Michigan Basketball: All-Time 10 Best Point Guards

This is the first installment in a series of articles featuring the All-Time Best Michigan Basketball players, coaches, and more. Many of the players on the Top 10 lists could be listed at mulitple positions. I tried to keep the players at a position that best suited their game. So if you don’t see somebody on this list that you think should be here wait and see who makes the cut in the All-Time 10 Best Shooting Guards when that is released.

10		Dan Fife: A three year starter at Michigan, Fife averaged 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in his career (1968-71). Fife piloted some very good teams at Michigan. He also played with Michigan greats Rudy Tomjanovich and Henry Wilmore. Fife was an outstanding all-around player. He was a good rebounder and an excellent passer. Fife averaged 5.35 assists per game in the 1970-71 season, which at the time was a school record. “When Fife has the ball,” then-coach Johnny Orr told the Michigan Daily in 1971, “we’ve got a basket.” Fife’s career field goal percentage of 57.44% ranks 8th on Michigan’s all-time list and is the best among all guards to play at Michigan. Fife’s son, Dugan also played at Michigan (1992-96). His son Jeremy played at Grand Valley State. His youngest son, Dane played at Indiana and is currently the head coach at IPFW. Fife was selected in the 10th round of the 1971 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was also selected in the 2nd round of the 1971 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. Fife is currently the basketball coach at Clarkston High School (Clarkston, Michigan) and is considered the best, High School coach in the State of Michigan.
9		Eric Turner: Turner was a three year starter at Michigan (1981-84) before leaving school early to pursue a career in the NBA. He was a tremendous all around player. Turner averaged 14.4 points and 5.0 assists per game as a Wolverine. Turner ranks 6th in school history with 421 career assists. His career average of 5.0 apg is third best in school history. He also averaged 1.16 steals per game during his career, which is 9th on the All-Time list. Hi sophomore season was his best statistical season as he averaged 18.1 ppg and 5.9 apg. Turner was a 1981 All-American selection. Turner was selected in the second round of the 1984 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. His NBA dreams were never realized.
8		Antoine Joubert: The Judge might not have been fast but he was smooth. Bill Frieder said Joubert is “the best in transition I’ve coached”. Joubert was a tough, hard nosed player during his Michigan career (1983-87). He paired with Gary Grant for three years to form a dynamic backcourt for Michigan. Joubert finished his career with 1,594 points (14th in school history) and 539 assists (3rd in school history). He is one of just 6 Wolverines to notch over 1,000 career points and 400 career assists. Joubert was drafted in the 6^th round of the 1987 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. His NBA career never got off the ground and he played overseas for many years.
7		Daniel Horton: Horton was the guy Tommy Amaker thought would lead Michigan to the next level and he almost did. Michigan came close to breaking their NCAA Tournament drought during the Horton/Amaker era. In 2003-04 Michigan finished the regular season 18-10 and just missed the NCAA Tournament, they would go on to win the NIT and Horton was the MVP of the tournament. Again in 2005-06 Michigan just missed the NCAA Tournament with an 18-11 record. Horton sits at #11 on Michigan’s career scoring list with 1,614 points. He ranks 4th in school history with 484 career assists and his career average of 4.4 apg ranks 5th. Horton was also a good three point shooter as he drained 233 triples in his career, good for 3rd in school history. He also holds Michigan’s freshmen record with 74 three pointers. Horton was an outstanding free throw shooter, his career percentage of 79.56 ranks 9th on the All-Time list. In his senior season Horton shot 90.10% from the charity stripe, which is the second best single season mark in school history. Horton is tied for second on Michigan’s career steals list with 187; his career average of 1.7 steals per game is second on Michigan’s All-Time list. Horton was undrafted and is playing professionally overseas.
6		Ernie McCoy: McCoy starred as a center and a guard during his Michigan career (1926-29). He was a defensive stalwart and he was known for his playmaking ability. McCoy was the captain of Michigan’s 1928-29 team that went 13-3 and he earned All-American honors while playing guard for the Wolverines that season. McCoy was inducted into Michigan’s Hall of Honor in 1986. In 1940 McCoy returned to Michigan and served as an assistant football coach and eventually as the head basketball coach and assistant athletic director. In 1950 McCoy was named athletic director at Penn State and he served in that capacity for 18 years. In 1966 he hired Joe Paterno to coach Penn State’s football team.
