Who will be next in the rafters?

In the final days of February, on a day marked senior day, seniors Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet raised framed jerseys high in front of a crowd of more than 10,000 people. High above them in the rafters hang five banners honoring WSU greats, numbers retired in the Hall of Fame. As the two seniors held their own jerseys, fans wondered whether or not the iconic duo would have the chance to raise their jerseys in Koch Arena once more, high in the rafters, joining the five greats.

Comparing the five greats, should No. 23 and 31 be forever epitomized in Koch Arena?

Cleophus “Cleo” Littleton (1951-55): No. 13, retired

  • 4-time All-MVC    
  • 4-time MVC First Team    
  • MVC Hall of Fame    
  • 2-time AP Honorable Mention
  • Appears 63 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book

Dave “The Rave” Stallworth (1961-65): No. 42, retired     

  • 3-time All-MVC    
  • 3-time MVC First Team    
  • 3-time All-American (‘63, ‘64, ‘65)
  • MVC Hall of Fame    
  • 2-time NCAA Tournament (Final 4 & Elite 8)
  • 2-time MVC regular season champions
  • Appears 88 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book

Antoine Carr (1979-83): No. 35, retired

  • 4-time All-MVC
  • 2-time MVC First Team
  • 2-time MVC Regular Season Champion (1981, 1983)
  • All-American Third Team (‘83)
  • MVC Hall of Fame
  • 1983 MVC Player of the Year
  • 1983 MVC Tournament Championship
  • NCAA Tournament Appearance (Elite 8)
  • Appears 66 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book

Cliff “Good News” Levingston (1979-82): No. 54, retired

  • 3-time All-MVC
  • 2-time MVC First Team
  • 1981 MVC Regular Season Champion
  • NCAA Tournament Appearance (Elite 8)
  • Appears 42 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book

Xavier “X-Man” McDaniel (1981-85): No. 34, retired

  • 3-time All-MVC
  • 3-time MVC First Team
  • Consensus All-American First Team
  • MVC Hall of Fame
  • 2-time MVC Player of the Year
  • 1985 MVC Tournament Championship
  • NCAA Tournament Appearance (First Round)
  • Appears 121 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book

Ron Baker (2012-current), No. 31

  • 2-time All-MVC         
  • 2-time MVC First Team    
  • 3-time MVC Regular Season Champion (2014, 2015, 2016)
  • 3-time NCAA Tournament Appearance (Third Round, Sweet 16, Final Four)
  • 2014 AP Honorable Mention    
  • 2014 MVC Tournament Championship
  • 2015 USA Pan American Team    
  • Appears 38 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book

Fred VanVleet (2012-current), No. 23

  • 2-time All-MVC
  • 2-time MVC First Team
  • 2-time AP Honorable Mention (2014, 2015)
  • 3-time MVC Regular Season Champion (2014, 2015, 2016)
  • 3-time NCAA Tournament Appearance (Third Round, Sweet 16, Final Four)    
  • 2014 MVC Tournament Championship        
  • 2014 All-American Third Team (NABC,TSN)
  • 2014 MVC Player of the Year
  • Appears 40 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book

Representatives from the athletic department did not state a specific grading criteria for how players are voted in, nor who votes them in. Based solely on facts it would suggest VanVleet and Baker have a earned a right to have a banner of their own hanging inside Charles Koch Arena.