Monday, March 14th, 2011 at 11:46 am  |  111 responses

Who’s in Your Top 10?

A group of SLAM writers and editors list their favorite college bball players.

Sandy Dover
Age: 27
Springfield, OH

10. John Wallace, Syracuse: His ability to change the game in the paint and from outside is a reason why I still rep the Orange(men).

9. Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse: I knew he was good, but I didn’t know he was THAT good as a freshman.

8. Tim Thomas, Villanova: While he disappointed me greatly in the NBA, TT was what I loved about versatile players–he was a 6’10″ shooting guard/small forward with range and size to play everything except center.

7. Elton Brand, Duke:  He was a tank and could do anything he wanted to do, despite being a smaller player in height.

6. Allen Iverson, Georgetown: He may have been more exciting to me in college than in the NBA.

5. Ron Mercer, Kentucky: He was an exciting player who seemed to devastate other teams offensively.

4. Mike Bibby, Arizona: He was an amazing talent who seemed to be able to dominate the game with his athleticism and shooting as a point guard; he reminded me of Jason Kidd.

3. Vince Carter, North Carolina: He was the ultimate perimeter player in college basketball during his stay in North Carolina. ]

2. Kevin Durant, Texas: Possibly the best wing to come from college basketball in the past 20 years, and he dominated the NCAA in his lone year with the Longhorns.

1. Jason Williams, Duke: The best point guard prospect in college basketball in the past 15 years.

Jon Jaques
Age: 23
Los Angeles, CA

10. Jarron/Jason Collins, Stanford: The Collins brothers were the original twin towers (pre-Lopez) at Stanford, and had much more tournament success (a Final Four, an Elite 8, four appearances total) than the younger pair. They also graduated from my high school (Harvard-Westlake). Go Wolverines.

9. Khalid El-Amin: The starting point guard on Connecticut’s 1999 title team. El-Amin’s combination of strength (or, to put it gently, girth) and quickness was a matchup nightmare for opposing PGs. And the super-baggy tee look underneath the jersey is classic.

8. Juan Dixon: For some reason, I really enjoyed watching Maryland’s 2002 title run, and it seemed like Juan Dixon didn’t miss one shot that entire tournament. The skinniest guy on the court was dominating the biggest stage in college basketball.

7. Jason Williams: His unfortunate lack of NBA career shouldn’t take away from just how dominant a college basketball player Williams was for Duke. He is this low because part of me feels like Mike Dunleavy and Shane Battier could have just as easily been in this spot.

6. Mike Bibby: I can’t stand Bibby as a pro, but I need to mention one member from the Pac-10’s most recent NCAA Championship team. As a freshman Bibby piloted the 1997 Arizona Wildcats to a relatively surprising championship, scoring 20 points in the title game against Kentucky.

5. Antoine Walker, Kentucky: The dude clearly could’ve used a financial management or economics course at Kentucky, but his time in Lexington wasn’t a complete waste. Walker was un-guardable for Rick Pitino’s 1996 Wildcats national championship team.

4. Arthur Lee, Stanford: The Stanford Cardinal’s 1998 Final Four run is one of my greatest memories of watching the NCAA Tournament growing up. Lee’s leadership, rock solid point guard play, and legendary “choke” sign he gave at the end of the Rhode Island game puts him on my list.

3. Louis Dale/Ryan Wittman/Jeff Foote, Cornell: For those who call me a homer for putting my former Cornell teammates on this list, realize this is a legitimate ranking. Consider all three of these guys were equally instrumental in leading an Ivy League school to the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than 30 years. Enough said.

2. Emeka Okafor, Connecticut: The best player on Connecticut’s 2004 national title team. He stayed in school for four years, and was the most dominant, game-altering center during my window of college basketball viewing. The Huskies had tons of talent surrounding Okafor, but Jim Calhoun doesn’t come close to winning his second title without the big man.

1. Tyus Edney: I was just seven years old at the time but I remember exactly where I was when Edney blurred through Missouri’s defense in 4.8 seconds to toss in a game-winning layup and continue UCLA’s march to an eventual championship. I’m not even a Bruins fan, but the creator of my first Southern California hoops memory tops the list.

