52) Oscar Tshiebwe (2022)

The first 44 Naismith Award winners were all first round picks, 40 of them going in the top 10. Frank Mason III in 2017 became the first to fall to the second round, while Tshiebwe was a step further in 2023, becoming the first Naismith winner to go un-drafted. A man out of time, the 6’9″ bruiser probably would have been a lottery pick if he had played college ball in the ’90s. But his skills translate to the modern game only as a role player, at best, and Tshiebwe has struggled to find pro success as a result. It didn’t help that he earned consensus National Player of the Year honors as a junior, then stayed for a senior season in which all of his statistics dropped. Tshiebwe did earn G-League Rookie of the Year in ’23-’24 but has thus far appeared in only 22 NBA games for the Pacers and Jazz. As of this writing, he’s putting up big numbers for the G-League Salt Lake City Stars, averaging 18+ rebounds per game.

51) Jay Williams (2002)

A preternatural floor general with an academic success record and middle class upbringing, Williams may as well have been built in a lab to play under Coach K at Duke. He made good on his promise and then some, making two All-American teams, winning the 2002 Naismith Award, and leading the Blue Devils to the 2001 title. A #2 overall pick to the lowly Bulls, Williams started almost immediately and had an erratic but promising rookie season. But then his career ended before it even really started, thanks to an offseason motorcycle accident that left Williams with a litany of injuries, including a shattered pelvis and a torn ACL. It was unsure whether he would ever walk again, but Williams did eventually make a full recovery and attempted a comeback with the Nets that ended before he could re-take the court.

50) Jimmer Fredette (2011)

“Oh yeah, that guy” was a common refrain of basketball fans in the summer of 2024, when Fredette showed up on television screens at the Paris Olympics. Most fans had forgotten about Fredette since his incredible career at BYU, which culminated in his 2011 Naismith Award. Billed as a potential next Pete Maravich for his scoring ability (and his skin color), Fredette was the 10th overall pick of the Kings in the NBA Draft. He did show occasional flashes of brilliance at the top level but overall was quickly exposed as too inconsistent and too lacking athletically to succeed. After six seasons spread across five NBA teams, Fredette became a basketball nomad, playing in the D-League, China, Greece, and finally landing a niche in 3×3 ball. He was part of the U.S. team that earned silver at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup and to the 2024 Olympics squad in Paris.

49) Frank Mason III (2017)

A graduate of Petersburg High School, the same program that produced Moses Malone, Mason was an afterthought in the Kansas 2013 recruiting class compared to fellow freshmen Wayne Selden, Joel Embiid, and Andrew Wiggins. But Mason ultimately went down as not just the biggest collegiate star of his class but the most decorated player in the vaunted history of Kansas basketball, earning consensus National Player of the Year in ’16-’17. Just 5’11” and already 23 years old, Mason fell to the second round of the NBA Draft and played in just 101 games over four seasons before absconding for Europe. His 695 career NBA points is the second lowest amount of anyone on this list, ahead of only Oscar Tshiebwe.

48) Luka Garza (2021)

He was only a four-star recruit when committing to Iowa in 2017 but Garza came from an impressive pedigree. His mother Šejla Muftić had played professionally in her native Bosnia and his coach at Maret High School in Washington, D.C. was Chuck Driesell, son of the legendary Lefty. After an injury-riddled first two years with the Hawkeyes, Garza was an All-American as a junior and a consensus National Player of the Year as a senior. The Pistons nabbed him in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft and Garza impressed in the Summer League enough to make the opening day roster. He’s never found any consistency in the NBA, usually bouncing back-and-forth with G-League affiliates, but is currently averaging career highs in scoring and rebounding for the undermanned Celtics.

47) Cooper Flagg (2025)

We’re not even halfway through his rookie season as of this writing and look how far he’s already climbed. The sky is truly the limit for Flagg, who is now the definitive future of the Mavericks franchise and is likely cruising towards Rookie of the Year honors. In ’24-’25, he became just the fourth freshman to ever earn the Naismith Award and the ninth player from Duke, which is easily the record. Pressure was high coming in to Dallas as the #1 overall pick and Luka Doncic replacement, especially for a 19-year-old, but Flagg has responded. He is now the youngest player in NBA history to record 10+ assists in a game, to score 40+ points in a game, and to score 30+ points in three consecutive games.

46) Zach Edey (2023, 2024)

Despite his 7’3″ stature, basketball has never come easy for Edey at any level. Born and raised in Toronto, he grew up playing hockey and baseball, not even joining a structured basketball team until 10th grade. He was soon after accepted at IMG Academy but spent most of his time with their second-tier squad and was only a three-star recruit when Purdue gave him a scholarship. In his first three years with the Boilermakers, Edey went from backup center as a freshman to All-Big 10 as a sophomore to consensus National Player of the Year as a junior. He considered declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft but returned to Purdue for his senior year instead and became only the third player ever (along with Bill Walton and Ralph Sampson) to win multiple Naismith Awards. Considered a second round prospect by some, Edey instead was a lottery pick of the Grizzlies and has proven himself at the NBA level thus far as well, despite injury issues, getting named 1st-Team All-Rookie in ’24-’25.

