NCAAB · 6 months ago

Ranking the Top 10 One-And-Done College Basketball Freshmen of All-Time

John Canady

Host · Writer

10) Greg Oden, Ohio State
Greg Oden will always be one of the biggest busts in history. Although injuries are the root of his short NBA career, he's labeled a bust because of how much potential he showed at the college level. Oden looked to be one of the next dominant big men, but he never got the opportunity to match his college play at the next level. Regardless, his impressive college career is enough to round out this list.

College Stats: 15.7 PPG | 9.6 RPG | 0.7 APG | 3.3 BPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 1
1) Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Carmelo Anthony has to take the top spot in these rankings. Not only did the Syracuse product prove to be a top talent in the nation in his lone season with the Orange, but he carried his success to the NBA, where he became a top player for most of his professional career. Anthony's jersey number at Syracuse has been retired, a testament to how good he was for the program and college basketball.

College Stats: 22.5 PPG | 6.2 RPG | 2.7 APG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 3
2) Kevin Durant, Texas
Kevin Durant immediately comes to mind when thinking about this list, and arguably, he could be considered the top one-and-done prospect ever. The versatile forward looked to be an entirely different beast in college and carried that momentum to the NBA, where he immediately became a top player. At 36, Durant continues to prove to be a top talent in the league, with multiple accolades under his belt, including two NBA Championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, and an NBA Most Valuable Player award.

College Stats: 25.8 PPG | 11.1 RPG | 1.3 APG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 2
3) Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Anthony Davis was not only a key offensive piece for Kentucky during his lone season with the Wildcats, but he proved to be a premier defender quickly. At nearly seven feet, the forward had the skillset inside the post to dominate, the ball handling ability to put the ball on the floor at any time, and a mid-range game as good as anyone's. At the next level, he's developed into one of, if not the best, two-way players in the NBA.

College Stats: 14.2 PPG | 10.4 RPG | 1.3 APG | 4.7 BPG | 1.4 SPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 1
4) Kevin Love, UCLA
Kevin Love was an absolute monster in his one season at UCLA. Not only was the six-foot-eight forward a beast on the boards, but he was one of the best shooters in the nation. Love arguably helped change the game to what it is today with his ability to stretch the floor at an elite level.

College Stats: 17.5 PPG | 10.6 RPG | 1.9 APG | 1.4 BPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 5
5) Cooper Flagg, Duke
Cooper Flagg has big shoes to fill considering he's already being considered one of the best college players ever. Despite that, he's proven that the hype around him is more than warranted. At six-foot-nine, Flagg has the ball-handling skills of a guard, the size to play multiple positions, and the basketball IQ to understand that. The Duke star is a generational talent, and with what he's shown up to this point, he could be the next big thing in the NBA. Although he hasn't officially declared for the NBA Draft, all indications are that he will following his impressive freshman season, especially if Duke can cap the season off with a national championship.

College Stats: 18.9 PPG | 7.5 RPG | 4.2 APG | 1.4 SPG | 1.3 BPG

NBA Draft Results: TBD
6) Derrick Rose, Memphis
Derrick Rose may have been one of the most fun college players ever in terms of watching the game. As one of the most athletic guards the game has ever seen, Rose could do it all. In the NBA, he proved to be exactly what he showcased in college, and more until injuries derailed his career. Regardless, his time in college basketball will forever make him one of the greatest one-and-done prospects ever.

College Stats: 14.9 PPG | 4.7 APG | 4.5 RPG | 1.2 SPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 1
7) Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Michael Beasley was among the most unguardable players college basketball has ever seen. In his lone season at Kansas State, he had all eyes on him, and many thought he could be one of the greatest players to ever touch the court. Although his NBA career didn't live up to the hype his college career set up, he will forever be known as a natural hooper.

College Stats: 26.2 PPG | 12.4 RPG | 1.2 APG | 1.6 BPG | 1.3 SPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 2
8) Trae Young, Oklahoma
Trae Young put together one of the most historic seasons in college basketball during his lone year at Oklahoma. The guard was not only a polished passer but also a sharpshooter often compared to Stephen Curry. Recently named the Assistant GM of Oklahoma basketball, shows how important and loved Young is by the school.

College Stats: 27.4 PPG | 8.7 APG | 3.9 RPG | 1.7 SPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 5
9) Zion Williamson, Duke
Zion Williamson is one of the rare cases where his high school tape had his NBA hype at an all-time high at 16 years old. The high-flyer was a dunking machine, and he carried every bit of hype he had to the college level at Duke, where he became a phenom for the Blue Devils. The South Carolina native is still one of the most dominant players in the league when he's healthy.

College Stats: 22.6 PPG | 8.9 RPG | 2.1 APG | 2.1 SPG | 1.8 BPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 1
10) Greg Oden, Ohio State
Greg Oden will always be one of the biggest busts in history. Although injuries are the root of his short NBA career, he's labeled a bust because of how much potential he showed at the college level. Oden looked to be one of the next dominant big men, but he never got the opportunity to match his college play at the next level. Regardless, his impressive college career is enough to round out this list.

College Stats: 15.7 PPG | 9.6 RPG | 0.7 APG | 3.3 BPG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 1
1) Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Carmelo Anthony has to take the top spot in these rankings. Not only did the Syracuse product prove to be a top talent in the nation in his lone season with the Orange, but he carried his success to the NBA, where he became a top player for most of his professional career. Anthony's jersey number at Syracuse has been retired, a testament to how good he was for the program and college basketball.

College Stats: 22.5 PPG | 6.2 RPG | 2.7 APG

NBA Draft Results: Round 1, Pick 3

Ranking the Top 10 One-And-Done College Basketball Freshmen of All-Time

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