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  • that dude

    10)fRANK WILLIAMS
    9)RASHARD PHILLIPS
    8)KHALID EL AMIN
    7)CHRIS WEBBER
    6)CARMELO ANTHONY
    5)STEPHON MARBURY
    4)ED COTA
    3)STEVE FRANCIS
    2)JALEN ROSE
    1)ALLEN IVERSON

  • Mike

    1. Denham Brown, UConn: One of my favorite UConn players of all time (can’t put Kemba up here yet) I loved the way this Canadian played, that’s right Canadian. I wore a short sleeve shirt under my jersey when I played High School ball because of him.
    2. Eric Maynor, VCU: loved watching him play at VCU, especially when he went off against Duke. Still root for him in OKC.
    3. Rashad Anderson, UConn: It seemed like every time he caught the ball from behind the three-point line it was going in. He was money.
    4. Morris Peterson, Michigan State: AKA Mo-Pete, I’m about to get a lot of puzzled looks here, played along side Mateen Cleaves and Charlie Bell while at MSU. (They were called the FlintStones, along with Antonio Smith too) Good solid player that and is a very nice person on and off the court, cares a lot about kids and the community.
    5. DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh: Ever since he ripped Hasheem Thabeet over his back and on to the ground, and before that as well, he has had my respect. Spurs got a steal with him, I said it then and I’ll say it now.
    6. Acie Law, Texas A&M: This guy was awesome at A&M and he had plenty of game winners along the way too. It seemed like he was going to score all the time no matter what.
    7. Tony Douglas, Florida State: Heck of a scorer, especially when he went off against Duke in the ACC tourney a few years back.
    8. Johnny Flynn, Syracuse: With being a UConn fan, it’s kind of hard to give credit to a rival, but J-Flynn could ball. Always got worried when UConn had to play him and ‘Cuse.
    9. Gordon Hayward, Butler: He would be higher on my list but I barely found out about him until his last year but nonetheless I loved watching him play and it just seemed like he was born to play basketball. Had the best missed shot in NCAA Tourney history in my opinion (Half Court heave that almost went in against Duke)
    10. Juan Dixon, Maryland: Him and Steve Blake killed it in the backcourt for Maryland.

  • LLS

    Malik Sealy
    Derrick Coleman
    Stacey Augmon
    ed OBannon
    Kenny Anderson
    Shaq
    Grant Hill
    AI
    Billy Owens
    Dikembe and Zo
    Jalen

  • Ian S

    i cheated and added sym teamates but hers my ten
    10. Shane Battier/Jay Williams
    9.Adam Morrison
    8.Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace
    7.SirValiant Brown
    6.Kenyon Martin
    5.Michael Beasley
    4.Kevin Durant
    3.Steve Francis
    2.Allen Iverson/Victor Page
    1.Fab Five

  • http://c_ris_32@yahoo.com Chi-Town

    Nobody’s got UNC Vince Carter on their list? Yall are seriously trippin.

  • el_larsen

    10 ed obannon
    9 corliss williamson
    8 adam morrison
    7 calbert cheaney
    6 the answer
    5 stacey augmon
    4 jalen rose
    3 rasheed wallace
    2 jamal mashburn
    1 chris webber

    jamal mashburn
    rasheed wallace
    corliss williamson
    stacey augmon

  • Charles Miller

    10. Fennis Dembo – Wyoming. Dude had mad rise and game. Actually put Wyoming hoops on the map for a period of time
    9. Kendal Gill – Illinois great college player had D, rise and a jumper
    8. Ralph Sampson – Virginia. Dominated the ACC in the early 80′s
    7. Walter Berry – St. Johns. Great slasher played on good Jonnies teams
    6. Patrick Ewing – G-Town. Was the most intimidating player in the Big East during the 80′s
    5. Ben Gordon – UCONN. Clutch shooter, big heart
    4. Magic Johnson – Michigan St. He and Larry Bird put college basketball on the map
    3. Dwyane Wade – Marquette. Triple double in the tourney nuff said
    2. Micheal Jordan – UNC. Game winner in the championship game, was a draw and became the best player ever
    1. Len Bias – Maryland. We would not talk about MJ the way we do if Len had not passed away. Len was a man amongst boys, had hops, handle and range

  • el_larsen

    sorry! forgot to erase!it stops at webber as my nb 1

  • Byebye

    10 Jason Kidd with that left right cross over that killed people
    9 Kerry kittles he went to hole like he got launched from a cannon
    8 Bo Kimble Bo had no range he shot from wherever he caught the ball
    7 jalen rose my dude from tha d with that slow trot down the court
    6 Kenny Anderson I thought he was going to take over the NBA
    5 Derrick Coleman the most skills of a big man in history
    4 magic Johnson I was 4 years old when I first watched him he is still my fav
    3 god shammgod he was awesome with that rock
    2 Marcus camby he was the only person in college that shut Timmy down
    1 Larry Johnson need I say more

  • pedro mercado

    Kenny Anderson and Bernard King are #1 and 2 then you got Waymen Tisdale ,Ewing ,Iverson,Harold Miner,Reggie Williams of Georgetown,Jay Williams of Duke,Carmelo Anthony and Guillermo Diaz .

  • pedro mercado

    My second ten Len Bias,Dajuan Wagner,Walter Berry,Ray Stewart,Johnny Dawkins,Todd Day,Ralph Sampson,Jamal Mashburn,Hubert Davis and Ray Allen..

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