Since the University of New Mexico basketball program began in 1899, many great players have graced The Pit’s court to put on a gameday performance. However, five stand out from the rest.
An honorable mention goes to Jaelen House who had an incredible career with the Lobos, winning multiple accolades and leading his team to an NCAA tournament appearance.
5. Kenny Thomas
Thomas played all four years with the Lobos and showed out each season, always averaging double-digit points. In his senior season, he averaged a double-double. But in the whole of his career, Thomas averaged 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Thomas’s most impressive feat is that the Lobos made the NCAA tournament in each of his four seasons. Thomas was selected by the Houston Rockets in the 1999 NBA draft as the 22nd overall pick, according to Basketball Reference.
4. Luc Longley
Longley, a 7-foot tall player from Australia, also played all four seasons with the Lobos.
He came off the bench his freshman year averaging only 4 points and 2 rebounds per game. Longley made up for it in his next three years, as he consistently averaged double-digit numbers with solid rebounding, while being a great rim protector.
Longley also helped the Lobos make an NCAA tournament appearance in his final year. He finished his career with the Lobos averaging 13.4 points, 7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
Longley’s success with the Lobos followed him to the NBA as he won three championships with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls as the starting center on the 1996, 1997 and 1999 championship teams.
3. Danny Granger
Despite only playing two seasons for the Lobos, Granger brought lights-out shooting to New Mexico, shooting 52% from the field and 43% from 3. Granger's achievements with the Lobos in such a short time are nothing short of impressive.
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Granger was an all-Mountain West Conference player twice, leading New Mexico to win the Mountain West Tournament where he earned tournament MVP. Granger also helped lead New Mexico to an NCAA tournament appearance.
Granger averaged 19.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game with the Lobos. Success followed Granger, too, as he was selected 17th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2005 NBA draft. Granger played 10 seasons in the NBA, his best and most impactful being with the Pacers.
2. Michael Cooper
Cooper, like Granger, only played two seasons for New Mexico and balled out in both. While being a solid offensive contributor, Cooper’s calling card was on the defensive side, as he played tremendous lock-down defense.
Cooper received many accolades; his most impressive was being named a first team all-American. Cooper averaged 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game with the Lobos. He also helped them to an NCAA tournament appearance.
Cooper’s efforts with the Lobos didn’t go unseen, as he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1978 NBA draft, where he was a vital piece to the “Showtime era.” With Cooper, the Lakers won five championships. He became a hall-of-famer in 2024.
1. Mel Daniels
Daniels played three seasons for the Lobos and was a physical beast in the paint. All three seasons, Daniels averaged a double-double and helped the Lobos make an appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Daniels finished his three seasons averaging 20 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Daniels was so dominant that he had 44 career double-doubles with the Lobos — a school record that has yet to be broken.
Daniels entered the 1967 NBA draft after his time with the Lobos and was selected 9th overall, according to Basketball Reference. His ABA career was similar to his college one, as he earned seven all-star appearances, two MVPs and three championships. He became a hall-of-famer in 2012.
Rodney Prunty is a freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Rprunty05