45) Butch Lee (1978)

Expectations couldn’t have been higher for Lee, who not only earned the Naismith Award for the ’77-’78 season, but also led Marquette to a national title and led Puerto Rico to a near upset of the United States at 1976 Olympics. He was the 10th overall pick of the Hawks in 1978 and quickly found that playing time was scarce in the team’s logjam of a back court depth chart. Lee asked for a trade and got it, shipped off mid-rookie season to the Cavaliers. He put up solid numbers down the stretch in Cleveland and seemed prime to make the leap in his second season, but suffered a major knee injury just three games in. Lee was never the same, playing just 14 more NBA games before returning to his native Puerto Rico to star in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Though Lee’s NBA career was brief, he did break ground as the first Latin American-born player in league history.

44) Frank Kaminsky (2015)

Basketball was life even in kindergarten for Kaminsky, who at age five was hanging out at the Bulls practice facility, thanks to family connections in the organization. His freshman and sophomore years at Wisconsin were spent mostly on the bench but as an upperclassman, Kaminsky cemented his status as maybe the greatest player in program history. He led Wisconsin to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015 and was the consensus National Player of the Year in ’14-’15. His athleticism left NBA scouts underwhelmed but Kaminsky’s size (7’0″) and offensive skill set was enough to be drafted in the lottery by the Hornets and get major playing time in his first three seasons. Kaminsky also put in some solid seasons with the Suns, including a 2021 NBA Finals appearance before major knee surgery waylaid his career. His last NBA appearance was in April 2023 and Kaminsky was last seen suiting up for a pro team in Tokyo.

43) Tyler Hansbrough (2008)

A throwback to the days when college stars stayed on campus through senior year, Hansbrough was a dominant force for North Carolina over four seasons. He was the first player in the storied history of the ACC to earn All-American honors as a freshman, and would make that team again two more times, as well as earn the Naismith Award for ’07-’08. Pro scouts, however, were mostly unimpressed, citing Hansbrough’s height disadvantage (a 6’8″ power forward), lack of athleticism, and increased age (he turned 24 early in his rookie NBA season), and slotting him as a likely second round pick. The Pacers shocked the league, media, and fans by taking Hansbrough #13 overall and mostly got what everyone expected. Hansbrough was a low-risk, low-reward talent, averaging 8.9 and 4.5 rebounds per game in four seasons with Indiana before closing out his career with short stints in Toronto and Charlotte.

42) Trey Burke (2013)

Seemingly another classic case of an undersized (6’0″) player dominating in college but struggling to overcome his height deficiencies at the next level, but Burke’s story is unique in that he left Michigan early. The jitterbug guard declared for the NBA Draft after his sophomore season ended with a Naismith Award and a Final Four appearance and was selected ninth overall by the Jazz. He started strong at the next level, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting and averaging 12.8 points and 5.0 assists per game over his first two seasons. Incoming coach Quin Snyder was less than enamored, however, and Burke fell out of the rotation, which began a career downslide. Later stops with the Wizards, Knicks, and Mavericks were only nominally successful and by 2022 Burke was out of the NBA. He continues to attempt a comeback via various G-League gigs and most recently was playing in the Chinese Basketball Association.

41) Doug McDermott (2014)

Playing under his father Greg at Creighton University for four seasons, McDermott was one of the most prolific scorers in NCAA history. He tallied 3,150 points, good for fifth all time, became just the third player to compile over 3,000 points and over 1,000 rebounds, and won consensus National Player of the Year in ’13-’14. Too short to be an NBA power forward and too un-athletic to play small forward, McDermott’s “tweener” reputation rendered him a risky bet in the NBA Draft. The Nuggets still drafted him 11th overall, then traded him to the Bulls. McDermott came about as advertised, able to score effectively but only in short bursts but offered little-to-nothing in rebounding, play making, or defense. Despite averaging just 8.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in his career, McDermott has persisted for 12 NBA seasons and counting thanks to his shooting touch, most recently playing light minutes for the Kings in ’25-’26.

40) Scott May (1976)

The Indiana Hoosiers entered the 1975 NCAA Tournament as heavy favorites but lost in the Regional Finals after May broke his arm. It was an unfortunate harbinger of May’s NBA career, marked by bad luck and injury woes. He did recover to lead Indiana to an undefeated season and a national title in ’75-’76, then was drafted second overall by the Bulls, who dream casted the two-way forward as a long-term replacement for the aging Bob Love. May flashed some of that potential but only when he could stay healthy, which was not often enough. First, it was a case of mononucleosis that kept him out of the first month of his rookie season. Then, it was a major knee injury that hampered his athleticism indefinitely. After five disappointing seasons with the Bulls, May played briefly for the Bucks and Pistons before leaving the NBA. His son Sean was Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA Tournament for North Carolina, then struggled at the NBA level similar to dad.

