The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team was founded in 1904 to represent the University of Arizona in intercollegiate competition and has participated in the sport all but one season since its inception. Over the course of the team's history, the Wildcats' performance has ranged from losing records to resulting in a national championship.
During periods of both ascendancy and mediocrity, individual Arizona players of exceptional ability have received various accolades. In total, Wildcats have been named to an All-America team 35 times, and All-Pac-12 Conference/Big 12 Conference team 114 times. Of the All-America selections, thirty-seven players received first-team honors a total of fifty-eight times. Sixteen players were named consensus first-team All-Americans a total of twenty-five times.
Wildcats have won several nationally recognized individual awards, including the Bob Cousy Award, the Senior CLASS Award, Academic All-America of the Year, and several of the National Player of the Year awards. The College Basketball Hall of Fame has inducted one former Arizona player, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has enshrined three. Former Wildcats head coach have also been inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
All-Americans
Each year, numerous publications and organizations release lists of All-America teams, hypothetical rosters of players considered the best in the nation at their respective positions. Some selecting organizations choose more than one roster of All-Americans, in which case they use the terms "first team", "second team", and "third team" as appropriate. Some selectors also award honorable mentions to outstanding players who did not make any of their teams. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a college sports governing body, uses officially recognized All-America selectors to determine the "consensus" selections. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors based on a point system computed from the four different all-America teams. The point system consists of three points for first team, two points for second team and one point for third team. No honorable mention or fourth team or lower are used in the computation. The top five totals plus ties are first team and the next five plus ties are second team. Over time, the sources used to determine the consensus selections have changed, and since 1997, the NCAA has used these selectors to determine consensus All-Americans: Associated Press (AP), the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), the Sporting News (TSN), and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
The following is a list of Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players that were named first, second or third team All-Americans:
Consensus All-Americans
1951 – Roger Johnson 1976 – Bob Elliott 1977 – Bob Elliott (2) 1988 – Sean Elliott (Consensus) 1988 – Steve Kerr 1989 – Sean Elliott (2, Consensus) 1992 – Sean Rooks 1993 – Chris Mills 1994 – Khalid Reeves (Consensus) 1995 – Damon Stoudamire (Consensus) 1997 – Michael Dickerson 1998 – Mike Bibby (Consensus) 1998 – Michael Dickerson (2) 1998 – Miles Simon (Consensus) 1999 – Jason Terry (Consensus) 2000 – Loren Woods 2000 – Michael Wright 2001 – Loren Woods (2) 2001 – Michael Wright (2) 2002 – Jason Gardner 2002 – Luke Walton 2003 – Jason Gardner (Consensus) 2003 – Andre Iguodala 2005 – Salim Stoudamire (Consensus) 2009 – Jordan Hill 2011 – Derrick Williams (Consensus) 2014 – Nick Johnson (Consensus) 2014 – Aaron Gordon 2015 – Stanley Johnson (3rd-Team, NABC) 2017 – Lauri Markkanen (3rd-Team, AP, USA Today, Sporting News, NBC Sports) 2018 – Deandre Ayton (Consensus) 2022 – Bennedict Mathurin (Consensus 2nd-Team) 2023 – Ąžuolas Tubelis (Consensus 2nd-Team) 2024 – Caleb Love (USBWA & NABC 2nd team, AP & SN 3rd Team) 2026 – Jaden Bradley (NABC, SN, USBWA 3rd Team)
Source: Arizona 2026–27 Media Guide
Fourteen Arizona players have received AP All-America honorable mention:
