Photo. Gary Land

In the 1980s and up through the late-’90s, Georgetown vs. St. John’s was a truly big-time rivalry. The two Big East powers, who play tonight at Madison Square Garden, have seven Final Four appearances between them, with the Hoyas winning a national ‘chip in ‘84 and the Red Storm holding status as the fifth-winningest program in the country (1,600-plus victories). The rivalry has lost some sparkle recently, though: St. John’s fell on hard times and is now rebuilding under current coach Norm Roberts, and G’town also went through a down period before its resurgence under coach John Thompson III. Over the years, both schools have produced some of the greatest players in NBA history. How do the GU and St. John’s alumni stack up?

ST. JOHN’S (player, position, last year in school
Mark Jackson, PG, 1987 — Ranks second all-time in NBA history in assists behind John Stockton, winning Rookie of the Year and making one All-Star Game during a 17-year run. Despite standing just 6-foot-1, Jackson was as effective posting up as any point guard that’s ever played. He quarterbacked the Pacers to the 2000 Finals.
Max Zaslofsky, SG, 1946 — One of the stars of the League’s early-early days, averaging 14.8 points over a 10-year career. One of his nicknames was “The Touch.”
Chris Mullin, SF, 1985 — There’s a reason he’s known as “Flattop Jesus” in the Dime offices; Mullin dropped 18.2 points a night in what should be a Hall of Fame career, making five All-Star Games and holding a spot as the ‘92 Dream Team’s designated sniper.
Ron Artest, SF, 1999 — The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in ‘04 has put up 15.5 points and 2.1 steals per game in his career. Artest in considered one of today’s toughest 1-on-1 defenders, having shut down a long list of big-time scorers, all while being an effective offensive weapon at the same time.
Jayson Williams, C, 1990 — Before the criminal trials that have made him mainstream famous, Williams was one of the best rebounders in the NBA, pulling down 10-plus boards per night in each of his last four years in the League. He finished second in the NBA in rebounding in ‘98, the same year he made his only All-Star Game.
BENCH — Walter Berry (F, 1986); Felipe Lopez (G, 1998); Kevin Loughery (G, 1962); Billy Paultz (C, 1970); Malik Sealy (G/F, 1992).

GEORGETOWN
Allen Iverson, PG, 1996 — Pound-for-pound, A.I. might be the most prolific scorer in NBA history and its toughest player. The League’s MVP in 2001, when he carried the Sixers to the Finals, has averaged 27.8 points, 6.2 dimes and 2.3 steals, and in his 12th season is still one of the game’s elite talents.
Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, SG, 1982 — Over a 13-year pro career that included stops in Golden State, New Jersey, Houston and San Antonio, he put up 12.8 points per game, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals a night. It was in the ‘87 playoffs that Sleepy turned in one of the greatest single-game performances in NBA history, dropping 51 points on the Showtime Lakers while setting postseason records for most points in a quarter (29) and in a half (39), and he hit 12 straight shots in the fourth quarter.
Reggie Williams, SF, 1987 — Before G’town, Williams played on perhaps the best high school team ever, the ’80s-era Dunbar Poets (Baltimore) squad that also featured Muggsy Bogues, David Wingate and Reggie Lewis. At G’town, Williams won a national championship in ‘84. In the NBA, Williams played 10 years, averaging 12.5 points and playing a key role on some good teams in Denver.
Patrick Ewing, C, 1985 — Some say he’s the greatest jump-shooting center to ever play the game. One of the most dominant college players of all-time, Ewing won a national title in ‘84 and went to the championship game two other times. In the pros he averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 boards and 2.4 blocks over a career that included 11 All-Star selections, seven All-NBA nods and six Top-5 finishes in annual MVP voting.
Dikembe Mutombo, C, 1991 — On the short list of the NBA’s all-time greatest defensive players, Mutombo is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and still making an impact as a 41-year-old in the League. The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and six-time All-Defensive Team pick ranks second all-time in League history in blocked shots and has career averages of 10 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks.
BENCH — Jeff Green (G/F, 2007); Othella Harrington (PF, 1996); Alonzo Mourning (C, 1992); Jerome Williams (PF, 1996); David Wingate (SF, 1986); Joey Brown (PG, 1994). [Brown never played in the NBA, but he was my favorite college player when I was a kid and the reason I became a G'town fan. Just for that, he's making my all-alumni team.]