39) Obi Toppin (2020)

With Tyrese Haliburton out indefinitely, Toppin seemed primed to build on his strong 2025 playoffs performance for the Pacers as a breakout star in ’25-’26. But just three games into the season, Toppin suffered a broken foot, leaving him sidelined for months. It was just another bounce in an already bumpy road for Toppin, starting with his exemplary college career being cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the NCAA shut down the ’19-’20 season, Toppin was named the Naismith Award winner but missed a chance to shine for Dayton in the NCAA Tournament. An eighth overall pick of the Knicks in 2020, Toppin then suffered an injury in his first NBA game and failed to secure a regular spot in New York’s rotation. A 2023 trade to the Pacers offered Toppin a fresh start and he’s responded, developing into a springy sixth man, albeit an injury prone one.

38) Zion Williamson (2019)

To say things haven’t gone as planned for Williamson in the NBA would be an understatement. One of the most heralded prospects to come out of college this century, Williamson was considered a jackpot for the Pelicans when they won the 2019 NBA Draft lottery. Instead, he’s been more like a scratch-off ticket, occasionally exciting and ultimately unfulfilling. That wasn’t the case individually at Duke, where Williamson averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and became just the second freshman ever to earn the Naismith Award. But the warning signs were there, as Williamson also missed some crucial games due to a knee injury and failed to lead the heavily favored Blue Devils past the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. There’s still plenty of chances for Williamson at age 25 to turn his career around but his NBA time thus far wasted will always be disappointing.

37) Danny Ferry (1989)

The chances of a long, successful NBA tenure for Ferry did not augur well in his first year as a pro. The Clippers drafted him second overall in 1989, a move that didn’t sit well with the Duke superstar and son of longtime NBA role player Bob. Concerned with Clippers management (rightfully so) and his fit on the team, Ferry absconded to Italy, playing one season in Serie A while waiting for his trade demand to materialize. He returned a year later to much hype as a Cleveland Cavalier, and while his career was hardly a flop, it certainly did not live up to his draft status or NCAA accolades. Considered one of the greatest players in ACC history, Ferry was the first Duke player to ever compile 2,000+ points, 1,000+ rebounds, and 500+ assists, and had his jersey retired by the school before he even graduated. In 13 years in the NBA, the first 10 with Cleveland, Ferry averaged 10+ points per game only twice and spent just one season (’95-’96) as a full-time starter.

36) Calbert Cheaney (1993)

With Isiah Thomas as the exception proving the rule, there was a real stigma around the NBA prospects of Bob Knight’s Indiana players. Cheaney may have been the ultimate example, a silky smooth 6’7″ wing with scoring touch (albeit with unconventional mechanics) and rebounding instincts. Between his skill and his accolades (winning the Naismith Award in ’92-’93 and setting the still standing Big-10 scoring record), he seemed like a sure bet at the next level. Drafted sixth overall by the Bullets in 1993, Cheaney did have his moments, averaging as many as 16.1 points per game in a season. But he was done no favors by a franchise in complete disarray, cycling through five coaches in Cheaney’s six seasons in Washington, while mercurial stars like Chris Webber and Rod Strickland came and went from the lineup. Later stops with the Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz, and Warriors brought diminishing returns, and Cheaney retired in 2006, averaging just 9.5 points per game over 13 seasons.

35) Johnny Dawkins (1986)

After one of the great amateur careers in basketball history, Dawkins’ times in the pros was far from spectacular and definitively not terrible. He was just sort of… there. A product of Archbishop Carroll High School in D.C., the program that also developed Austin Carr (coming up later), Dawkins hit Duke campus in 1982 and made an instant impact. The Blue Devils made their first NCAA Tournament of the Coach K era in Dawkins’ sophomore year, then their first Final Four in his senior campaign. Along the way, Dawkins broke the school scoring record, which he held for 20 years, and won every accolade possible in ’85-’86, including the Naismith Award. He subsequently became the first Coach K player to be a lottery pick, going #10 overall to the Spurs, and put up solid numbers in his first six seasons. But Dawkins also suffered two major leg injuries in those years, a nerve issue caused by prolonged ice pack exposure, and a torn ACL. He was never the same after the latter, soon after retiring at age 31 and transitioning almost immediately into an assistant coaching job at his alma mater.

34) T.J. Ford (2003)

The 2003 Final Four was stacked with the country’s best talent, highlighted by Marquette’s Dwyane Wade, Kansas’ Kirk Hinrich, Syracuse’s Carmelo Anthony, and Texas’ Ford, who was soon after announced as the Naismith Award winner. While Anthony and Wade moved on to NBA stardom and Hinrich to a lengthy, respectable career, Ford struggled at the next level. His size was certainly a factor. Listed at 6’0″ and likely shorter, he struggled with the physicality at the NBA level. In fact, an on-court collision in his rookie season left Ford with a spinal cord contusion that hampered him for the rest of his career. Thanks to his speed and preternatural play making ability, Ford still managed to put up some solid stats, averaging 13.4 points and 6.5 assists per game in a four-year prime. But due to injuries and complications from his spinal surgery, Ford played in just 429 games for his career, averaging only 48 games per season, ultimately retiring at age 29.

