- Charles Smith is Pitt’s all-time leading scorer with 2,045 points.
- Don Hennon holds the Pitt single-game scoring record with 45 points against Duke during the 1957-58 season.
- Billy Knight was a consensus second-team All-American in 1974.
If, somehow, you were able to bet on the Pittsburgh Panthers’ college basketball odds to win a national championship every year since their inception in 1905 through 2024, you would’ve only been successful once.
Their only title win came in 1928, before the NCAA Tournament.
As for tournament play, they’ve made it as far as the Final Four in 1941.
Still, you can bet on their basketball odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
While the Panthers haven’t won a national championship on the hardcourt in nearly a century, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some great players.
See my list of the five best Pitt Panthers below.
5 Best Pittsburgh Panthers Basketball Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Pittsburgh Years |
| 1 | Charles Smith | F | 1984-1988 |
| 2 | Don Hennon | G | 1956-1959 |
| 3 | Billy Knight | F | 1971-1974 |
| 4 | Brandin Knight | G | 1999-2003 |
| 5 | Jerome Lane | F | 1985-1988 |
Pittsburgh Panthers All-Time Greatest Basketball Players
1. Charles Smith
Smith played for Pitt from 1984 to 1988 and was a second-team All-American, the Big East Player of the Year, a two-time first-team All-Big East, and two-time third-team All-Big East selection. The program retired his No. 32.
Smith is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,045 points.
He also finished with 987 rebounds (second) and 346 blocks (first).
Over his four-year career, he averaged 16.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
2. Don Hennon
Hennon suited up for Pitt from 1956 to 1959. Over that stretch, the Panthers went to the Sweet 16 in 1957.
Hennon was consensus first-team All-American, consensus second-team All-American, and his No. 10 was retired.
He scored 1,841 points (fifth) and holds the single-game scoring record with 45 points against Duke during the 1957-58 season.
He averaged 24.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
3. Billy Knight
Knight was a consensus second-team All-American during his playing days at Pitt from 1971 to 1974.
Over that stint, Pitt went to the Elite Eight in 1974.
Knight averaged 22.2 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.
He finished his career with 1,731 points (10th) and 938 rebounds (fourth).
His No. 34 was retired by the school.
4. Brandin Knight
Knight played for Pitt from 1999 to 2003 and is the program’s all-time leader in assists (785) and steals (298).
He averaged 11.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
He was a second-team All-American, third-team All-American, Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, first-team All-Big East, second-team All-Big East, and the Big East Co-Player of the Year.
Pitt retired his No. 20.
5. Jerome Lane
Lane averaged 13.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over his three-year career at Pitt from 1985 to 1988.
He was a consensus second-team All-American, third-team All-American, led the NCAA in rebounds in 1987, and a first-team All-Big East honoree.
Lane recorded 970 rebounds (third) and holds the single-season record with 444 during the 1986-87 campaign.
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