He became the first freshman to win the Naismith Player of the Year and John R. Wooden awards since Kevin Durant won both in 2007. Already blessed with a signature dance and mountains of NBA hype by the time he got to campus, Wall more or less lived up to the hype. Dixon will be the only returning starter from this years elite eight squad. James, who operated as the face of the league in the. Here is the key for them. A three-time consensus first-team All-American, McDermott led the Bluejays to three NCAA tournament appearances and two conference tournament championships between 2011 and 2014. To say Zach Edey is leading everyone is an understatement. He took the Badgers all the way to the national championship game, a run headlined by knocking off a 38-0 Kentucky team in the Final Four. Comment: Faried is a complete beast, on the boards and on defense. 11 recruit in the state of the Illinois when he entered Wisconsin as a three-star prospect. He spent his first year in Storrs, Connecticut, lining up behind UConn legend and future NBA star Kemba Walker during their 2011 national championship run before taking over ball-handling responsibilities for the Huskies. Comment: Big Game James is a great option for the 2 or 3 position, as he has the height and strength to take on big opponents. 123. After the player and team I have listed their 2008-2009 stats. He will now be the main guy in Arizona, and will have the chance to be a star. 33. Perhaps we should have known Mason would turn into a legend when he got his own theme song shortly after arriving at Kansas. 27. Calipari made it his mission to turn Towns into a post scorer, essentially forbidding him to take the three-pointers that hed make a critical part of his offensive arsenal in the NBA. Though Ionescu is still in the midst of her senior season at Oregon, she has tacked on an additional seven triple-doubles since matching the previous record 12 triple-doubles two years ago. Jeremy Wise, Southern Miss: 16.7ppg-3.5rpg-4.7apg-1.3spg-0.3bpg-35.7mpg Comment: He started out strong last season, but he later started to go under the radar. He was somewhat overshadowed by Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, but when given the opportunity to be the man, he will take advantage of it. Alex Tyus, Florida: 12.5ppg-6.2rpg-0.7apg-0.5spg-0.8bpg-26.2mpg He is the leading returning scorer for the Tigers, and he will have to continue to improve his scoring for next season. He is inconsistent at times, but when he gets going he is one of the more dangerous play makers in the nation. The end of the decade and, alas, our countdown is nearly complete. Comment: Aminu surprised many after declining to follow teammate James Johnson to the NBA Draft, where he would have most likely been a lottery selection. Comment: Buford had a solid freshman season after coming out of high school as one of the top recruits in the nation, and he will only improve this upcoming season. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: 17.9ppg-9.3rpg-1.9apg-0.6spg-2.1bpg-33.7mpg He uses his size well to help him succeed on defense. The Bears had been ranked for 365 consecutive polls before falling out Monday after losing twice last week. Henderson is a playmaker, with the ability to drive and draw defenders and hit key shots. Lets rank the NFL teams still standing in the divisional round. Comment: Harden always provides a tough task for defenders, as his size at 68 for the shooting guard position often leads to mismatches. 149. He was suspended for a game and stripped of his captaincy as a result, but longer-lasting is his reputation as a dirty player that has followed him into his NBA career. Mac Koshwal, DePaul: 12.2ppg-9.6rpg-1.8apg-1.3spg-0.4bpg-32.1mpg He broke out in the NCAA tournament, scoring 35 points the opening round and finishing the tourney 16-24 from downtown. Comment: Sallie is arguably the best three point shooter in the nation, but his problem was he did not get enough exposure. Heres a brief list of Brogdons accomplishments at Virginia: he was a two-time consensus All-American, the ACC Player of the Year, the NABC Defensive Player of the Year, and still earned his masters degree in public policy during his four years in school. 80. Now we turn to college hoops, the most parity-driven of any of the aforementioned sports this decade. Craig Brackins, Iowa State: 20.2ppg-9.5rpg-1.3apg-0.5spg-0.9bpg-32.5mpg The best NBA players of the 2010s feature an array of legends continuing to write their legacies along with new stars breaking out on the scene. May 21, 2020. 14. Whats incredible is that Davis was only No. Jordan Eglseder, Northern Iowa: 10.2ppg-6.4rpg-0.6apg-0.1spg-1.3bpg-19.3mpg 118. He was the type of player every coach would love to build their program around. She finished her career with 3,527 total points, more than any other player besides LSU's Pete Maravich, who left college in 1970. I welcome and enjoy any comments and critiques. 21. 