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<\/p>\nWhat defines \u201cbest\u201d anyway?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the question I\u2019ve asked myself in selecting the top 25 men\u2019s college basketball players of the last 25 years, an exercise that invites heated debate.<\/p>\n
Of all sports, men\u2019s college basketball might be the most subjective given the wide range of experience. Some of the most impactful players were one-and-done; others stayed the full four years. How do you compare those two?<\/p>\n
Everyone has their list of criteria, just like every voter in end-of-season awards values something different. I care a lot about wins, and someone\u2019s ability to lift their team to new heights. For some programs, that means a national championship; for others, a trip to the Final Four. Maybe it means just breaking into the Top 25.<\/p>\n
Timing matters, too. I didn\u2019t include players whose final year was 1999-2000. That\u2019s why you won\u2019t see Cincinnati\u2019s Kenyon Martin or Michigan State\u2019s Mateen Cleaves on this list.<\/p>\n
Bottom line: This is not a math equation, and there\u2019s no \u201cright\u201d answer. The margins were so thin that I even made room for a 26th player. This is my list \u2014 but I\u2019d love to hear yours, too. Feel free to leave your list in the comments, or at least your top five. I\u2019m also curious if you think I left someone obvious off the list.<\/p>\n
Like I said, I\u2019m looking forward to the debate.<\/p>\n
Note: A few players on this list started their careers before 2000. Though we list their career stats, accomplishments before 2000-01 were not factored.<\/p>\n
T-25: Zion Williamson, Duke, 2018-19 and Cooper Flagg, Duke, 2024-25<\/p>\n
Williamson\u2019s career stats: 33 games, 22.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 68% FG, 33.8% 3FG
Flagg\u2019s career stats: 37 games, 19.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 48.1% FG, 38.5% 3FG<\/p>\n
Is this cheating? Maybe. Williamson and Flagg\u2019s one-and-done careers mirror each other almost to a T. Both won national player of the year and national freshman of the year, a distinction that has gone to just two other players in the history of college hoops (Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, who you\u2019ll see later). Neither won a national championship, though Flagg at least made the Final Four. Their allure is best summed up like this: If either of these guys were on TV, you were tuning in. Both are two of the only freshmen in NCAA history to tally 500 points, 50 steals and 50 blocks. Does either have a clear edge? If so, I couldn\u2019t find it.<\/p>\n
24. Nick Collison, Kansas, 1999-2003<\/p>\n
Career stats: 142 games, 14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 56.2% FG<\/p>\n
Confession: Though Kansas has been arguably the most consistent program of the last 25 years, no Jayhawk automatically jumped out as a \u201cmust-rank\u201d \u2014 a testament to the balanced teams Roy Williams and Bill Self built in Lawrence. The 2003 NABC national player of the year and a consensus All-American, Collison was an absolute monster in the paint. He graduated as the Big 12\u2019s all-time leading scorer, a mark that\u2019s since been surpassed, but his 2,097 career points still rank No. 7.<\/p>\n
23. Michael Beasley, Kansas State, 2007-08<\/p>\n
Career stats: 33 games, 26.2 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 53.2 FG%, 37.9% 3FG<\/p>\n
Another one of the must-see TV guys, Beasley was a dominant scorer and rebounder in his only college season, and still holds the record for most double-doubles by a freshman (28). K-State fans loved his brash, cocky attitude: Before the season, he promised the Wildcats would beat perennial Big 12 champ Kansas, and then he backed it up, scoring 25 points in a win over KU in Manhattan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
JJ Redick didn\u2019t leave Duke with a title, but he remains the Blue Devils\u2019 all-time leading scorer. (Craig Jones \/ Getty Images)22. JJ Redick, Duke, 2002-06<\/p>\n
Career stats: 139 games, 19.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 43.4% FG, 40.6% 3FG<\/p>\n
Was anyone on this list more hated? Did anyone on this list care less about that? You might remember him as one of the most polarizing players in college hoops history, but you can\u2019t deny Redick\u2019s impact, particularly when it came to draining big-time shots. This was best exemplified during his senior year, when Redick poured in a career-high 41 points, including nine 3s, in No. 1 Duke\u2019s 97-66 throttling of No. 2 Texas. Redick is Duke\u2019s all-time leading scorer (2,769) and made the most 3s of any player in program history (457). The sharpshooter still holds the NCAA record for career free-throw percentage (minimum 600 makes) \u2014 91.2 percent \u2014 as well.<\/p>\n
21. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, 2007-09<\/p>\n
Career stats: 68 games, 18.8 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 61.8% FG, 30% 3FG<\/p>\n
A one-man highlight reel known for rim-rattling dunks<\/a>, Griffin led the nation in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore (22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds), sweeping national player of the year awards. He was a monster on the glass for two years, and had a Big 12-record 16 games where he recorded at least 20 points and 15 rebounds. The 504 rebounds he grabbed as a sophomore were the most by any Division I player in 40 years.<\/p>\n 20. Joakim Noah, Florida, 2004-07<\/p>\n Career stats: 108 games, 10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, 61.6% FG, 50% 3FG<\/p>\n How\u2019s this for a fun fact: Despite winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, the Gators didn\u2019t have a single first-team All-American. On a roster filled with talent and depth, Noah stood out for his toughness and efficiency; in 2006, he scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a still-standing tournament record six shots in the title game against UCLA.<\/p>\n 19. Jay Williams, Duke 1999-2002<\/p>\n Career stats: 108 games, 19.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.0 apg, 45.3% FG, 39.3% 3FG<\/p>\n Probably the strongest player pound-for-pound in the country his last two years, Williams could get to the rim on anyone. He\u2019s best known for leading a crazy Duke comeback against Maryland in January 2001 \u2014 known as the Miracle Minute \u2014 but was instrumental the entire season, helping Duke to the 2001 title. Williams shared NABC player of the year honors in 2001 with teammate Shane Battier, then won multiple player of the year accolades as a junior in 2002.<\/p>\n 18. Emeka Okafor, UConn, 2001-04<\/p>\n Career stats: 103 games, 13.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 59% FG<\/p>\n Hugely important on both ends of the floor, Okafor\u2019s status as one of the best players to ever come out of one of the most decorated college hoops programs is undeniable. Consider this: He averaged a double-double, led UConn to the 2004 national championship and was both a consensus first team All-American and a two-time Big East defensive player of the year. He\u2019s all over the Huskies\u2019 record book, ranking No. 1 in career blocks (441) and blocks per game (4.3).<\/p>\n 17. Russ Smith, Louisville, 2010-14<\/p>\n Career stats: 133 games, 14.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 41.3% FG, 34.5% 3FG<\/p>\n If you\u2019re an analytics junkie, you\u2019re probably arguing for Smith to be higher. The former Cardinals guard is one of two players in the KenPom era to be a back-to-back player of the year based on his individual KenPom player rating<\/a>. After Kevin Ware\u2019s gruesome broken leg in the 2013 regional final, Smith stepped up to score 23 points and win regional most outstanding player honors. He led Louisville to the national championship that year, the Cardinals\u2019 first since 1986.<\/p>\n 16. Jimmer Fredette, BYU, 2007-11<\/p>\n Career stats: 139 games, 18.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 45.5% FG, 39.4% 3FG<\/p>\n A mid-major legend who reached folk hero status, Fredette \u2014 who became known by his first name \u2014 scored 40 or more points seven times between his junior and senior year. It\u2019s hard to pick his most impressive game. Was it when he went off for 52 points against New Mexico in the Mountain West tournament as a senior? The 45-point performance against TCU in the 2010 conference tournament? Maybe the 37 points he scored against Florida in a double-overtime win in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament? It\u2019s a tough call. Putting Fredette on this list was not.<\/p>\n 15. Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, 2003-06<\/p>\n Career stats: 95 games, 19.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 50.3% FG, 36.8% 3FG<\/p>\n Gonzaga basketball is now a juggernaut, far from the plucky underdog status the Zags held on to through their first few NCAA Tournament runs. The move from mid-major to major contender is largely due to Morrison, a homegrown kid who went from GU ball boy to All-American \u2014 a particularly impressive arc considering he wasn\u2019t a top-100 recruit coming out of high school. His 41-point performance at the Maui Invitational, in a triple-overtime win vs. Michigan State, served as a precursor for a tremendous junior season \u2014 capped by a shocking collapse against UCLA in the NCAA Tournament, which led to the memorable image of an inconsolable Morrison crying<\/a> on the court.<\/p>\n 14. Shabazz Napier, UConn, 2010-14<\/p>\n Career stats: 143 games, 13.