By Andy Katz
FOX Sports College Basketball Analyst
As the next class of rookies take center stage Thursday night in the much-anticipated 2022 NBA Draft, we’re taking a step back and digging deep into the history books.
Who are the greatest college basketball players of all time, and where were they selected in the draft?
While NBA legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (formerly Lew Alcindor) and Bill Russell were selected at the top of the first round, other NBA stars like Draymond Green and Jalen Brunson had to wait it out before eventually hearing their names called on draft night.
Sit back and buckle up as we list the best college basketball superstars selected at every slot, 1-60, in NBA history.
Keep in mind that this is not an exact science. It is simply our takes and opinions.
Let the fun begin.
The superlatives are endless. Alcindor, as he was known at UCLA prior to changing his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, played only three seasons because freshmen weren’t eligible to play college basketball. His NCAA Tournament record was 12-0. He went 88-2 in those three seasons with UCLA, averaging 26.4 points and 15.5 rebounds while shooting over 63% from the field. He won his first 44 games before losing by two to Houston. Alcindor won a national title in each of his three seasons. Three seasons, three titles! He was the most dominant center of his era. Case closed.
Russell dominated the sport and his position in the early 1950s. He had a 9-0 NCAA Tournament record, averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds a game while shooting 51.6%. Think about that. … He averaged 20 and 20! San Francisco went 71-8 in his three seasons with the Dons and won two national championships. Russell’s defense was unmatched, and his intimidation and presence in the post made him a transcendent player.
Jordan played three seasons for Dean Smith and the Tar Heels before leaving for the NBA. He was 8-2 in the NCAA Tournament, winning the national championship in 1982 as a freshman when he hit the game-winning shot to beat Georgetown. He ended his career averaging 17.7 points, five boards and shooting 54%. His best statistical year was his sophomore season when he averaged 20 points per game. He wasn’t as dominant a player in college as he was with the Bulls in the NBA. But he was becoming something special with each passing game.
Jackson was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and a UPI Player of the Year. He had dominant seasons in 1991 and ’92 playing for the…
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