasn't easy to make a list of the all-time starting unit for Pitt, which tells you they've had some great talent throughout the years in the program. The Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team has reached one Final Four, received 15 First Team All-American selections, and appeared in 26 NCAA and nine National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). While some tough decisions were made, and you may not agree with all of them, here is my list:

Charles Smith F 6-10 1984-1988

Charles Smith started every game in his four years at Pittsburgh; he set school records in points (2,045) and blocks (346). Smith made four All-Big East teams and was Big East Player of the Year in the 1987-88 season. As Panther, Smith averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game on 50% shooting from the field. Smith has his jersey retired at Pittsburgh.

Sam Young F 6-6 2005-2009

Sam Young won Big East Most Improved Player in the 2007-08 season when he averaged 18.1 points per game. Young scored 13.2 points and grabbed 5.0 rebounds per game for his career at Pittsburgh. Also, he shot 49% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc on his way to two Big East first teams. In his senior season at Pitt, Young averaged 19.2 points per game and was honored to be a Third Team All-America. His 2009 NBA draft stock also increased after his spectacular performance in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, in which he averaged 23.5 points in four games.

Billy Knight F 6-6 1971-174

Billy Knight was dominant in his three years at Pittsburgh; he averaged 22.2 points and 12.0 rebounds on 52% shooting from the field. He scored 1,731 total points and was on the team that won 22 straight games in the 1973-74 season that made it to the Elite Eight.

Brandin Knight G 6-0 1999-2003

Brandin Knight was the floor general as a Panther; he set school records in assists (785) and steals (282). Knight dished out 6.2 assists per game in Pittsburgh as he led a rejuvenated program in the early 2000's. He also averaged 11.3 points per game and scored 1,440 points. Knight won Big East Player of the Year in the 2001-2002 season and won Most Improved Player that year as well.

Don Hennon G 5-8 1956-1959

Don Hennon could really score the basketball; he averaged 24.2 points per game in three years as a Panther. Hennon scored 45 points in a game and had two other 40-point games as well. He finished his career at Pitt, an era without the three-point shot, and before first-year students could play, he was the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,841 points and remains fifth on the school's all-time scoring list.

So that's the list. What do you think? Some of the toughest decisions came with players who didn't play all four years, like Dejuan Blair. But remember, this isn't an all talent list.

Honorable mentions: Carl Krauser, Julius Page, Chevy Troutman