In a resounding decision that celebrates one of the most decorated careers in NCAA history, ESPN has named Dan Issel, the legendary University of Kentucky center, as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in college men’s basketball. Issel’s selection places him ahead of other historic figures in the sport, including Austin Carr of Notre Dame, Christian Laettner of Duke, and Jerry Lucas of Ohio State.
Issel’s dominance during his time at Kentucky in the late 1960s is well-documented. Over three varsity seasons (1967–1970), Issel set records that still stand today. He scored 2,138 points during his college career — a record at Kentucky that stood for decades — and averaged an astounding 25.8 points and 13 rebounds per game. Known for his physical toughness, scoring efficiency, and relentless rebounding, Issel was a nightmare for opposing defenses.
What separated Issel from his peers in ESPN’s GOAT ranking was not just his statistics, but his consistency, leadership, and influence on the game. At a time when college basketball was expanding in national popularity, Issel’s performances helped elevate the Kentucky Wildcats to the top tier of the sport. His battles in the Southeastern Conference were the stuff of legend, and he was named an All-American multiple times.
While Christian Laettner’s clutch moments and national championships with Duke, Jerry Lucas’s legendary play at Ohio State, and Austin Carr’s NCAA scoring records certainly made the competition fierce, Issel’s complete body of work stood out to ESPN analysts and fans alike.
His post-college career in the ABA and NBA only added to his legacy, but it was his collegiate years that laid the foundation. Dan Issel, through determination, skill, and an unyielding will to win, has now been rightfully crowned the GOAT of college men’s basketball — an honor that cements his place in the annals of sports history.