33) Lionel Simmons (1990)

It can’t be overstated just how dominant Simmons was in college. Opting to stay in his Philly hometown by suiting up for La Salle, Simmons single-handedly revived the once proud but struggling program. He won every National Player of the Year award in ’89-’90, set the NCAA record for consecutive games with double-digit scoring (115), and placed himself third in the all-time scoring list, behind only Pete Maravich and Freeman Williams. A well-rounded player with a high basketball IQ, Simmons adapted quickly to the NBA after getting drafted sixth overall by the Kings. He averaged 17.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in his first three seasons, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Derrick Coleman. A knee injury in 1994 required arthroscopic surgery that completely altered Simmons’ career trajectory, as he averaged just 4.7 points per game in his final three seasons before retiring at age 28. His college legend still lives on, as Simmons has had his jersey retired by La Salle and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

32) Buddy Hield (2016)

It’s a strange thing to say about a guy who’s 33 years old but it feels like the jury is still out on Hield. The Bahamian shooting guard arguably made a mistake not declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft, opting instead to return for his senior season at Oklahoma. He was a sixth overall pick of the Pelicans in 2016 after winning the Naismith and Wooden Awards, sought after for his shooting prowess, an especially enticing skill in the prime of the Stephen Curry era. Questions were abound though about his age (23), his lack of height (6’4″), and his average athleticism, compounded when Hield was traded during his rookie season to the Kings. He did eventually make himself useful as a long range shooting demon, averaging as many as 20.7 points per game, and is a surprisingly solid rebounder for his size. But those other elements of Hield’s game never did come around. Hield also has spent most of his career on non-contenders, finally advancing to the second round of the playoffs with Golden State in 2025.

31) Evan Turner (2010)

Nicknamed “The Villain” for his ability to rip out opponent’s hearts, Turner became the first player in the vaunted history of the Ohio State program to earn the Naismith Award (though in fairness, Jerry Lucas was consensus National Player of the Year twice before the Naismith existed). Befitting that nickname, he was a clutch player and also a well-rounded one, averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game as a junior. But as the 76ers found out after drafting Turner second overall in 2010, he lacked any one elite skill to keep him on the floor at the wing positions. Turner was an great scorer but a poor jump shooter, a decent defender but not an elite one, and had play making aptitude but not enough to hand over the keys to the offense. He ultimately left Philly fans wanting, averaging 11.5 points per game over three-and-a-half seasons, before finding a niche later in his career as a jack-of-all-trades sixth man for the Celtics and Trail Blazers.

30) Austin Carr (1971)

You could call Carr an NBA bust by many standards, but you wouldn’t know based on how beloved he remains in Cleveland. The #1 overall pick of the franchise that was just one season into its existence, Carr made just one All-Star appearance, suffered from numerous foot and leg injuries, and led the Cavaliers to just three playoff appearances and past the first round only once. Yet they nicknamed him “Mr. Cavalier,” retired his #34 jersey, and Carr has served as a beloved color commentator on Cavs broadcasts for years. That adoration had followed Carr from his days at Notre Dame, where he became just the second player in NCAA history to compile 1,000+ points in a season (after Pete Maravich), and set still-standing NCAA Tournament records for points in a game (61) and career scoring average (50.0 points per game). In addition to his Naismith Award, Carr has also been honored by induction into both the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.

29) Joe Smith (1995)

It’s retrospectively shocking that not only did Smith win the Naismith Award, but he was also the #1 overall pick. To be fair, Smith was far from the consensus Player of the Year, as Ed O’Bannon took home the Wooden Award and Shawn Respert was the Sporting News POTY. As for his draft status, there’s several key reasons the Warriors took him over Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, and Damon Stoudamire (not to mention Kevin Garnett). Smith was a proven leader, could play several positions, was young (only 19 as of draft day) and had shooting touch for a big man (6’9″). He also boasted the most clutch and impressive single performance of anyone eligible, with 40 points, 18 rebounds, and a game-winning shot in a crucial Maryland win over Duke. Perhaps Smith was a little ahead of his time with his style of play, as his NBA career was decent but far from spectacular, and certainly not befitting a top pick.

28) Shane Battier (2001)

One of the most well-rounded players in Duke history, Battier did a little bit of everything on the floor and earned every National Player of the Year honor save for one (the NABC Award, which went to his teammate Jay Williams) while leading the Blue Devils to the ’00-’01 national championship. At the NBA level, he focused on his elite defensive skills, fashioning himself into one of the premier perimeter defenders of the ’00s. In fact, journalist Michael Lewis labeled Battier as the “No Stats All-Star” in a feature article on his defensive aptitude in the New York Times in 2009, when he peaked as a “Kobe stopper” for the Rockets. Though his career averages were just 8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, Battier lasted 13 seasons in the NBA, eventually winning championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013.

