Signing to play for St. John's University in nearby Queens, Mullin in his freshman year averaged 16.6 points per game (also setting the school freshman record for points scored). In his subsequent three years for the Redmen, he would be named
Big East Player of the Year three times, named to the All-America team three times, receive the 1985
Wooden Award,
USBWA College Player of the Year and lead his team to the 1985 Final Four. He was also elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mullin also won the gold medal playing for the United States in the 1983 Pan Am Games, 1984 Olympics, and 1992 Olympics.
- Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski considers Mullin choosing St. Johns over Duke one of his biggest recruiting defeats.
- "Every shot he made on that court, it was like Toscanini, the conductor," former St. John's coach Lou Carnesecca said. "Nothing happens in performance that doesn't happen in rehearsal and he certainly rehearsed. He loved it -- a fanatic."
- Mark Jackson: "I don't think I've ever known anyone who loved the game so much, who worked harder at it and got more out of it than Chris Mullin. He was actually a gym technician. He's as smart a basketball player as the game has ever seen."
- Magic Johnson: "When God made a basketball player, He just carved Chris Mullin out and said, 'This is a player.' "
- Jim O'Brien: ''He's a miniature Larry Bird. Neither of them have the speed, but both use their bodies extremely well coming off picks to bump defensive players, just enough to get them out of position. They are both players who are difficult to double in the post because they are such good passers.''
- Donnie Walsh: "One of the game's great shooters. One of the best to come out of New York City --high school, college, NBA. St. John's should be proud."
