Top Ten College Basketball Players Of All Time
College basketball has seen some of the most exceptional players in the world, and it is not an easy task to pick the top ten players of all time. These players have left a mark on the game and have made countless memories that will always be cherished by basketball lovers. In this article, we will discuss the top ten college basketball players of all time, their achievements, their contributions to the sport, and how they have helped to shape the game.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, formerly known as Lew Alcindor, is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time. He played for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1966 until 1969. During his time in college, he won three consecutive NCAA Player of the Year awards, and he was also part of a UCLA team that won an incredible 88 consecutive games, which is still a record today. He is the all-time leading scorer in college basketball with 2,325 points, and he led UCLA to three consecutive national championships. After college, he went on to have a legendary career in the NBA, where he won six championships and was named an NBA All-Star 19 times.
2. Bill Walton
Bill Walton played for UCLA from 1971 to 1974 and is one of the most dominant college basketball players of all time. He won two NCAA Championships and was named College Player of the Year three times. He averaged an impressive 20.3 points and 15.7 rebounds per game during his college career. In his sophomore year, he led the NCAA in rebounding, and in his junior and senior years, he was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. After college, he went on to have a successful NBA career, where he won two championships and was named an NBA All-Star twice.
3. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson played for Michigan State University from 1977 to 1979 and is one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He led the Spartans to the NCAA Championship game in his freshman year and won the championship in his sophomore year. He was named College Player of the Year in both years and was the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. Johnson went on to have a legendary career in the NBA, where he won five championships and was named an NBA All-Star 12 times.
4. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time, and he had an incredible college career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played for UNC from 1981 to 1984 and was named College Player of the Year in his sophomore and junior years. Jordan hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game and led the Tar Heels to the Final Four in his senior year. He was also named the NCAA National Player of the Year in 1984. After college, Jordan went on to have a legendary NBA career, where he won six championships and was named an NBA All-Star 14 times.
5. Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal played for Louisiana State University from 1989 to 1992 and is one of the most dominant college basketball players of all time. He was named College Player of the Year in his sophomore year and led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three years in college. O'Neal averaged 24.1 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game during his college career. After college, he went on to have a successful NBA career, where he won four championships and was named an NBA All-Star 15 times.
6. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner played for Duke University from 1988 to 1992 and is one of the most successful college basketball players of all time. He won two NCAA Championships with Duke and was named NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in both years. Laettner averaged 16.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during his college career and was named College Player of the Year in 1992. After college, he had a successful NBA career, where he won two championships and played for six different teams during his 13-year career.
7. Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing played for Georgetown University from 1981 to 1985 and is one of the best college basketball players of all time. He led Georgetown to three NCAA Championship games and won the title in 1984. Ewing was named College Player of the Year in 1985 and was a three-time First-Team All-American. He averaged 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during his college career. After college, he went on to have a successful NBA career, where he was named an NBA All-Star 11 times and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
8. Larry Bird
Larry Bird played for Indiana State University from 1976 to 1979 and is one of the most talented college basketball players of all time. He led Indiana State to the NCAA Championship game in 1979 and was named College Player of the Year in that same year. Bird averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game during his college career. After college, he went on to have a legendary NBA career, where he won three championships and was named an NBA All-Star 12 times.
9. Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan played for Wake Forest University from 1993 to 1997 and is one of the most successful college basketball players of all time. He was named College Player of the Year in his senior year and led the Demon Deacons to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four years in college. Duncan averaged 20.8 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game during his college career. After college, he had a legendary NBA career, where he won five championships and was named an NBA All-Star 15 times.
10. Jerry West
Jerry West played for West Virginia University from 1957 to 1960 and is one of the best college basketball players of all time. He led West Virginia to the NCAA Championship game in 1959 and was named College Player of the Year in 1960. West averaged an impressive 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game during his college career. After college, he went on to have a legendary NBA career, where he won one championship and was named an NBA All-Star 14 times.
In conclusion, these ten players have had an enormous impact on the game of college basketball, and their legacy will always be remembered. Their contributions to the sport have helped to shape the game and have inspired countless young players to pursue their dreams. They are true legends of college basketball and will always be remembered as some of the best players to ever play the game.