The University of the Pacific has been producing NBA talent for generations.
Its history stretches from professional basketball’s earliest days in the Basketball Association of America to the modern NBA, with nine Tigers reaching the sport’s highest level.
Along the way came a No. 1 overall draft pick, an NBA champion, multiple first-round selections and the program’s newest NBA player, who recently earned a two-year, $7.8 million contract after beginning his collegiate career in Stockton.
Here’s a closer look at the Tigers who made the NBA.
Daniss Jenkins
Position: Point guard
College: Pacific, Odessa College, Iona, St. John’s
NBA career: 2025-present (two seasons)
Teams: Detroit Pistons
College notable: Began his collegiate career at Pacific, earning West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team honors after averaging 8.4 points as a freshman. He led the Tigers in scoring as a sophomore with 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game before transferring to Odessa College, where he earned NJCAA First-Team All-America honors. Jenkins then won MAAC Tournament MVP at Iona and earned All-Big East honors at St. John’s.
Pro notable: 79 career games • 678 career points • 168 rebounds • 281 assists • 64 steals • 15 blocks • Undrafted in 2024
Jon Barry
Position: Shooting guard
College: Pacific, Georgia Tech
NBA career: 1993-2006 (14 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets
College notable: Spent his freshman season at Pacific, earning PCAA All-Freshman Team honors after averaging 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. After transferring to Georgia Tech, he averaged 15.9 points as a junior and 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists as a senior, earning First-Team All-ACC and NCAA All-East Region honors in 1992.
Pro notable: 821 career games • 4,715 career points • 1,513 rebounds • 1,784 assists • 722 steals • 111 blocks • 1992 first-round pick (No. 21 overall)
Michael Olowokandi
Position: Center
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1999-2007 (nine seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
College notable: Developed into one of the greatest players in Pacific history, averaging 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game as a senior while earning Big West Player of the Year, First-Team All-Big West and Big West Tournament MVP honors in 1998. He finished his three-year Tigers career averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game and scored a program-record 732 points during the 1997-98 season.
Pro notable: 500 career games • 4,135 career points • 3,414 rebounds • 327 assists • 226 steals • 697 blocks • 1998 first-round pick (No. 1 overall)
Dell Demps
Position: Guard
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1994-97 (three seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic
College notable: Finished his four-year career at Pacific averaging 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while earning two All-Big West and two All-Big West Tournament selections. He averaged a career-best 19.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a senior in 1991-92 and finished his career with 1,742 points, the second-most in Pacific history.
Pro notable: 20 career games • 59 career points • 9 rebounds • 9 assists • 6 steals • 1 block • Undrafted in 1992
John Gianelli
Position: Forward
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1973-80 (eight seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks
College notable: One of the greatest players in Pacific history, Gianelli averaged 20.5 points and 16.4 rebounds per game over three seasons. He averaged 21.4 points and 18.2 rebounds as a junior to earn WCAC Player of the Year honors before averaging 21.5 points and 17.9 rebounds as a senior, earning Second-Team AP All-American, First-Team All-PCAA and NCAA All-Region honors. He finished with 1,659 career points and 1,329 rebounds, both among the top marks in program history.
Pro notable: 541 career games • 4,210 career points • 3,188 rebounds • 832 assists • 225 steals • 476 blocks • NBA champion (1973) • 1972 second-round pick (No. 20 overall)
Bill Stricker
Position: Forward
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1970-71 (one season)
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers
College notable: Averaged 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game during his three-year career at Pacific. As a senior in 1969-70, he averaged 22.4 points and 9.0 rebounds, earning First-Team All-WCAC honors for the second straight season. He finished his career with 1,270 points, which ranks among Pacific’s all-time scoring leaders.
Pro notable: 1 career game • 4 career points • 1970 fourth-round pick (No. 54 overall)
Keith Swagerty
Position: Center
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1969-70 (two seasons)
Teams: Phoenix Suns
College notable: Averaged 20.0 points and 14.0 rebounds per game over three seasons at Pacific. As a senior in 1966-67, he averaged 21.0 points and 14.5 rebounds, earning First-Team All-West Coast Athletic Conference, WCAC Player of the Year and Consensus Second-Team All-American honors. He finished his Pacific career with 1,401 points and 980 rebounds, ranking among the program’s all-time leaders.
Pro notable: 80 career games • 987 career points • 828 rebounds • 95 assists • 1967 fourth-round pick (No. 36 overall)
Leroy Wright
Position: Forward
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1968-69 (two seasons)
Teams: Cincinnati Royals
College notable: Averaged 18.7 points and 13.8 rebounds per game during his three-year career at Pacific. As a senior in 1959-60, he averaged 24.7 points and 17.1 rebounds, earning First-Team All-West Coast Athletic Conference honors and Consensus Second-Team All-American recognition. He finished his Pacific career with 1,253 points and 922 rebounds, ranking among the program’s all-time leaders.
Pro notable: 27 career games • 65 career points • 138 rebounds • 15 assists • 1960 second-round pick (No. 16 overall)
Jack Toomay
Position: Center
College: Pacific
NBA career: 1948-50 (three seasons)
Teams: Chicago Stags, Providence Steamrollers, Washington Capitols, Baltimore Bullets, Denver Nuggets
College notable: Helped lead Pacific to the 1946-47 California Collegiate Athletic Association championship, earning First-Team All-CCAA and United Press All-Pacific Coast First Team honors after finishing as the conference’s leading scorer. He was inducted into the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.
Pro notable: 131 career games • 876 career points • 113 assists • Undrafted in 1947
This article originally appeared on The Record: Every University of the Pacific basketball player who reached the NBA
Reporting by Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record | USA TODAY Network