5		Rumeal Robinson: He will always be remembered for sinking the two game clinching free throws with 3 seconds remaining in overtime of the 1989 National Championship game. Robinson was a three year starter during his Michigan career (1987-90). He followed up the National Championship season by earning All-American honors in 1990. Robinson ranks second in school history with 575 career assists. His career average of 5.75 apg is a school record. He is also the only Wolverine to ever have two seasons with an assist average of 6 per game or higher (6.30 and 6.13). His top assist game was in Michigan’s 1989 Sweet Sixteen match up against North Carolina, Robinson dished out 13 assists in the win. Not only could he dish it out but Robinson was an expert ball hawk. He notched 150 career steals, which is good for 6th on the All-Time list. His career steals per game average of 1.50 ranks third in school history. Robinson was drafted in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He played in the NBA for 6 seasons.
4		John Townsend: Known as one of the best playmakers of his era, Townsend became Michigan’s fourth consensus All-American in 1938. Townsend earned All-Conference honors three times during his career (1936-38). He also was the captain of the 1937-38 team. He was known as “The Houdini of the Hardwood” and he is generally considered Michigan’s best basketball player pre-Cazzie Russell. The 6-4 Townsend was considered a forward and center but his game and talents seem better suited to list him among the great point guards. He was considered the best ball handler in the conference. In the book Champions of the West, you will find this description, “On the basketball court Townsend was simply amazing. The leading scorer on the team each of his three years, he was also known for his passing ability…” Townsend was elected into Michigan’s Hall of Honor in 1980 as part of the third induction class. The only basketball players to be inducted before him were Cazzie Russell and Rudy Tomjanovich.
3		Rickey Green: A transfer to Michigan from Vincennes (Ind.) Junior College, Green had two sparkling seasons for the Wolverines (1975-77). The lightning fast Green averaged 19.9 ppg in his first season with the Maize and Blue. In that season Michigan advanced to the National Championship game and lost to Indiana. Green averaged 19.5 ppg the next season and helped Michigan win a Big Ten championship. Green was a 1977 All American selection and runner up National Player of the year. His career scoring average of 19.7 ppg ranks 8th on the school’s All-Time list. A 1976 Sports Illustrated article said, “Green is simply a scoring and ball-handling machine who can accelerate to the basket in the blink of a defender’s eye.” Green was drafted in the first round of the 1977 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and played in the NBA for 14 seasons.
2		Jalen Rose: A member of the Fab Five, Rose played three seasons at Michigan (1991-94) before bolting for the NBA. He led Michigan in assists all three seasons he played and in scoring twice. Rose started in 101 of his 102 career games and scored in double digits 98 times. Rose joined Gary Grant as the only Wolverines with 1,500 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, and 100 steals in their career. Rose’s career average of 17.9 points per game ranks 10th in school history. He dished out 401 assists in his career, good for 7th on the All-Time list. Rose drained 124 three pointers as a Wolverine which is also good for 7th on the All-Time list. In a 1992 Sports Illustrated article Rose was described as Michigan’s spiritual leader and its most insolent trash talker. Rose was a two-time All American (1992, 94). He holds the school record for most points scored by a Freshman with 597. Rose was selected in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. He played in the NBA for 13 years. He was known as “The Natural” for his ability to master multiple positions on the court—point guard, shooting guard and small forward.
1		Gary Grant: A lockdown defender, Grant notched a school record 300 steals in his Michigan career (1984-88). He also owns the top 3 single season steals averages with 2.69, 2.55, and 2.35 steals per game. Grant is also Michigan’s career leader in assists with 731. He ranks fourth on Michigan’s All-Time list with 2222 career points. Grant’s career three-point field goal percentage of 46.11% ranks him third on Michigan’s All-Time list. He had 14 10-plus assist games in his career, which is a school record. He also holds the school record for assists in a game with 14, which he did twice in December 1987. Grant’s 11 double-doubles (points-assist) are the most by any Wolverine. Grant was the first Big Ten player with 1,000 points, 600 assists, and 200 steals. He was the 1985 Big Ten Freshmen of the Year. He was twice selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (1987, 88). Grant was a First Team All-Big Ten selection twice (1987-88) and a 1988 All American. Grant was selected in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics. He enjoyed a 13 year career in the NBA.