The All-Time Gonzaga Basketball Starting 5

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been known for their lack of NCAA Tournament success, but they've been one of the more consistently great basketball programs in the nation under the leadership of had coach Mark Few. As it turns out, they've had more than just a few enduring star basketball players grace their Spokane campus and go on to great NBA Success. Assembling an all-time starting five of all-time great Zags is no small task, but we're going to give it our level best.

1. Center: Ronny Turiaf

With due respect to Kelly Olynyk, French big man Ronny Turiaf pursued a basketball career by leaving his homeland to join the Bulldogs. Turiaf played for four seasons (2001-05), and turned into one of their most efficient big men in the program's history. Turiaf scored a grand total of 1,723 points (seventh all-time in the program), 859 rebounds (fifth), and 179 blocked shots (third). While he failed to make it past the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament in his four seasons, there's no denying that Turiaf was a force on the hardwood.

2. Forward: Elias Harris

When it comes to Gonzaga big men, Elias Harris is one of the best. Playing four college seasons, Harris made a name for himself as a scoring machine and a board man. Harris tallied 1,857 points (fourth-most in program history) and 979 rebounds (second-most all-time). During his stint, Harris was named West Coast Conference (WCC) Newcomer of the Year and received First-Team All-WCC nods three times (2010, '12, '13).

3. Forward: Adam Morrison

By the mid 2000's, Gonzaga had entered the national spotlight thanks to the play of a long-haired, mustachioed forward named Adam Morrison. In his three seasons, Morrison scored a total of 1,867 points (No. 3 all-time), 926 of which came during his junior season. Morrison was also a consensus First Team All-American and won multiple National Player of the Year awards in the 2005-06 season. While he never really panned out in the NBA, his brilliant play at Gonzaga simply can't be denied, as he solidified himself as one of the very best players in the program's history, and certainly the most unforgettable one to look at.

4. Guard: Frank Burgess

When looking at the best of the best Gonzaga basketball player of all-time, it's Frank Burgess. The point guard was an absolute star during his three years at Spokane, and his statistics prove it. Burgess ranks first in total points scored (2,196), scoring average (28.1), field goals made (800), field goals attempted (1,780), free throws made (596), and free throws attempted (727). In his post-Gonzaga career, Burgess played two seasons for the American Basketball Association's Hawaii Chiefs before going to law school and becoming a judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Now that's a well-lived life.

5. Guard: John Stockton

Yes, the Utah Jazz great and Basketball Hall of Famer played his college ball at Gonzaga. It was there where viewers got to see the greatness of John Stockton for the first time. He wasn't a scorer, but did he ever set up plays via passing and break them up with his defensive acumen. In his four seasons, Stockton scored 1,340 points, 554 assists (fifth all-time) and 262 steals (most in school history). There is no more famous name in Gonzaga basketball history.

ALL-TIME BENCH: Dan Dickau, Kelly Olynyk, Kevin Pangos, Blake Stepp