27) Andrew Bogut (2005)

The ’04-’05 NCAA awards were competitive, with Bogut edging out JJ Redick and Chris Paul for the biggest honors (Illinois’ Dee Brown was a surprise winner of the Sporting News Player of the Year). That carried over into the subsequent NBA Draft, where Bogut was a somewhat controversial choice at #1 by the Bucks, over Paul and Deron Williams. It made some explainable sense for Milwaukee, who already had a promising young Naismith winning point guard in in T.J. Ford (see above), and Bogut could hardly labelled a flop. While averaging 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game over his first seven seasons, the Australian big man also developed into one of the league’s premier defenders. He took on a lesser role later with the Warriors and earned a title in 2016.

26) JJ Redick (2006)

’05-’06 was the most hyped NCAA awards chase in this century, with on-court rivals and XBox Live friends Redick and Adam Morrison dueling each other indirectly. Redick was ultimately named the Consensus Player of the Year but did have to share the NABC Trophy and Oscar Robertson Award with Morrison in voting ties. Gonzaga’s Morrison was the higher pick in that year’s NBA Draft (#3 vs #11) and got off to the better start (2nd-Team All-Rookie) but Redick (who’s still the all-time leading scorer at Duke) was ultimately the far more successful pro player. Things started slow for the seemingly one dimensional Redick but he eventually added lockdown defense to his long range shooting reputation. It was perfect timing too, as the “three-and-d” role was just coming into prominence in the NBA and Redick parlayed his skill set into a lengthy and successful career.

25) Jameer Nelson (2004)

“I am the steal of the draft” was Nelson’s declaration after falling to the 20th pick in 2004, then getting traded from the Nuggets to the Magic. It actually turned out to be a draft class full of steals, from Andre Iguodala at #9 to Josh Smith at #17 to Trevor Ariza at #43, but don’t let that diminish Nelson’s unlikely NBA success. Overcoming doubters was nothing new for the pint sized Nelson, who was lightly recruited despite a standout high school career and became a legend at St. Joseph’s University. His lack of size (6’0″) was the biggest concern amongst NBA scouts but Nelson overcame it with his play making. Nelson’s advanced age of 23 also caused some pause but it turned into a feature, not a bug, for the Magic, as Nelson was quickly plugged into the starting lineup of a burgeoning title contender, along with fellow rookie Dwight Howard.

24) Christian Laettner (1992)

The 1992 NBA Draft was one of the all-time most clear delineations of what can differentiate the “best” college player with the most desirable NBA prospect. Duke’s Laettner was not just the best player in the NCAA in ’91-’92, he had arguably the greatest career in college basketball history. Meanwhile, LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal didn’t earn any major awards in 1992 but came into the draft as the most hyped prospect since Patrick Ewing in 1985. As O’Neal, the #1 pick, quickly developed into an all-time NBA great, Laettner, the #3 pick, seemed like a disappointment in contrast. But Laettner actually had a solid career over 13 seasons, even making a 1997 All-Star appearance. As opposed to his amateur postseason success (he was additionally an Olympic gold medalist with the 1992 U.S. Dream team), Laettner never played for an NBA champ, in fact only reaching as far as the Conference Finals once, in 2005 with the Heat.

23) Danny Manning (1988)

This ranking could easily have been much higher if not for an ACL tear suffered by Manning during his rookie season with the Clippers. Though he did make a recovery and play 15 NBA seasons, Manning was never the same after that knee surgery, seemingly constantly struggling with injury issues. It’s a shame, because in college Manning was absolutely unstoppable. In his senior year at Kansas, he set the program records for career scoring and rebounding, won the Naismith and Wooden awards, and dropped 31 points and 18 rebounds in the 1988 National Final, as the Jayhawks upset Oklahoma. Manning did make two NBA All-Star appearances and earned Sixth Man of the Year in ’97-’98 but participated in the full slate of games only three times and played on a title contender just once, late in his career as a bench warmer for the ’02-’03 Pistons.

22) Marcus Camby (1996)

Camby did a little bit of everything for UMass, averaging 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game in his junior season, earning consensus National Player of the Year and leading the Minutemen to the Final Four. A second overall pick of the Raptors, Camby became more of a defensive specialist in the NBA, leveraging his skill set to establish himself as one of the premier defenders of his era. After setting the all-time blocks record at UMass, Camby then became one of just three players in NBA history to lead the league in blocks four times. He was Defensive Player of the Year in ’06-’07, 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice, and averaged 10+ rebounds per game 10 times. Though he’s far and away the most decorated college player in UMass program history, Camby has to settle for second in NBA accolades amongst Minutemen alum, behind the legendary Julius Erving.