150. Comment: The freshman Williams took over for senior Greg Paulus at point guard for the Blue Devils, and played well to keep that spot. He is a good scorer and defender in the low post, making him one of the best undersized forwards in the country. Smith rotates players early and often, making it hard to make a firm impact. Gerald Lee, Old Dominion: 15.5ppg-5.7rpg-1.4apg-0.7spg-0.8bpg-30.8mpg He is projected as a lottery pick in the NBA draft, so it is unlikely that he will return to school, especially with the departure of Calipari. Gerald Henderson, Duke: 16.5ppg-4.9rpg-2.5apg-1.2spg-0.8bpg-29.7mpg Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga: 13.6ppg-4.1rpg-3.6apg-1.5spg-0.1bpg-31.7mpg Many of these schools, though, might not have been even on the radar to reach this list in 2009. Haywards college career will mostly be remember for a shot he missed, the halfcourt heave that would have stunned Duke in the national title game were it not a tad long. D.J. With Hasheem Thabeet going to the pros, he will be the top guy down low for UConn. Comment: Pondexter elevated his play in the tourney, and with the departures of Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon he must become the senior leader for UW. Morris led all of college basketball in assist-to-turnover ratio from the moment he stepped on the court as a freshman at Iowa State then he did it again the next three years. 97. 91. It was a prelude to an even more memorable tear in the Big Dance. He put together the best box score plus-minus for a guard and fifth-best overall since 2010-11. Kirk Cousins is never going to win anything because hes a Costco hotdog. Austin Daye, Gonzaga: 12.7ppg-6.8rpg-1.1apg-0.7spg-2.1bpg-26.3mpg Tiller, Missouri: 8.4ppg-3.4rpg-3.6apg-1.8spg-0.2bpg-24.8mpg Elliot Williams, Duke: 4.2ppg-2.3rpg-0.7apg-0.6spg-0bpg-16.6mpg He is a tenacious defender as well, and arguably the best all around point guard. Damion James, Texas: 15.4ppg-9.2rpg-1.3apg-1.0spg-0.9bpg-29.5mpg A. J. Two years later, Brunson led the Wilcats to another national title, this time as the best player in the country. 56. He skipped this years draft because he was not satisfied with this past season, and a player like him that returns with a vengeance is one to watch out for. Comment: Meeks is one of the best scorers and shooters in the nation, as we saw against Tennessee with his 54 point game, but his big problem is defense. Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State: 14.0ppg-6.2rpg-2.4apg-1.5spg-0.4bpg-34.8mpg Doug McDermott shined in his four years at Creighton. Marcus Morris, Kansas: 7.4ppg-4.7rpg-1.1apg-1.0spg-0.3bpg-18.5mpg His 59 height is why he is not a lock for a first round pick in the NBA Draft. Ohio became the latest U.S. state to legalize sports gambling on Jan. 1. Comment: Chism goes underrated sometimes, but he has begun to make a name for himself. 125. Click the Team for players drafted by that franchise. 46. In his freshman season, Virginia went 22-10 six more. 2 overall pick in the NBA, but at the college level it felt like he could do it all. The 30 best mens college basketball players of the decade, ranked, All 8 remaining NFL playoffs teams, ranked by likelihood of winning it all. They had shooters every where as they shot 50 percent as a team throughout the tournament. Julius Randle (2013-14) Julius Randle was Kentucky's best player during the 2014 season, when he was named a Third Team All-American by the AP and NABC. A.J. Cory Higgins, Colorado: 17.4ppg-5.4rpg-2.6apg-1.9spg-0.4bpg-37.0mpg As a freshman he showed great signs of maturity in terms of basketball IQ. Before he was plagued by back issues, Sullinger felt like the most dependable offensive big man in America. Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia Brogdon was at Virginia when the Cavaliers became one of the best and most consistent programs in the country. Kaminsky was only considered the No. 40. That can only be a good thing for him. 117. VanVleet and Wichita running mate Ron Baker survive as the decades most iconic mid-major superstar duo. Comment: Despite some injury problems last season he was the only freshman starter in the Final Four. ETwaun Moore, Purdue: 13.8ppg-4.6rpg-3.0apg-1.1spg-0.4bpg-33.0mpg Wall was so big and so fast that he felt like he arrived straight out of the future when he showed up at Kentucky. Brook Lopez (2010-present) 2012-13 All-Star. In his senior season, the Grand Forks, North Dakota, native led the nation with 26.7 points per game en route to winning Naismith College Player of the Year honors and the John R. Wooden Award. Despite not even being the biggest name on his own team during his one season in Spokane (that would be Rui Hachimura), Clarke established himself as the best defensive player in the country while also being a historically efficient scorer. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 133. His massive two-way impact was illustrated in his sterling box score plus-minus rating, which surpassed even Anthony Davis to be the second highest of the last 10 years behind only Zion Williamson. The gravity of his post-ups allowed his Blue Devils teammates to thrive. 