Best College Basketball Players since 2000

[Stasher599]

Interesting list

 

[temery]

Interesting list

Looks like they just drew names out of a hat.

 

[RuffRuff]

Looks like they just drew names out of a hat.

List is getting way too much NBA cred blended into the top. CBK just went through their Mount Rushmore this week.

For me it’s really hard not to include Edey in a top 4-5, he was that dominant and for multiple years.

 

[Mr. French]

These things are so hard to do, you’re splitting hairs with the top guys in the last 25 years.

BUT, am I missing something with Russ Smith?

 

[lonsharkin51]

The only one-and-dones who should be on the list are Melo and Unibrow. It annoys the crap out of me when people talk about Zion like he accomplished something in college. Same with Beasley, Flagg, Griffin and even KD. They may have been talented, but none of them had any sort of college career other than empty stats and a relatively quick exit from the dance. Stupid list.

 

[thekollieman]

The only one-and-dones who should be on the list are Melo and Unibrow. It annoys the crap out of me when people talk about Zion like he accomplished something in college. Same with Beasley, Flagg, Griffin and even KD. They may have been talented, but none of them had any sort of college career other than empty stats and a relatively quick exit from the dance. Stupid list.

Cooper Flagg did lead his team to the Final Four. That’s a major accomplishment by most accounts.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

The only one-and-dones who should be on the list are Melo and Unibrow. It annoys the crap out of me when people talk about Zion like he accomplished something in college. Same with Beasley, Flagg, Griffin and even KD. They may have been talented, but none of them had any sort of college career other than empty stats and a relatively quick exit from the dance. Stupid list.

Disagree. List is best CBB players, not most accomplishments. Beasley’s Freshman Year was literally All-Time.

 

[lonsharkin51]

Disagree. List is best CBB players, not most accomplishments. Beasley’s Freshman Year was literally All-Time.

So it’s strictly about talent? Fine. But was Beasley a better college player than, say, Luka Garza? I prefer to see kids recognized for making an impact at their schools instead of just killing time before going pro. And it is somewhat about accomplishments, otherwise Melo wouldn’t be No. 1, would he? Without that natty he probably wouldn’t make the list.

 

[HW611]

So it’s strictly about talent? Fine. But was Beasley a better college player than, say, Luka Garza? I prefer to see kids recognized for making an impact at their schools instead of just killing time before going pro. And it is somewhat about accomplishments, otherwise Melo wouldn’t be No. 1, would he? Without that natty he probably wouldn’t make the list.

Luka Garza didn’t put up the video game numbers Beasley did.

Almost nobody in recent history did. One of the best single seasons we’ve seen.

I’m surprised JJ is always so low on these lists. I’d have him above Edey and how isn’t he above Morrison??

 

[lonsharkin51]

Luka Garza didn’t put up the video game numbers Beasley did.

Almost nobody in recent history did. One of the best single seasons we’ve seen.

I’m surprised JJ is always so low on these lists. I’d have him above Edey and how isn’t he above Morrison??

Morrison averaged 28 ppg as a junior. That’s video game stats right there.

 

[HW611]

Morrison averaged 28 ppg as a junior. That’s video game stats right there.

Beasley had 26 and 12 as an 18 year old.

His first game of his college career he had 32 and 24 rebounds. Lol

 

[Scottzer]

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Greg from Sleepers Media picked a Rushmore of modern CBB players (not sure the definition of modern, but seems post 2000), he selected Edey, Hansbrough, Brunson, and Kemba.

 

[Deepster]

Zion Williamson? What did he do? A bunch of empty stats and a couple cupcake Tourney games before he gagged in the Elite 8?

 

[TroyHall98]

Ben Gordon deserves to be on that list..maybe take out Fredette.

 

[PNolanFan]

Don’t hate the list, the order of the Duke players is quite odd though, can’t complain about having 3 of the top 25, last two title runs get screwed a bit since they had like 8 incredible players so hard to split up the pie, surprised no Greg Oden, of all the one and dones who didn’t win the title he would probably be my first pick with how dominant he was

 

[Mr. French]

Ben Gordon deserves to be on that list..maybe take out Fredette.

I am one of the bigger BG fans but no, this isn’t it.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

So it’s strictly about talent? Fine. But was Beasley a better college player than, say, Luka Garza?

Uh, yes. He was.

 

[Inyatkin]

The criteria for these things change from one player to the next. Amazing four-year player, had one great season, turned into a top NBA player, etc. It's as arbitrary as you can get

 

[Mr. French]

The criteria for these things change from one player to the next. Amazing four-year player, had one great season, turned into a top NBA player, etc. It's as arbitrary as you can get

Honestly, that’s normal. Calling a list “best” blah blah indicates it’s up to you to decide what best means. Longest consistently great? Greatest peak? Greatest star power? Up to the writer to decide what best means, there’s no hard and fast rule about what makes an athlete the “best.”

Other than Russ Smith I’m not shocked at any choices here, but the actual ranking and inclusion is by definition subjective.

 

[Inyatkin]

Honestly, that’s normal. Calling a list “best” blah blah indicates it’s up to you to decide what best means. Longest consistently great? Greatest peak? Greatest star power? Up to the writer to decide what best means, there’s no hard and fast rule about what makes an athlete the “best.”

Other than Russ Smith I’m not shocked at any choices here, but the actual ranking and inclusion is by definition subjective.

Right it's subjective but the criteria should be consistent. But college lists always change criteria within the list. That's the problem.

 

[Mr. French]

Right it's subjective but the criteria should be consistent. But college lists always change criteria within the list. That's the problem.

They said “here’s a list of the TOP 25 players” according to us, so what is the stated criteria? To me it looks like just who they think is best.

 

[NewBlood]

any list that doesn't have Donovan Clingan on it is a joke! I am taking him over number 12, 13, 20, 23, 24, 25

 

[Inyatkin]

They said “here’s a list of the TOP 25 players” according to us, so what is the stated criteria? To me it looks like just who they think is best.

Really not trying to belabor this. But you can make an top 25 NBA players list, and there will be some quibbling, but a general agreement of what it means and who deserves it.
College, no. You're using different criteria for different players. That's why no one knows what to do with Kevin Durant. He could easily be No. 1. He only played one year and did nothing in the tournament. But you could still argue he was the "best" player. And Beasley was if anything even better. And what about Greg Oden?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

List is getting way too much NBA cred blended into the top. CBK just went through their Mount Rushmore this week.

For me it’s really hard not to include Edey in a top 4-5, he was that dominant and for multiple years.

Edey’s championship game against UConn is one of the best performances by a losing player that I can remember. He was insane that night. Oden and Hakeem are the only other ones I can think of that were in that league.

 

[Mr. French]

Really not trying to belabor this. But you can make an top 25 NBA players list, and there will be some quibbling, but a general agreement of what it means and who deserves it.
College, no. You're using different criteria for different players. That's why no one knows what to do with Kevin Durant. He could easily be No. 1. He only played one year and did nothing in the tournament. But you could still argue he was the "best" player. And Beasley was if anything even better. And what about Greg Oden?

Yeah, I agree. That’s why it’s subjective and debatable, but not lacking criteria.