Father Knows Best: Ranking Premier Combos Where Son Played Under Dad

March 14th, 2024 - 14:55

After deciding to return to Detroit for his unique fifth season of eligibility as senior graduate due to COVID-19 considerations last season, Antoine Davis eventually became runner-up to LSU's Pete Maravich as the all-time leading men's scorers in NCAA history? This campaign, Drake's DeVries clan (Darian and Tucker) was the most successful father-son, coach-player combination when Tucker became the ninth different individual to average more than 21 ppg playing under his dad. Winning more than 3/4 of their games the past three seasons, they may move up the all-time family totem poll (including Maravich and his dad) with a victory or two in the NCAA playoffs and Tucker scored only three points on 1-of-13 field-goal shooting in last year's opening-round defeat against Miami.

The Davis' worksheet together (59-88 previous five years) resembled the modest marks manufactured by the Houstons (Tennessee) and Berrys (San Jose State) more than the the regal records registered by the McDermotts (Creighton) and Drews (Valparaiso). The following list of luminaries details the best players under dear old dad (with emphasis on winning percentage and longevity):

Rank Coach/Father School(s) Record Player/Son Pos. Son's Career Summary Under Father
1. Greg McDermott Creighton 107-38 Doug McDermott F Doug was three-time NCAA first-Team All-American from 2011-12 through 2013-14 after originally signing with old MVC rival Northern Iowa. As a sophomore and junior, he was MVC MVP before earning same award when Bluejays moved to the Big East Conference.
2. Press Maravich Louisiana State 49-35 Pete Maravich G Pete, a three-time unanimous NCAA first-team All-American, became the NCAA's career record holder for total points (3,667 in three years from 1967-68 through 1969-70) and scoring average (44.2 ppg). In his senior season, the Tigers had their highest SEC finish (2nd) and only postseason tournament appearance (NIT) in a 24-year span from 1955 through 1978.
3. Wade Houston Tennessee 60-68 Allan Houston G Allan, a four-time All-SEC first-team selection, averaged more than 20 ppg each of his four seasons en route to becoming the Volunteers' all-time leading scorer (2,801 points from 1989-90 through 1992-93). They participated in the NIT in his freshman and junior campaigns.
4. Bill Berry San Jose State 46-41 Ricky Berry G-F Ricky, after playing his freshman season with Oregon State, averaged 21 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 3.2 apg for the Spartans from 1985-86 through 1987-88 en route to becoming their all-time leading scorer (1,767 points). He was a three-time All-Big West Conference first-team selection.
5. Dick Acres Oral Roberts 47-34 Mark Acres C Dick coached his sons (including Jeff) from midway through the 1982-83 campaign through 1984-85. Mark, a three-time All-Midwestern City Conference first-team selection, averaged 18.5 ppg and 9.6 rpg and shot 56.4% from the floor. Mark was a two-time Midwestern City MVP who led the Titans in scoring and rebounding all four seasons. ORU participated in the 1984 NCAA Tournament.
6. Homer Drew Valparaiso 88-36 Bryce Drew G Bryce, who averaged 17.7 ppg, 5.2 apg and 1.5 spg from 1994-95 through 1997-98 en route to becoming the school's all-time leader in scoring and assists, was the Mid-Continent Conference MVP his last two seasons. The Crusaders won the MCC regular-season and league tournament championships all four years.
7. Dick Bennett Wisconsin-Green Bay 87-34 Tony Bennett G Tony, a three-time All-Mid-Continent Conference first-team selection, averaged 19.4 ppg and 5.1 apg from 1988-89 through 1991-92, finishing as UWGB's all-time leading scorer (2,285 points). He holds the NCAA career record for highest three-point field-goal percentage (.497/minimum of 200 made) and won the Frances Pomeroy Award his senior year as the nation's top player shorter than six feet tall. The Phoenix won the 1991 MCC Tournament and 1992 regular-season title.
8. Ron Hunter Georgia State 65-35 R.J. Hunter G R.J. became the most prolific freshman scorer in Panthers history, averaging 17 ppg in 2012-13. Finished his three-year career with averages of 18.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg before declaring early for the NBA draft.
9. Sonny Allen SMU/Nevada-Reno 64-48 Billy Allen G Billy averaged 13.1 ppg and 8.2 apg in 1981-82 and 1982-83 after transferring from SMU. The two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection set a UNR single-season record with 8.6 apg as a junior when he was a second-team choice before moving up to first-team status the next year. Billy led the SWC in assists as a freshman in 1978-79 (9 apg) and sophomore in 1979-80 (9.1 apg). He also paced the Mustangs in free-throw percentage both years. In his sophomore season, SMU tied its highest win total (16) in a 15-year span from 1967-68 through 1981-82.
10. Mike Davis Detroit 59-88 Antoine Davis G Five-time Horizon League scoring leader tallied 3,664 points in five seasons from 2018-19 through 2022-23. The Titans won only one game in 2023-24 following Antoine's departure.
11. Darian DeVries Drake 80-25 Tucker DeVries F Two-time Missouri Valley Conference MVP has averaged 21.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3.6 apg in his three seasons entering 2024 NCAA playoffs.
12. Steve Alford UCLA 96-45 Bryce Alford G Won nearly 2/3 of games from 2013-14 through 2016-17 when Bryce averaged 13.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 3.9 apg. As part of the Alfords boosting the Bruins back to national prominence, Bryce supplied school-record nine three-pointers at Colorado.
13. Jerry Tarkanian UNLV 77-19 Danny Tarkanian G Danny led the Rebels in assists and steals each of his three seasons from 1981-82 through 1983-84 after transferring from Dixie Junior College (Utah). The All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association second-team selection finished second in the nation with 8.5 apg as a senior. UNLV participated in the NIT in 1982 and NCAA Tournament in 1983 and 1984. The Rebels captured the PCAA regular-season championship in 1983 and 1984.
14. Fred A. Enke Arizona 60-18 Fred W. Enke G Fred W., a future NFL quarterback, was a three-time All-Border Conference first-team selection from 1945-46 through 1947-48. The Wildcats participated in the 1946 NIT after their first of three consecutive league championships.
15. Juwan Howard Michigan 18-16 Jett Howard F Jett averaged 14.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 2 apg while shooting 36.8% from beyond the arc as freshman in 2021-22. Declared early for the NBA draft (11th pick overall).

Ricky Berry, Allan Houston and Tony Bennett each averaged more than 20 points per game in at least two campaigns in six-year span from 1986-87 through 1991-92. Last season, dynamo Davis (playing under father Mike Davis) joined Maravich as the only individuals averaging more than 27 ppg in a single season as a son playing under his father: