A 7'2" (218 cm) center who played college basketball at the University of New Mexico, Longley provided part of the defensive muscle in a team full of stars, including the superstar Michael Jordan.
Longley's reputation in Australia is undermined by his paucity of appearances in international matches, mostly due to the knee injuries that eventually ended his career, and his lack of offense (particularly when compared with Andrew Gaze, an outstanding three-point shooter).