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.5 apg, 41.1% FG, 37.5% 3FG<\/p>\n A two-time national champion, Napier was critical to UConn\u2019s title runs in both 2011 and 2014. As a freshman, he was the first player off the bench \u2014 that\u2019s the season when Kemba Walker was running the show for the Huskies \u2014 and as a senior, he won most outstanding player at the Final Four. Napier\u2019s accomplishments in his senior year were especially sweet because he returned to UConn with the intention of getting back to the NCAA Tournament, as UConn had been banned in 2013.<\/p>\n 13. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin 2011-15<\/p>\n Career stats: 144 games, 10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 52.5% FG, 36.9% 3FG<\/p>\n Has anyone in college basketball had a glow-up quite like Frank the Tank? After coming off the bench for two seasons, the gangly center blossomed into a force in the paint, leading Wisconsin to back-to-back Final Fours. Kaminsky also has the distinction of earning the highest single-season player ranking<\/a> since KenPom started ranking individual players in 2011.<\/p>\n 12. Dwyane Wade, Marquette, 2001-03<\/p>\n Career stats: 65 games, 19.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 49.4% FG, 33.3% 3FG<\/p>\n An electric player with an affinity for highlight-worthy plays, Wade elevated a mid-major program (Marquette was Conference USA at the time) to new heights in leading the Golden Eagles to the 2003 Final Four. Wade\u2019s ability to take over games and dominate top teams \u2014 Kentucky fans know<\/a> what I\u2019m talking about \u2014 helped close the gap between mid-majors and power-conference foes, and played a crucial role in mid-majors being seen as more than occasional Cinderellas.<\/p>\n #OTD<\/a> in 2003, @DwyaneWade<\/a>\u2019s 29-point triple-double sent @MarquetteMBB<\/a> to the #FinalFour<\/a><\/p>\n An unforgettable #MarchMadness<\/a> performance. \u26a1\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/YkRB5Eshn9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n 11. Doug McDermott, Creighton, 2010-14<\/p>\n Career stats: 145 games, 21.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 55.0% FG, 45.8% 3FG<\/p>\n There\u2019s a strong argument that McDermott is the most impactful mid-major player of this century. A four-year starter for the Bluejays, he was the first player in nearly 30 years to win first-team All-America AP honors three times. He\u2019s one of just four players in NCAA men\u2019s history to score 3,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in his career, and he helped ease Creighton\u2019s transition from the Missouri Valley to the Big East.<\/p>\n 10. Kevin Durant, Texas, 2006-07<\/p>\n Career stats: 35 games, 25.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, 47.3% FG, 40.4% 3FG<\/p>\n If Carmelo Anthony is the best one-and-done player to ever play in college, Durant is a close second. Unfortunately, Durant didn\u2019t win a national championship \u2014 or go to the Final Four, for that matter. But that should not overshadow the brilliance of his single year in college basketball, when he became the first freshman to win<\/a> numerous national player of the year awards. The long, lanky forward could do just about anything offensively, a testament to his craftiness and skillset because he wasn\u2019t ever bullying someone to the basket with brute strength. Durant defined \u201cmust-see\u201d TV.<\/p>\n 9. Zach Edey, Purdue, 2020-24<\/p>\n Career stats: 138 games, 18.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 61.1% FG, 50% 3FG<\/p>\n This is not recency bias. Edey\u2019s ability to control the paint transformed the Boilermakers and put Purdue in contention for a national championship two years in a row. A former hockey player, despite being a towering 7-foot-4, Edey sometimes got flak for not being more mobile around the basket. The reality is, no one had an answer for how to guard him or score on him consistently. Edey, Ralph Sampson and Bill Walton are the only players to repeat as Naismith Player of the Year.<\/p>\n 8. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina, 2005-09<\/p>\n Career stats: 142 games, 20.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 53.6% FG<\/p>\n Perhaps best known for his demonstrative facial expressions and aggressive play \u2014 he was nicknamed \u201cPsycho T\u201d for a reason \u2014 Hansbrough is maybe the most accomplished player to ever come out of Chapel Hill. He led his team to the 2009 national title, was a four-time All-American, made two Final Fours and was the consensus national player of the year in 2008. In the history of the ACC, no player has scored more career points than Hansbrough (2,872).<\/p>\n 7. Shane Battier, Duke, 1997-2001<\/p>\n Career stats: 146 games, 13.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 50% FG, 41.6% 3FG<\/p>\n
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