21) Glenn Robinson (1994)

As the ’93-’94 NCAA season wrapped, there was no doubt that Robinson would be sweeping the major awards, then getting selected first overall in the NBA Draft. The Purdue junior averaged an absurd 30.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while leading the Boilermakers to a one seed in the NCAA Tournament. (Only one other player in the modern 64-team tournament era has averaged 30+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in a season: Hank Gathers in ’88-’89). As expected, the Bucks took Robinson with the #1 pick and the “Big Dog” certainly had his moments, averaging 20+ points per game in eight of his first nine seasons and making two All-Star teams. But a combination of injuries and attitude issues kept a ceiling on Robinson’s career and he never lived up to the incredible potential shown at Purdue.

20) Kenyon Martin (2000)

It was a bittersweet honor when Martin accepted the Naismith Award in 2000. The Cincinnati senior had suffered a broken leg just weeks prior, leaving him sidelined for an NCAA Tournament where his Bearcats would have otherwise been the title favorites (they lost in the second round without him). Unfortunately, this was just the start of Martin’s injury issues, as the power forward eventually became the first NBA player ever to come back from micro-fracture surgeries on both knees. Despite the leg issues, Martin had a solid 15-year NBA career, playing in two NBA Finals with the Nets and making an All-Star appearance in 2004. He is still the all-time leader at University of Cincinnati in career blocks and career field goal percentage.

19) Antawn Jamison (1998)

His good friend and teammate Vince Carter went on to have the superior NBA career but Jamison was the Big Man on Campus at North Carolina. Jamison was All-ACC as a freshman, All-American as a sophomore, and the consensus National Player of the Year as a junior. He was traded on draft day from the Raptors to the Warriors (in exchange for Carter) and racked some impressive stats over 16 NBA seasons. Of note, Jamison is one of just four players, along with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki, to total 15,000+ points and 5,000+ rebounds during the ’00s. But unlike at UNC, where postseason success was a given (back-to-back Final Four appearances in 1997 and 1998), Jamison never played for a title contender in the NBA, instead wasting away his prime on cursed franchises in Golden State and Washington.

18) Larry Johnson (1991)

Few junior college transfers have had the impact that Johnson did on UNLV. He joined the Runnin’ Rebels from Odessa College in Texas, forgoing more prestigious programs like Georgetown and University of Texas. In just two seasons on campus, Johnson led UNLV to a dominant national title in 1990 as a junior, then earned the Naismith and Wooden awards in 1991 as a junior. Back injuries prevented Johnson from reaching his full potential in the NBA (and to retire at age 31), but he did manage to earn Rookie of the Year, make two All-Star teams, and get named 2nd-Team All-NBA once.

17) Elton Brand (1999)

Part of a new breed of Coach K recruits who redefined Duke basketball in the late ’90s, Brand came to campus ready to immediately dominate and do so in a limited timeframe, as he was assuredly leaving early for the NBA. Brand absolutely dominated in his sophomore year, putting up huge numbers, sweeping every major award, and leading Duke to the National Final (where they were stunned by Connecticut). Despite heavy early pressure to revive a decimated Bulls franchise and then a shocking trade to the Clippers after just two seasons, Brand was terrific in his first eight years in the NBA. He was Rookie of the Year, a two-time All-Star, 2nd-Team All-NBA, and regularly amongst the league leaders in blocks and rebounds, up until a 2007 Achilles’ tear changed his trajectory indefinitely.

16) Ralph Sampson (1981, 1982, 1983)

One of just two players, along with Bill Walton, to earn three Naismith Awards, Sampson has a strong argument for the title of greatest career in college basketball history. Sampson led the country in blocks four times, in rebounding three times, and his Virginia team entered the NCAA Tournament as a #1 seed three times (though reached the Final Four only once). He then picked up where he left off upon reaching the NBA, earning Rookie of the Year, making the All-Star Game in his first four seasons, and helping the Rockets make a surprise run to the 1986 NBA Finals. That came crashing down, literally, with a hard fall during that 1986 Finals series that caused a major back injury, followed by a fluke knee cartilage tear in 1987. Never the same physically, Sampson struggled in brief stints with the Warriors, Kings, and Bullets before retiring in 1992 at age 31.

15) Jalen Brunson (2018)

He was the consensus National Player of the Year and the leader in scoring and assists on the ’17-’18 Villanova NCAA title team (the second championship of his college career), but Brunson watched three of his teammates come off the board before getting drafted 33rd overall by the Mavericks. It’s a story we’ve seen before on this list, with concerns over Brunson’s height (6’2″), age (22), and athleticism causing skepticism amongst pro scouts. But unlike so many Naismith Award winners before him, Brunson proved the doubters wrong, developing into one of the premier point guards of his era. He’s additionally carried over his winning ways from Villanova, leading the Knicks in 2025 to their first Conference Finals appearance in a quarter century.

