Which college teams are best represented in the NBA? Here are my top five teams, my honorable mention picks, and five NBA stars (from mid-major schools) who excelled at the college level.
5. Texas Longhorns: Avery Bradley, PJ Tucker, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Myles Turner, Jarrett Allen. This team would be successful in today’s NBA! They have a superstar in KD, along with solid big men Aldridge and Turner, both of whom can score and shoot from range. PJ Tucker is one of the best 3-and-D guys in the League, and Bradley is a defensive-minded point guard. NBA-Texas has the option of going with Jarrett Allen over Turner if they want a more defensive lineup. Wow!
Wiggens@KU (photo, Jamie Squire/Getty Images, and Sportsnet)
4. Kansas Jayhawks: Devonte’ Graham, Kelly Oubre, Andrew Wiggins, Marcus Morris, Joel Embiid. This team can flat-out score! Get this: Marcus Morris, averaging 17.4 ppg this season, is the lowest scorer on the team. The emergence of Graham, the league favorite to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player, puts KU ahead of UT in my rankings. And there’s more! Oubre and Wiggins have unmatched athleticism on the wings, and Embiid contends as the League’s best center. Yowza!
3. UCLA Bruins: Russell Westbrook, Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Kevin Love. This group would be known for frenetic play. Westbrook and Lonzo love to push the tempo, and Holiday will help them take care of the ball. You can bank on getting a consistent 17-and-10 from Love, and Westbrook would run the break with the high-flying Zach LaVine. I love this line-up!
2. Duke Blue Devils: Kyrie Irving, JJ Redick, Brandon Ingram, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson. No RJ Barrett? That’s right, not yet. Let’s wait until he refines his game. For now, I’m going with JJ. Breakout stars Ingram and Tatum join him as wings who can take over games. And let’s face it: we haven’t seen the best of Zion–not by a longshot. Kyrie runs the show on a team that would be gobs of fun to watch!
SGA@UK (photo, Catsillustrated)
1. Kentucky Wildcats: John Wall, Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns. UK is my #1 team, hands down. The ‘Cats have it all–rising stars in Booker and SGA, proven stars in Davis and Towns, and a veteran looking for redemption (coming off an injury) in John Wall. Growth in Booker and SGA is what really impresses me, and I also like the offensive and defensive balance on this crew. What a nightmare for opponents!
I know John Calipari has critics, but there’s one thing you can’t debate: He sends gobs of great players to the NBA!
Honorable Mentions, Major Teams
Arizona: Allonzo Trier, Andre Iguodala, Aaron Gordon, Lauri Markannan, DeAndre Ayton
UConn: Kemba Walker, Shabazz Napier, Jeremy Lamb, Rudy Gay, Andre Drummond
Louisville: Terry Rozier, Donovan Mitchell, Ray Spalding, Montrezl Harrell, Gorgui Dieng
Gonzaga: Zach Norvell, Kelly Olynyk, Domantas Sabonis, Rui Hachimura, Zach Collins
Michigan State: Gary Harris, Denzel Valentine, Draymond Green, Miles Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr.
Honorable Mentions, Players from Mid-Major Teams
Mid-major teams don’t send great players to the NBA in the numbers you’ll find at major schools. But that doesn’t mean mid-majors don’t send great players to the NBA. They do! Here are my top five guys.
Steph Curry (Davidson), Damian Lillard (Weber State), Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State), Paul George (Fresno State), Pascal Siakam (New Mexico State).
