Dons All-Time Roster: Shooting Guards
 
 
After a lengthy delay, we bring you part four of a five part summer (and fall) series where you, the fans, get to choose the University of San Francisco all-time men's basketball roster.
 
In case you missed the previous installments, here is how it works.  Dons Athletics will release a new list of players from each position group: center, power forward, small forward, shooting guard, and point guard, for fans to vote on.  You will be asked to select three from each group, making up the ultimate 15-man roster. 
 
The top vote-getter from each group will be named a starter, with the second and third most votes being selected as key reserves. 
 
Here are the results from part I: Centers
Here are the results from part II: Power Forwards
Here are the results from part III: Small Forwards
 
With that, we bring you part IV, the first round of guards, specifically shooting guards.  The distinction between shooting guards and point guards is often small, so if you see someone listed as a shooting guard, who you feel was more of a point guard or vice-versa, work with us. 
 
A few years back, the publication Street and Smith dedicated an entire magazine to the top-100 greatest basketball programs of all-time.  The Dons were picked 29^th at the time, but they mostly discussed: "Dons and Dominating Centers."  While the Dons' prowess in the paint is undeniable (see our previous article about the center position), what has changed in the last 20 years is the rise of the guard. 
 
With the change in basketball, the Dons have also seen the level of play from the guard position elevate, shooting guard especially.  The days of one point guard calling the plays and getting the ball into a dominant post aren't gone, but they are different--the advent of the 3-point line has created a new weapon for coaches to exploit defenses. 
 
With that said, here are six players for your consideration for shooting guard. If there's anyone we forgot to include, vote for them! 
 
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Winford Boynes, 1975-79:  Part of one of the greatest recruiting classes in USF history, Boynes came to the Hilltop with celebrated teammates Bill Cartwright (USF Hall of Famer), and James Hardy (USF Hall of Famer), yet it was Boynes who led the Dons in scoring his freshman season, averaging 18.1 points per game, with 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists!  The Dons finished that season 22-8 and advanced to the NIT.  For his brilliant career, Boynes was a two-time All-American, earned First Team All-WCAC honors three straight years and finished his career with 1,702 points (fifth all-time). During that time he averaged 18.9 points per game (fifth all-time), 698 field goals made (third all-time), boasting a .530 field goal percentage (10^th all-time), and all done in just three seasons.  His 628 points his senior season is fifth all-time.  In the win over North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament his junior year, he scored 20 points, with eight rebounds and four assists.  Following his junior season, Boynes entered the NBA Draft and was selected in the first round by the New Jersey Nets with the 13^th overall pick. 
 
 
John Cox, 2000-05:  A four-time letter winner, Cox earned several awards during his time on the Hilltop.  The Philadelphia native earned First Team All-WCC honors in 2005, that same season he was awarded the Bill Russell MVP Award.  For his career, Cox is ninth all-time with 1,540 points, 15^th all-time with 530 made field goals, third all-time with 185 3-point field goals made, and tied for sixth all-time with 117 games played.  Cox averaged 13.2 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per contest while shooting 41.1 percent from the field.  His first year on the Hilltop he played in 28 games, and scored 136 points with 33 assists, then followed that up with a spectacular sophomore campaign that saw him scored 328 points with 69 assists, prompting him to win the Phil Smith Most Improved Player that season.  In his last two seasons, he combined to score 1,066 points.  His senior year in 2004-05, he played and started all 31 games after missing 2003-04.  He finished that season with 621 points and 79 assists with 129 rebounds.
 
Tim Derksen, 2013-16:  The native of Tucson, Ariz., played in 126 games making 96 starts.  The 126 games played is second most in USF history.  Derksen averaged 11.4 points per game, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists, while shooting 49.5 percent from the field.  Derksen's 1,434 points ranks 13^th all-time.  Over his last two seasons, he scored 910 points, his last year on the Hilltop he earned First Team All-WCC honors, scoring 507 points, while shooting 49.4 percent from the field. 
 
K.C. Jones 1951-56:  A rare four-year starter, Jones was one of the most decorated players in USF history. The starting guard for the 1955 and 56 National Championship teams, Jones owns a seemingly neverending list of accolades, including being enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.  Known more for his hustle and his defense than his scoring, Jones did score 768 points, 553 in the championship years.  In the 1955 NCAA Tournament he was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.  The defensive wizard held All-American Tom Gola to six field goals, while scoring 24 points himself. Following his time on the Hilltop, Jones had a lengthy and well documented career with the Boston Celtics.  
 
Phil Smith, 1971-74:  The first of the "modern" guards, Smith led the Dons in scoring all three seasons on the Hilltop. In 84 games, he averaged 18.1 points per game with 5.1 rebounds per contest.  The 18.1 points per game is seventh most in USF history. His 1,523 points is 12^th most all-time.  The three-time All-WCC honoree burst onto the scene scoring 421 points in his freshman season, helping guide the Dons to the first of three WCAC league championships.  In his final game playing in the Green and Gold, he scored 18 points while shooting 45.0 percent from the field against the Bill Walton- led UCLA Bruins.  In six NCAA tournament games, he averaged 14.5 points.  Following his senior season, he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 29^th overall pick in the second round of the 1974 NBA Draft.
 
Gerald Walker, 1993-96:  A four-year letter winner and Dons Hall of Fame member, the East Bay native burst onto the scenes earning Basketball Weekly Freshman All-American honors.  The three-time First Team All-WCC honoree averaged 15.0 points per game and 3.6 assists per game as well as 3.1 steals per contest.  For his career he scored 1,665 points which is seventh all-time, while dishing out 400 assists which ranks third all-time.  His 142 3-point field goals made still ranks seventh all-time.  He led the WCC in total steals and steals per game in all four seasons, and is the WCC and USF career record holder for steals with 334.  
 
As always, if there is anyone we have left off the list of nominations, let us know by voting for them!  We will release the results on Monday.