14) Mark Aguirre (1980)

Wherever he went throughout his career, Aguirre served as a basketball savior for a beleaguered fanbase. It started in high school, when he transferred to George Westinghouse College Prep and led them to their first ever Chicago Public League title in 1978. Eschewing offers from powerhouse programs like UCLA, Aguirre opted to remain in the Windy City and lead DePaul to heretofore unseen glory. As a freshman in ’78-’79, Aguirre carried the Blue Demons to their only Final Four appearance in school history, then followed up as a sophomore by becoming DePaul’s first national award winner since George Mikan, taking home the Naismith Award. It was then on to the NBA, where Aguirre was the first superstar in the early history of the Mavericks, essentially putting Dallas pro basketball on the map. Aguirre was then later traded to Detroit and helped the Pistons win their first ever championship in 1989, followed by a repeat performance in ’89-’90.

13) David Thompson (1975)

The first above-the-rim superstar, Thompson overcame the limitations of the NCAA ban on dunking to lead NC State to an undefeated ’72-’73 season. The Wolfpack were barred from postseason play that year due to a recruiting violation but Thompson came back stronger in ’73-’74, splitting the national awards with Bill Walton, and leading NC State to a shocking upset of UCLA in the National Semifinals en route to the program’s first national title. With Walton gone to the NBA, the deck was cleared for Thompson to be the consensus National Player of the Year in ’74-’75, including the Naismith. His pro career got off to a dynamic start, including being named 1st-Team All-NBA twice, until a major foot injury and subsequent substance abuse addiction sent Thompson into a spiral. Still considered one of the greatest players in NCAA history, Thompson had potential to be remembered the same way in the NBA if not for his unfortunate circumstances.

12) Marques Johnson (1977)

One of the last major recruits of the John Wooden era at UCLA (the coach reportedly called him 10 minutes after the 1973 National Final to offer a scholarship), Johnson had a supporting role on the ’74-’75 NCAA championship team, then blossomed into a superstar under new coach Gene Bartow. As a senior, Johnson led the nation in rebounding and was consensus National Player of the Year, including the Naismith Award and the newly instituted Wooden Award, named after his legendary former coach. Drafted third overall by the Bucks in 1977, Johnson hit the ground running in the NBA, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting and leading Milwaukee in playoff scoring as a rookie. He eventually made five All-Star appearances, got named 1st-Team All-NBA once and 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and revolutionized the burgeoning “point forward” role as a play making small forward. Johnson arguably could have gone down as an all-time NBA great if not for a freak neck injury that forced him to essentially retire at age 30.

11) Pete Maravich (1970)
10) Bill Walton (1972, 1973, 1974)

Two contemporaries with similar career arcs: An all-timer college campaign followed by an occasionally elite but ultimately fleeting NBA career due to injuries. Playing at LSU under his father Press (who literally bribed him into accepting a scholarship), Maravich controlled the ball early and often, setting the still standing NCAA career records for scoring average (44.2 points per game), field goals (1,387), and, notably, field goal attempts (3,166). This didn’t translate into much team success, as LSU had an unremarkable 49-35 record during Maravich’s three seasons. Walton was a little more well-rounded statistically for UCLA (20.3 points and 15.7 rebounds per game career averages) and unsurprisingly more prosperous in team accolades, leading the Bruins to three Final Four appearances and two titles. Both players carried over similarly into the NBA, up until lower body conditions (knees for Maravich, feet for Walton) cut their career short. Maravich put up big numbers on mostly bad Hawks and Jazz teams, while Walton led the Blazers to a title in 1977, then won a second championship with the Celtics in 1986. Walton is one of six players on this list to earn the Naismith Award, NBA league MVP, and NBA Finals MVP, and the other five are our top five.

9) Blake Griffin (2009)

After an up-and-down freshman season in which he missed a handful of games due to injuries to both knees (talk about a harbinger), Griffin opted to forgo the NBA Draft and return to Oklahoma for one more year. He dominated the NCAA in ’08-’09, leading the nation in rebounding and field goal percentage while sweeping all the major awards, including the Naismith. Being the #1 pick of the Clippers in the subsequent draft was inevitable for Griffin, as was, seemingly, the fractured knee that cost him the entire ’09-’10 season. But Griffin bounced back and forged an impressive NBA career, making six All-Star teams, getting named All-NBA five times, and winning Rookie of the Year. Griffin is the all-time NBA scoring leader amongst the 29 Oklahoma Sooners who have reached the pro league, a list that includes his older brother Taylor.

8) Anthony Davis (2012)

A poster boy for the one-and-done era that’s defined college basketball since the NBA implemented its draft age eligibility rule in 2006, Davis earned the “pentafecta” of honors. In his one season at Kentucky, Davis earned the Naismith Award, the NCAA Defensive Player of the Year award, the NCAA Freshman of the Year award, the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award, and was the #1 pick in the NBA Draft. Not to mention, Davis also became the second player of the pro era to earn an Olympic gold medal before playing an NBA game. Talk about hype and expectations. He’s mostly lived up to them in the NBA, with 10 All-Star appearances, four times 1st-Team All-NBA, 1st-Team All-Defensive three times, and an incredible series of performances for the Lakers in their 2020 title run.

