MALIBU, California – Who are the best Waves ever to wear a particular number on their jersey or cap? This series will aim to identify the most accomplished Pepperdine student-athletes, number by number.
 
Previously, a comprehensive men's water polo list of the top Waves to wear each number was published. Today, Pepperdine coaching legend Terry Schroeder narrows that down and provides his opinion on the best Wave to wear each number (and in the case of ties where he couldn't decide on just one, the best Waves). Complete men's water polo rosters only date back to 1982, so players from earlier teams are not included, with one exception.
 
1

• Merrill Moses (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Peninsula HS) was a three-time All-American, including the first team in 1997. The goalie made 818 career saves. He was named tri-Most Outstanding Player along with two teammates after winning the 1997 NCAA title. He would become a three-time Olympian and earned a silver medal in 2008. Moses returned to Pepperdine in 2012 and serves as associate head coach. He was inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.

2 

• Rafael Gandarillas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) was All-American honorable mention in 1987. He scored 223 career goals, including 87 in 1987.

3 

• Jeremy Pope (Clovis, Calif./Golden West College) made the All-American first team in 1997 and 1998. He was named tri-Most Outstanding Player along with two teammates after winning the 1997 NCAA title. He scored 91 goals in his two seasons, including 54 in 1997.

4 

• Pero Asic (Split, Yugoslavia) made the All-American third team in 1986. He scored 94 goals that season and had 238 in his three seasons. He previously earned All-American honors at #17.

5 

• Adam Hewko (Irvine, Calif./Servite HS) earned All-American first team honors in 2008 and was second team in 2007 after switching from #7. He scored 172 goals in his four seasons, including 59 in 2007.

6 

• Alex Asta (Santa Ynez, Calif./Cuesta College) made the All-American second team in 1992. He scored 69 goals that season and had 112 in two seasons.

7 

• Sasha Poljak (Zagreb, Croatia) made the All-American first team in 1987 and the second team in 1986 and 1989. He scored 83 goals in a season twice, and 77 in his other two seasons, to finish with 320 career goals (second all-time at Pepperdine). He was inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
• Jack Kocur (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal HS) was a three-time All-American, including the first team in 1997. He scored at least 30 goals every season and finished with 138 in his career. He later served as the Waves' head coach for six seasons.

8 

• Geoffrey Clark (Sydney, Australia) was the National Player of the Year in 1991 and a three-time All-American first teamer between 1989-91. He scored 250 career goals, third all-time at Pepperdine, and had 85 in 1991. He was a two-time Olympian for Australia. Clark was inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

9 

• Marko Asic (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) just wrapped up his career as a four-time All-American, making the second team in 2016 and honorable mention three times. He scored 240 career goals, including 69 in 2016.

10 

• Terry Schroeder (Santa Barbara, Calif.) wore #10 for his final seasons at Pepperdine, which included All-American first team seasons in 1978 and 1980. He is Pepperdine's all-time leading goal scorer with 392. The #10 was then retired at Pepperdine for more than 30 years. Schroeder also wore #10 with the U.S. National Team, including three Olympics. He is heading into his 28th season as Pepperdine's head coach this fall. He was inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985.

11 

• Jesse Smith (Coronado, Calif./Coronado HS) was a four-time All-American, making the first team in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He scored 213 career goals, including 65 in 2002. He is a four-time U.S. Olympian who could make it for a fifth time in 2021. He was inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

12 

• Alan Hermann (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) was the 1997 National Player of the Year and a four-time All-American, including three times on the first team. He was named tri-Most Outstanding Player along with two teammates after winning the 1997 NCAA title. He scored 218 career goals, including 62 in 1994 and 51 in 1997. He was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1997. Herrmann was inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

13 

• Aaron Chasen (Newport Beach, Calif.) was a three-time All-American between 1985-87. He scored 215 goals in those three seasons, including 87 in 1985.

14 

• Chris Dilworth (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks HS) made the All-American second team in 2019 and was honorable mention in 2018. He just wrapped up his career with 176 goals, including 47 as a senior.

15 

• Tucker Johnston (Cupertino, Calif.) scored 48 goals between 1984 and 1987 before switching to #3 and earning All-American honors.

16 

• Mat MacDonell (Redwood City, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) scored 66 goals between 2005 and 2008.

17 

• Luke Hewko (Santa Ana, Calif./Servite HS) was all-conference honorable mention in 2013 before moving to #14 and becoming an All-American. He scored 55 goals in 2013.

18 

• Mate Toth (Balatonalmadi, Hungary) was All-American honorable mention in 2019. He scored 38 of his 155 career goals this past season.

19 

• Josh Acosta (Lemoore, Calif./Lemoore HS) earned All-American second team honors in 2004. He scored 37 of his 97 career goals that season.

20 

• Ognyen Kuraica (Belgrade, Yugoslavia) was All-American honorable mention in 1982, his only season with the Waves.

21 

• Clayton Snyder (Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos HS) was All-American honorable mention in 2009. He scored 26 of his 119 career goals that season.

22 

• Todd King (Kailua, Hawai'i/Iolani HS) is the highest-scoring Wave wearing #22, notching two of them in the 1994 season.

24 

• Jens Cole (Malibu, Calif./Malibu HS) is the only Wave to score a goal wearing #24, getting one in the 2016 season.