2026; 2025; 2024 . Next season he should improve greatly, as he has a year of starting experience and will play a key role. Comment: Allen really came out and showed he is not a liability and can play consistently in the post, and he will look to show even more next season. FOR SALE: 1977 Tom Brady, high miles, needs TLC, Read Matt Ellentuck on the four best seasons in womens college basketball in the 2010s, never been equaled since sports-reference started tracking data, while averaging at least 13 shots per game, USC mens basketball expert previews the Arizona game, makes a prediction. Comment: Wright led the way to the national spotlight for Dayton, and he contains great athleticism and versatility. Williamson wrapped up his collegiate career with an impressive 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and 68% shooting from the field, good enough to sweep postseason honors and become the first freshman to win the Naismith College Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award since Anthony Davis earned both honors in 2012. Biggie entered Purdue with sky-high expectations as the programs first Mr. Basketball from Indiana since Glenn Robinson. I know some of you will disagree with my rankings, but keep in mind this is just one college basketball fans take on things. 42. Jonathan Tavernari, BYU: 15.7ppg-7.2rpg-1.8apg-1.5spg-0.3bpg-31.6mpg He is significantly ahead by our measure. Comment: Singletary has immense talent, as shown by his 43 point game in the Big 12 tournament against Texas A&M. If you did not hear of him last season, you will hear plenty of him next season. Comment: Warren started to gain interest across the country last season, including the likes of Dick Vitale, and is one of the more exciting players to watch. Caliparis persistence would pay off when Towns arrived at Kentucky and led the team to an incredible 38-0 start before losing to Wisconsin in the Final Four. He started to pick up his play toward the end of the season, in large part because of his shooting ability. He was, in all regards, the greatest college running back of his generation. In addition to his two rings, Napier was also a consensus All-American, the AAC Player of the Year, and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2014 NCAA tournament. Here's how I ranked the greatest college basketball players I have watched since 2001: 64. He will have the opportunity to have a big impact his senior season this year with UNC. Teams; CBS Sports; CBS SPORTS HQ; SportsLine; MaxPreps; Shop; StubHub; Follow 247Sports. Chris Wright, Georgetown: 12.5ppg-3.0rpg-3.8apg-1.1spg-0.1bpg-32.9mpg His deep shooting range and explosive scoring outbursts became the stuff of legends by the time he dropped 46 points at Kansas and drew a standing ovation from the away crowd. He can dish it out, rebound, and has great shooting stroke. Comment: After a Final Four run, Reynolds has proved many doubters wrong that said he is not capable of leading a team to the top. It seems like he has unlimited range, and can hit from anywhere on the floor. He turned into one of the great players in the history of the program during his three years in school: a two-time SEC Player of the Year, a consensus All-American, and the leader of a team that tied the record for most wins (31) in program history. 143. Mike Rosario, Rutgers: 16.2ppg-3.5rpg-1.4apg-1.1spg-0.2bpg-32.5mpg 15. Players who have hired an agent for the draft or are graduating or leaving will not be included. Comment: While Randle is shorter than most point guards, he contains the speed and court savvy to make up for it. Talor Battle, Penn State: 16.7ppg-5.3rpg-5.0apg-1.2spg-0.1bpg-37.4mpg Napier must have been studying Kemba Walker when he came off the bench to help UConn win the national championship as a freshman. Walker was a talented but enigmatic scorer during his first two seasons at UConn. In 10 years there were seven different champions, with Duke, UConn and Villanova winning twice each. 3. Rakim Sanders, Boston College: 12.9ppg-4.4rpg-1.5apg-1.6spg-0.8bpg-27.6mpg He has above average court vision, pushing the ball in transition and hitting the open man at the right time. Patrick Mills, Saint Marys: 18.4ppg-2.4rpg-3.9apg-2.2spg-0.2bpg-33.3mpg Greg Monroe, Georgetown: 12.7ppg-6.5rpg-2.5apg-1.8spg-1.5bpg-30.9mpg 122. He is also capable of defending his men in the low post. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Comment: Ebanks tenacious play on the defensive end of the floor moves him up the board, because if he works on his offensive game during the offseason he could break out next season. Tyreke Evans, Memphis: 17.1ppg-5.4rpg-3.9apg-2.1spg-0.8bpg-29.0mpg Comment: Fortson wowed many at the beginning of the season, with some going as far to say he was the best all around freshman point guard. It was impossible not to love Buddy. 5. He would have been a lottery pick in the NBA draft, but he opted to return to school. 47. Comment: After Tyus let it be known that he would transfer from Florida, he decided to stay in Gainesville, which is big news for the Gators. LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor: 15.3ppg-4.6rpg-0.6apg-1.0spg-0.2bpg-28.7mpg Despite playing with a revolving door of teammates in his four years in Lawrence, Frank Mason III thrived as a point guard for Bill Self's Jayhawks. 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