Top 50 College Basketball Players Of All Time
College basketball in the United States is one of the most exciting sports events in the world. It is a breeding ground for future NBA superstars and provides fans with unforgettable moments. Over the years, thousands of players have graced the courts of college basketball, but only a select few can be considered as the best of the best. Here we present to you the top 50 college basketball players of all time.
1. Lew Alcindor
Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, both in college and the NBA. He led UCLA to three consecutive national championships from 1967 to 1969 and was awarded the Most Outstanding Player in all three Final Fours. He ended his college career with a record of 88-2 and holds the record for most points in NCAA history with 2,325 points.
2. Bill Walton
Bill Walton was a dominant force in college basketball during his time at UCLA. He led the Bruins to back-to-back national championships in 1972 and 1973, while earning back-to-back Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards. In his senior year, Walton led the nation in rebounding with 19.2 rebounds per game and scored 21.1 points per game.
3. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner is one of the most decorated college basketball players in history. He led Duke to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992, while earning back-to-back Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards. Laettner finished his college career with 2,460 points, which is still the all-time scoring record at Duke.
4. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson played only two seasons at Michigan State, but he left a lasting impact on the game of college basketball. He led the Spartans to the national championship in 1979, while earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Johnson averaged 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game during his college career.
5. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time, but his college career was just as impressive. Jordan led North Carolina to the national championship in 1982 with a game-winning shot against Georgetown. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four that year and went on to average 17.7 points per game in college.
6. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain was a dominant force in college basketball, much like he was in the NBA. He played two seasons at Kansas and set numerous records that still stand today. Chamberlain holds the record for most rebounds in a single game with 36 and most points in a single game with 52. He also led the nation in scoring and rebounding in both of his college seasons.
7. Larry Bird
Larry Bird is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, both in college and the NBA. He led Indiana State to an improbable run to the national championship game in 1979, where they ultimately lost to Magic Johnson's Michigan State team. Bird earned numerous awards during his college career, including the Wooden Award, Naismith Award, and Sporting News Player of the Year award.
8. Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan played four years at Wake Forest and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Demon Deacons to the NCAA Tournament in all four years and was named the National Player of the Year in his senior year. Duncan finished his college career with averages of 16.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game.
9. Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson is one of the most complete basketball players of all time, both in college and the NBA. He played three years at Cincinnati and led the nation in scoring in all three years. Robertson also holds the record for most career rebounds for a guard with 1,338. He earned numerous awards during his college career, including the USBWA College Player of the Year award twice.
10. Jerry West
Jerry West is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his college career was no different. He played at West Virginia and led the Mountaineers to the NCAA championship game in 1959, where they ultimately lost to California. West was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four that year and went on to earn numerous awards during his college career.
11. Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal played three seasons at LSU and was one of the most dominant players in college basketball during his time. He led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in all three years and was named the SEC Player of the Year in his sophomore and junior seasons. O'Neal finished his college career with averages of 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game.
12. Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing played four seasons at Georgetown and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Hoyas to three Final Fours and the national championship game in 1985, where they ultimately fell to Villanova. Ewing was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in his senior year and finished his college career with averages of 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game.
13. Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony played only one season at Syracuse, but it was a season for the ages. He led the Orange to the national championship in 2003 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Anthony also led the nation in scoring that year with 22.2 points per game and finished his college career with averages of 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
14. Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor played at Seattle University and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Chieftains to the national championship game in 1958, where they ultimately lost to Kentucky. Baylor was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four that year and earned numerous awards during his college career.
15. David Robinson
David Robinson played four seasons at Navy and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Midshipmen to the Elite Eight in 1986 and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in his senior year. Robinson finished his college career with averages of 21.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game.
16. Pete Maravich
Pete Maravich is one of the greatest scorers in college basketball history. He played at LSU and holds the record for most career points in NCAA history with 3,667 points. Maravich also holds the record for most points in a single season with 1,381 points. He earned numerous awards during his college career, including the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1970.
17. Grant Hill
Grant Hill played four seasons at Duke and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Blue Devils to the national championship in 1991 and was named the ACC Player of the Year in his junior and senior seasons. Hill finished his college career with averages of 14.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
18. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry played three seasons at Davidson and established himself as one of the greatest shooters in college basketball history. He led the Wildcats to an improbable run to the Elite Eight in 2008 and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in his junior year. Curry finished his college career with averages of 25.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
19. Danny Manning
Danny Manning played four seasons at Kansas and led the Jayhawks to the national championship in 1988. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four that year and went on to earn numerous awards during his college career, including the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1988. Manning finished his college career with averages of 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
20. Tyler Hansbrough
Tyler Hansbrough played four seasons at North Carolina and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Tar Heels to the national championship in 2009 and was named the ACC Player of the Year in his junior and senior seasons. Hansbrough finished his college career with averages of 20.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
21. Glen Rice
Glen Rice played four seasons at Michigan and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Wolverines to the national championship in 1989 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Rice finished his college career with averages of 17.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
22. Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah played three seasons at Florida and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Gators to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in both years. Noah finished his college career with averages of 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.
23. Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon played three seasons at Houston and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Cougars to the national championship game in 1983 and 1984, where they ultimately fell short of winning the title. Olajuwon was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in 1983 and earned numerous awards during his college career.
24. Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas played three seasons at Ohio State and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Buckeyes to the national championship in 1960 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Lucas also earned numerous awards during his college career, including the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1961.
25. Adrian Dantley
Adrian Dantley played three seasons at Notre Dame and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Fighting Irish to the Elite Eight in 1978 and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in his senior year. Dantley finished his college career with averages of 25.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
26. Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson played three seasons at Virginia and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Cavaliers to the Final Four in 1981 and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in all three years. Sampson finished his college career with averages of 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.
27. Jerry Stackhouse
Jerry Stackhouse played two seasons at North Carolina and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Tar Heels to the Final Four in 1995 and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in his sophomore year. Stackhouse finished his college career with averages of 19.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
28. Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley played three seasons at Princeton and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Tigers to the Final Four in 1965 and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in his senior year. Bradley finished his college career with averages of 30.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
29. Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin played two seasons at Oklahoma and established himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Sooners to the Elite Eight in 2009 and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in his sophomore year. Griffin finished his college career with averages of 18.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