1991 – Chris Mills (AP Honorable Mention) 1991 – Brian Williams (AP Honorable Mention) 1992 – Chris Mills (2) (AP Honorable Mention) 1992 – Sean Rooks (AP Honorable Mention) 1994 – Damon Stoudamire (AP Honorable Mention, Basketball Weekly, USBWA) 1997 – Michael Dickerson (AP Honorable Mention) 2000 – Loren Woods (AP Honorable Mention) 2000 – Michael Wright (AP Honorable Mention) 2001 – Jason Gardner (AP Honorable Mention) 2001 – Loren Woods (2) (AP Honorable Mention) 2003 – Luke Walton (AP Honorable Mention) 2004 – Andre Iguodala (AP Honorable Mention) 2009 – Chase Budinger (AP Honorable Mention) 2018 – Allonzo Trier (AP Honorable Mention)
All-Pac-12/Big 12 Conference The following is a list of Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players that were named first, second or third team All-Pac-12/Big 12:
First team All-Pac-12/Big 12
1979 – Larry Demic 1980 – Joe Dehls (2) 1981 – Ron Davis 1984 – Pete Williams 1985 – Pete Williams (2) 1985 – Eddie Smith 1986 – Steve Kerr 1987 – Sean Elliott 1988 – Sean Elliott (2)‡ 1988 – Steve Kerr (2) 1988 – Anthony Cook 1989 – Sean Elliott (3)‡ 1989 – Anthony Cook (2) 1990 – Jud Buechler 1991 – Brian Williams 1992 – Chris Mills 1992 – Sean Rooks 1993 – Damon Stoudamire 1993 – Chris Mills (2)‡ 1994 – Khalid Reeves 1994 – Damon Stoudamire (2) 1995 – Ray Owes 1995 – Damon Stoudamire (3)‡ 1996 – Ben Davis 1996 – Reggie Geary 1997 – Michael Dickerson 1998 – Mike Bibby‡ 1998 – Michael Dickerson (2) 1998 – Miles Simon 1999 – A.J. Bramlett 1999 – Jason Terry‡ 2000 – Jason Gardner 2000 – Michael Wright 2000 – Loren Woods 2001 – Gilbert Arenas 2001 – Michael Wright (2) 2002 – Jason Gardner (2) 2002 – Luke Walton 2003 – Jason Gardner (3) 2003 – Luke Walton (2) 2004 – Channing Frye 2004 – Andre Iguodala 2005 – Channing Frye (2) 2005 – Salim Stoudamire 2006 – Hassan Adams 2007 – Marcus Williams 2009 – Jordan Hill 2010 – Derrick Williams 2011 – Derrick Williams (2)‡ 2012 – Kyle Fogg 2012 – Solomon Hill 2013 – Solomon Hill (2) 2014 – Aaron Gordon 2014 – Nick Johnson‡ 2015 – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 2015 – Stanley Johnson 2015 – T. J. McConnell 2016 – Ryan Anderson 2017 – Lauri Markkanen 2018 – Deandre Ayton‡ 2018 – Allonzo Trier 2020 – Zeke Nnaji 2020 - Josh Green 2021 – James Akinjo 2022 - Christian Koloko 2022 - Bennedict Mathurin‡ 2022 - Ąžuolas Tubelis 2023 - Oumar Ballo 2023 - Ąžuolas Tubelis (2) 2024 - Oumar Ballo (2) 2024 - Caleb Love 2025 - Caleb Love (2) 2026 - Jaden Bradley 2026 - Brayden Burries 2026 - Motiejus Krivas
Second team All-Pac-12/Big 12
1979 – Joe Dehls 2008 – Jerryd Bayless 2009 – Nic Wise 2014 – T. J. McConnell 2016 – Kaleb Tarczewski 2016 – Gabe York 2017 – Allonzo Trier 2017 – Kadeem Allen 2018 – Dušan Ristić 2020 – Nico Mannion 2024 – Pelle Larsson
Third team All-Pac-12 2008 – Chase Budinger 2026 – Koa Peat
Note ‡ indicates player was Pac-12 Player of the Year.
Pac-12/Big 12 All Freshman Team
1984 – Michael Tait 1986 – Sean Elliott ‡ 1989 – Sean Rooks 1989 – Matt Othick 1990 – Ed Stokes 1991 – Khalid Reeves 1992 – Damon Stoudamire 1997 – Mike Bibby ‡ 1999 – Richard Jefferson 1999 – Michael Wright ‡ 2000 – Gilbert Arenas 2000 – Jason Gardner 2002 – Channing Frye 2002 – Salim Stoudamire ‡ 2003 – Hassan Adams 2003 – Andre Iguodala 2004 – Mustafa Shakur 2006 – Marcus Williams 2007 – Chase Budinger ‡ 2008 – Jerryd Bayless 2010 – Derrick Williams ‡ 2012 – Nick Johnson 2014 – Aaron Gordon‡ 2014 – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 2015 – Stanley Johnson‡ 2016 – Allonzo Trier 2017 – Lauri Markkanen 2017 – Rawle Alkins 2018 – Deandre Ayton‡ 2020 – Zeke Nnaji‡ 2020 – Nico Mannion 2021 – Bennedict Mathurin 2021 – Ąžuolas Tubelis 2026 - Brayden Burries 2026 – Koa Peat
Note ‡ indicates player was Pac-12/Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
Pac-12/Big 12 All Newcomer
1995 – Ben Davis Jr. 1997 – Bennett Davison Jr. 2000 – Loren Woods ‡
Note ‡ indicates player was Pac-12/Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
