Top Ten NBA Players from DePaul

It has come to my attention that DePaul has been absent from the Top Ten arena for far too long and that cannot be allowed to happen.

The Blue Demons are ingrained in the fabric of NCAA basketball history and make up the backbone of its existence. Legendary figures like Ray Meyer have only added to the legend, despite the lean years Blue Demons faithful have had to endure in recent memory.

So to brighten spirits and hopefully make class a little less boring (you know who you are out there, sorry teach), here are the Top Ten NBA Players From DePaul.

10. Andre Brown

The man with the distinction of being named MVP of Batavia's Ken Peddy Thanksgiving Tournament three times certainly made his mark at both Leo High School and DePaul.

He left DePaul as Conference USA's fourth-leading rebounder of all time and with his name etched in the Blue Demon record books.

Despite not being drafted, Brown has bounced the world since leaving DePaul in 2003 and eventually found his way into the NBA. After playing for the Seattle Supersonics and the Memphis Grizzlies, Brown landed with the Charlotte Bobcats and is currently fighting to stay on the active roster.

9. Steven Hunter

People had some very high hopes for Hunter after he entered the 2001 NBA Draft with only two years of college ball under his belt.

They say the one thing you can't teach is height and Hunter had plenty of it standing at 7-foot. However, knee injuries have plagued his career and his talents on the court never materialized the way many had envisioned on draft day.

He appeared in only 19 games last season and will miss this season after undergoing yet another knee surgery. There's speculation that his career is over.

8. Kevin Edwards

In the 1988 NBA Draft, Kevin Edwards became the first ever draft pick for the then newly minted franchise Miami Heat.

That first year was rough as the Heat only picked up their first win after losing the first 17 games of their existence. His best years came while playing for the New Jersey Nets, averaging 14 ppg in 1993.

He's currently trying to make it in the movie business as a producer.

7. Wilson Chandler

Chandler is another one of the lucky individuals booed by the New York Knicks faithful when his name was called on draft day.

Chandler struggled to find his way early on, but seems to have impressed new head coach Mike D'Antoni enough to become the starting forward for the Knicks. He's averaging a smidge over 12 points on the young 2008 campaign and is starting to show flashes of the talent he displayed during his days as a Demon.

6. Bobby Simmons

Bobby is probably known more for the ridiculous, five year, $47 million contract he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after winning the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2005.

During his junior year at DePaul, Simmons excelled and finished with averages of 13.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He entered the NBA Draft in 2001 and was selected by the Seattle Supersonics in the second round. He was promptly traded to the Washington Wizards, where he played an average of 33 games during his two year stint in the nation's capital.

The aforementioned contract has since become regarded as one of the worst in NBA history because of Simmons' inability to stay healthy. He's now a member of the New Jersey Nets.

5. Quentin Richardson

This poor man is currently stuck in the albatross that is known as the New York Knicks, with fellow former Blue Devil and member of this list, Wilson Chandler.

'Q' exploded onto the Chicago basketball season during his years at Whitney Young High School where he became a McDonald's High School All American and in 1998 was named USA Today's High School Player of the Year.

His time at DePaul was no different and 'Q' continued to wrap up the accolades (Conference USA Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year) as quickly as he became the first Blue Demon to ever record a season with more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 three-pointers.

Richardson's early years in the NBA were highly entertaining due to his pairing with East St. Louis product Darius Miles on the Los Angeles Clippers.

4. Rod Strickland

Strickland always seemed to be just on the verge of becoming regarded as one of the NBA's best point guards during his playing days. However, Strickland always managed to get in his own way and never ascended to the lofty heights he seemed to be destined for. But even with contract disputes, injuries and irrational behavior, Strickland still managed to finish with over 14,000 points and just under 8,000 assists.

But he will always be remembered for his days as a Blue Demon in the late eighties.

The Demons reached the NCAA Tournament four years in a row and managed a pair of Sweet 16 appearances while Strickland was there. As a junior, he was named a First Team All American while averaging 20 ppg and 7.8 assists.

3. Terry Cummings

Selected by the San Diego Clippers in 1982 NBA Draft, Cummings made a huge splash in the league by winning the Rookie of the Year award at season's end. He finished his NBA career with 19,460 points, just shy of the illustrious 20,000 point mark shared by some of the greatest players the league has ever known.

A two-time All Star, Cummings' career was never the same after his knee gave out during a pickup game. His numbers started to rapidly decline and Cummings bounced around the league before finishing with the Golden State Warriors in 2000.

2. Mark Aguirre

The first overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft, Mark Aguirre was a force to be reckoned with throughout his playing days in the Association.

His 29.5 ppg average in the 1983-1984 season was seconly only to NBA legend Adrian Dantley and throughout his career Aguirre averaged 20 ppg.

Aguirre won a pair of NBA Championships as a member of the Detroit Pistons, playing along side future Hall of Famers Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas.

He led DePaul to the NCAA Final Four as a freshman in the 1978-79 season and was named The Sporting News Player of the Year in 1981.

Aguirre will always be remembered as one of DePaul's brightest stars, second only to one man.

1. George Mikan

The NBA's first legitimate big man, Mikan changed all the rules when his imposing frame stepped onto the court. However, Mikan has always been and will forever be known as a gentle giant and is credited for doing more for the game of basketball than most could have ever dreamed of.

A member of the NBA Hall of Fame, Mikan was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996 and for the first time, a new generation was aware of his impact on the game that included the introduction of the shot clock and goaltending.

He passed away in 2005.