7) Patrick Ewing (1985)

He was the first #1 overall pick of the draft lottery era and still maybe the most “sure thing” prospect we’ve ever seen. Ewing accomplished everything possible at Georgetown, with three All-American designations, an NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award in 1984, and consensus National Player of the Year honors in ’84-’85. Prior to that, he had been named Mr. Basketball USA while starring for Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in the Boston area. Ewing’s NBA career was controversial from the beginning and ultimately didn’t include an MVP award or a title. But it was undeniably legendary, with 11 All-Star appearances, seven times All-NBA, and a Rookie of the Year award.

6) David Robinson (1987)

Maybe the most unique top prospect in the draft lottery era, Robinson was already 22 years old when the Spurs selected him #1 overall in 1987, and en route to two years of mandatory U.S. Navy service. An NBA career wasn’t even the plan when Robinson arrived on campus at the U.S. Naval Academy but became inevitable as he dominated the NCAA ranks. Robinson is the only All-American in Navy Midshipmen history, let alone Naismith Award winner, and led the program to its best ever season in ’85-’86, with 30 wins and a Cinderella run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Even after two years of waiting, Spurs fans were delirious with Robinson, who won Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, a scoring title, and league MVP all in his first six seasons.

5) Kevin Durant (2007)

With his 19th birthday still a few months away, Durant was barely eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft when the SuperSonics landed him second overall. It was the second draft under the new eligibility rules precluding high school players from participating and Durant appropriately had just become the first freshman ever to win any NCAA National Player of the Year awards. In fact, he won all of them, sweeping the major awards including the Naismith. His season ended disappointingly, with Texas losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but Durant had no intentions of delaying taking the NBA by storm. He won Rookie of the Year in ’07-’08, then added an MVP award and two Finals MVP awards, and is currently sixth place and rising on the all-time scoring leaderboard.

4) Larry Bird (1979)

The Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry of course extended to NCAA awards. Johnson earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading Michigan State to the championship. But all of the regular season National Player of the Year awards went to Bird. In fact, he won the Naismith Award in a landslide, with 193 votes to just nine for Johnson (Mike Gminski was third with seven votes). In a quirk of eligibility, Bird had been drafted a year prior by the Celtics, allowing Johnson to be a definitive #1 pick in the 1979 NBA Draft and the players battled for Rookie of the Year honors. Once again, Bird won that award in a landslide, followed by Johnson becoming the first rookie to earn Finals MVP. Bird eventually added three league MVPs and two Finals MVPs to his trophy case, then closed out his career earning a gold medal alongside Johnson at the 1992 Olympics.

3) Tim Duncan (1997)

In an era of teenaged superstars like Kobe Bryant shooting straight to the NBA, Duncan was a throwback, not just a collegiate mainstay but for four full years at Wake Forest. Individually, it allowed him to rack up one of the most impressive trophy cases in NCAA history, with the consensus National Player of the Year awards, three National Defensive Player of the Year awards, and three All-American designations. For the Demon Deacons, it was ultimately a disappointment, with a second round NCAA Tournament exit in Duncan’s freshman year (1994), followed by an upset loss in the Regional Semifinals in 1995 when Duncan had the flu, a Regional Final defeat in 1996, and an upset loss in the second round in 1997. While the awards carried over to the NBA for Duncan, two league MVPs and three Finals MVPs, the team success shifted completely, as he led the Spurs to five titles.

2) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969)

The late ’60s were a boon time for NCAA superstars, evidenced by Abdul-Jabbar’s relative lack of awards. Though he’s now widely considered the greatest player in college basketball history, Abdul-Jabbar had some serious competition for accolades in his era. After winning consensus National Player of the Year as a sophomore in ’66-’67, Abdul-Jabbar lost out on two of the three major awards to Elvin Hayes in ’67-’68 and one to Pete Maravich in ’68-’69. Abdul-Jabbar did win the inaugural Naismith Award, in the same year he led UCLA to a third straight title and was selected #1 overall in the subsequent NBA Draft. The competition for awards was even fiercer in the NBA but Abdul-Jabbar set a new standard, becoming the first and still only player with six league MVP awards. Along with his UCLA compatriot Bill Walton, Abdul-Jabbar is one of just two players to earn the Naismith Award, the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award, NBA league MVP, and NBA Finals MVP during their career.

1) Michael Jordan (1984)

If not for Ralph Sampson declining to enter the NBA early in order to avoid playing for the Clippers, Jordan would have easily won back-to-back Naismith Awards in 1983 and 1984. Sampson took home the award for ’82-’83 while Jordan was named the Sporting News Player of the Year. The deck was cleared for Jordan in ’83-’84 and he swept the major awards, though his collegiate career ended disappointingly with a North Carolina upset loss to Indiana in the NCAA Tournament. While Sampson struggled professionally with injuries, Jordan quickly ascended to G.O.A.T. status, earning five league MVP awards and a record six Finals MVP awards.

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