Pac-12/Big 12 All-Defensive Team
2009 – Jordan Hill 2012 – Kyle Fogg 2014 – Nick Johnson 2014 – T. J. McConnell 2015 – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 2015 – T. J. McConnell 2016 – Kaleb Tarczewski 2017 – Kadeem Allen 2018 – Deandre Ayton 2022 - Christian Koloko‡ 2022 - Dalen Terry 2026 - Jaden Bradley 2026 - Motiejus Krivas
Pac-12/Big 12 All-Academic Team
1986 – Steve Kerr 1988 – Steve Kerr (2) 1989 – Matt Muehlebach 1990 – Matt Muehlebach (2) 1991 – Matt Muehlebach (3) 1994 – Kevin Flanagan 2001 – Eugene Edgerson 2004 – Jason Ranne‡ 2004 – Andre Iguodala^ 2004 – Brett Brielmaier‡ 2019 – Chase Jeter‡ 2020 – Stone Gettings‡ 2022 – Jordan Mains 2024 – Pelle Larsson
All-Pac 12/Big 12 Tournament Team 1988 – Sean Rooks 1988 – Steve Kerr 1988 – Anthony Cook 1989 – Sean Rooks (2) 1989 – Jud Buechler 1989 – Anthony Cook 1990 – Jud Buechler (2) 1990 – Matt Muehlebach 2002 – Luke Walton 2004 – Hassan Adams 2005 – Salim Stoudamire 2005 – Channing Frye 2011 – Derrick Williams 2012 – Kyle Fogg 2012 – Solomon Hill 2012 – Jesse Perry 2014 – Aaron Gordon 2014 – Nick Johnson 2015 – Brandon Ashley 2015 – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 2015 – Stanley Johnson 2015 – T. J. McConnell 2017 – Allonzo Trier 2017 – Lauri Markkanen 2018 – Deandre Ayton 2018 – Dusan Ristic 2022 – Bennedict Mathurin 2022 – Christian Koloko 2023 – Ąžuolas Tubelis 2023 – Oumar Ballo 2024 – Oumar Ballo 2025 – Caleb Love 2026 – Jaden Bradley 2026 – Brayden Burries Note ‡ indicates player was Pac-12/Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
Source: Arizona 2025–26 Media Guide
Award recipients
Players John R. Wooden Award 1989 – Sean Elliott
National player of the year 1989 – Sean Elliott 1997 – Mike Bibby 1999 – Jason Terry 2000 – Jason Gardner
Frank Hessler Award 2000 – Loren Woods
NCAA Regionals most outstanding player 1997 – Miles Simon
Wayman Tisdale Award 2000 – Jason Gardner
Julius Erving Award 2015 – Stanley Johnson
Karl Malone Award 2018 – DeAndre Ayton
Pac-12/Big 12 player of the year (AP, UPI, Coaches)
The following is a list of Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players who have been named Pac-12 Player of the Year/Big 12 Conference Player of the Year:
1988 – Sean Elliott 1989 – Sean Elliott 1993 – Chris Mills 1995 – Damon Stoudamire 1998 – Mike Bibby 1999 – Jason Terry 2011 – Derrick Williams 2014 – Nick Johnson 2018 – Deandre Ayton 2022 – Bennedict Mathurin 2024 – Caleb Love 2026 – Jaden Bradley
Pac-12/Big 12 freshman of the year (AP, Coaches)
The following is a list of Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players who have been named either Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (awarded by the league's head coaches, and open only to freshmen) or Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year (awarded by the AP and open to any player in his first year at an Pac-12 school, including transfers). 1986 – Sean Elliott 1997 – Mike Bibby 1999 – Michael Wright 2002 – Salim Stoudamire 2007 – Chase Budinger 2010 – Derrick Williams 2014 – Aaron Gordon 2015 – Stanley Johnson 2018 – Deandre Ayton 2020 – Zeke Nnaji
Pac-12 6th Man of the Year/Big 12 6th Man of the Year 2021 – Jordan Brown 2022 – Pelle Larsson 2026 – Tobe Awaka
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year 2022 – Christian Koloko
Pac-12/Big 12 Most Improved Player of the Year 2022 – Christian Koloko 2023 – Oumar Ballo
Pac-12/Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year 2020: Stone Gettings
Pac-12 Tournament MOPs/Big 12 Most Outstanding Player 1988: Sean Elliott 1989: Sean Elliott (2) 1990: Jud Buechler 2002: Luke Walton 2005: Salim Stoudamire 2015: Brandon Ashley 2017: Allonzo Trier 2018: Deandre Ayton 2022: Bennedict Mathurin 2023: Ąžuolas Tubelis 2026: Jaden Bradley
Coaches
National Coach of the Year Lute Olson – 1988, 1990
AP Coach of the Year Tommy Lloyd – 2022 (AP Coach of the Year)
NABC Coach of the Year Tommy Lloyd – 2022(NABC Coach of the Year)
Naismith Coach of the Year