South Carolina Basketball: Ranking the top-12 centers in Gamecock history

South Carolina Basketball’s Greatest Center of All-Time:
Tom Owens

Tom Owens (1968-1971) was a high school teammate of John Roche, and, as the story goes, the dynamic duo only ended up at South Carolina because Frank McGuire was willing to take both of them, a double scholarship offer that was not given by any other program. It worked out well for the Gamecocks and the La Salle Academy alumni as they became two of the best to ever don the garnet and black, led Carolina to its most successful stretch of all-time, and made it to the NBA.

Owens was a big-time player immediately upon his arrival in Columbia as he made the All-ACC team all three of his seasons at Carolina. He made an All-American squad, as well, and averaged a double-double each season with 15 points and 12.9 rebounds being his lowest production as a Gamecock.

Big #24 was 6’10” in an era when not many players were, but McGuire brought in another 6’10” big man in Tom Riker the year after Owens got to campus. Both players were true centers, but they were also too talented to keep off the floor, so the two Toms played as twin towers on the block. Even with another All-American center on the floor at the same time, Owens still put together career averages of 15.8 points and 13.3 rebounds across three seasons.

After dominating for three years in the ACC, Owens went on to a 12-year NBA career. He averaged a double-double one season for the ABA’s Spirits of St. Louis and had some nice years for the Portland Trail Blazers.