So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 54
No. 54:
Our pick:
==Marques Johnson, UCLA basketball (1973-'77)
One of the more popular numbers in UCLA basketball history, Johnson handed it down to his sons, Kris ('95-'98), to wear on the 1995 UCLA title team and Josiah ('02-'05). His father didn't too badly in it, either. The first recipient of the Wooden Award for most outstanding college basketball player in the nation, Johnson came out of Crenshaw High and helped John Wooden win his 10th and final NCAA title in 1975 as a sophomore. As a junior, he averaged 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds and helped his Gene Bartow team to the Final Four. His senior season, where he also won the Naismith Award, included a 21.1 points per game average and 11.1 rebounds a game average.
The Milwaukee Bucks took him with the third overall pick in '77 and his NBA career wasn't too shabby either, although it included a few years painfully with the Clippers (he wore No. 8).
He dabbled in acting (he's the thug in "White Men Can't Jump") and unfortunately, Johnson fancies himself these days as a TV analyst. His "Yeah, Baby!" call during UCLA's '95 title victory on the radio will go down as ... well, classic. It won't get him kicked out of the UCLA Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1988.
Other No. 54s:
==Kenny Fields, UCLA basketball ('80-'84)
==Larry Farmer, UCLA basketball ('70-'73)
==Horace Grant, Lakers ('00-'01, '03-'04)
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 54: Randy White over Rich Gossage and Brian Urlacher.
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: