The 15 Greatest One-and-Dones In College Basketball History

By Brian Kalchik

The 15 Greatest One-and-Dones in College Basketball History

Carmelo Anthony Syracuse — Since the one-and-done era began, most first-year players coming out of college have been outstanding in the pros. All Stars like John Wall, Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant are among the best players in the NBA despite limited college experience. But which player is the greatest one-and-done player of all-time? Find out here. Rankings are based both on college production and NBA production.

15. Jahlil Okafor

Jahlil Okafor Duke

15. Jahlil Okafor

Jahlil Okafor Duke — Jahlil Okafor was selected as Preseason Player of the Year by many different outlets and he lived up to the hype. Okafor became the first Duke freshman to record 20 rebounds in a game and the second ACC freshman to record 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game. He helped Duke win the National Championship by defeating Frank Kaminsky and the Wisconsin Badgers. Okafor sadly is stuck with the dumpster fire that is the 76ers.

14. Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns Kentucky

14. Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns Kentucky — Despite sharing minutes with a loaded roster at Kentucky, Karl-Anthony Towns showed enough at UK to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. Towns also led Kentucky to a 38-0 record before losing in the Final Four to Wisconsin. Towns is now being mentored by Kevin Garnett in Minnesota.

13. Stephon Marbury

Stephon Marbury Georgia Tech

13. Stephon Marbury

Stephon Marbury Georgia Tech — In his lone season at Georgia Tech, Stephon Marbury led the Yellow Jackets to a 24–12 record en route to the Sweet 16. For the season, Marbury averaged 18.9 ppg and 4.5 assists and was named an AP Third Team All American. Marbury was selected No. 4 overall in the loaded 1996 NBA Draft and was a two-time NBA All-Star.

12. Luol Deng

Luol Deng Duke

12. Luol Deng

Luol Deng Duke — Prior to the 2003-04 season, Luol Deng was the top-ranked small forward in the country and he joined Mike Krzyzewski's Duke Blue Devils. In one season at Duke, he appeared in 37 games, making 32 starts. He scored 15.1 points per game and helped Duke get to the Final Four where they lost to UConn. Deng was then selected No. 7 overall in the 2004 NBA Draft and is a two-time All-Star.

11. Mike Conley Jr.

Mike Conley Jr. Ohio State

11. Mike Conley Jr.

Mike Conley Jr. Ohio State — In 2006-07, Mike Conley Jr. and Greg Oden led the Ohio State Buckeyes back to national prominence in college basketball. The two led Ohio State all the way to the Championship Game where they lost to Florida.

10. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving Duke

10. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving Duke — Kyrie Irving's career at Duke was short lived and he only played in 11 collegiate games due to injury. He did, however, average 17.5 points and 4.3 assists, leading the Blue Devils to the Sweet 16. He was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers and is a three-time All-Star.

9. Zach Randolph

Zach Randolph Trail Blazers

9. Zach Randolph

Zach Randolph Trail Blazers — Zach Randolph came to Michigan State one year after the Spartans won it all in 2000. He joined a loaded squad that returned fellow NBA star Jason Richardson and Charlie Bell. At MSU, Randolph averaged 10.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game over 33 games. The Spartans went 28-5 and went back to the Final Four, but lost to Arizona. Randolph was then selected No. 19 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft and is a two-time All-Star.

8. Kevin Love

Kevin Love UCLA

8. Kevin Love

Kevin Love UCLA — UCLA is a school that is loaded with talented big men, and Kevin Love added to that legacy during the 2007-08 season. Love led the Bruins with 17.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg and 23 double-doubles, earning consensus first-team All-American, Pac-10 Player of the Year, All-Pac-10, and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors. He and Russell Westbrook led UCLA to the Final Four where they lost to Derick Rose's Memphis Tigers. Love is a three-time NBA All-Star.

7. DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins Kings

7. DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins Kings — DeMarcus Cousins is a locker-room cancer and hasn't done anything significant in the NBA, but he is a talented player who showed glimpses of his talent at Kentucky. At Kentucky, Cousins averaged 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, teaming with John Wall and led Kentucky to the Elite Eight. Cousins was selected No. 5 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft and is one of the top centers in the game today.

6. Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh Raptors

6. Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh Raptors — Prior to the 2002-03 season, Chris Bosh was named High School Player of the Year by many outlets and was chosen as Mr. Basketball in the state of Texas. Bosh, however, took his talents to Georgia Tech and averaged 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 31 games. Bosh was selected No. 4 overall in 2003 and is a two-time NBA champion and a 10-time All-Star.

5. John Wall

john Wall Kentucky

5. John Wall

John Wall Kentucky — John Wall was part of John Calipari's first recruiting class at Kentucky, and he was worth all the hype. He led the Wildcats in both points and assists, averaging 16.6 and 6.5 respectively. Wall was the Freshman of the Year and was a first-team All-American. Wall led Kentucky to a 35-3 record but lost in the Elite Eight to West Virginia.

4. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose Memphis

4. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose Memphis — Derrick Rose's career at Memphis is officially stricken from the record due to academic violations, but he had a magical season in 2007-08. Rose led John Calipari's Memphis Tigers to a 38-2 record before all 38 wins were vacated. Rose and the Tigers defeated Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook's UCLA Bruins in the Final Four before losing to Kansas in the Championship Game. Rose was the No. 1 pick in 2008 and is a three-time All Star.

3. Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis Kentucky

3. Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis Kentucky — Anthony Davis dominated college basketball in 2011-2012, winning pretty much every individual award possible. Kentucky went 38-2 and won the eighth national title in school history. Davis averaged 14.2 points and 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 bpg.

2. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant Texas

2. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant Texas — Kevin Durant arrived in Austin as one of the most hyped recruits in Texas basketball history, and he certainly lived up to it. In his lone season at Texas, Durant averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds per game, leading Texas to a 25-10 record. The Longhorns didn't reach the Sweet 16, but it wasn't because of Durant. He was drafted No. 2 overall in 2007 and is a four-time scoring champion and was the 2014 NBA MVP.

1. Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony Syracuse

1. Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony Syracuse — Coming out of famed Oak Hill Academy, Carmelo Anthony signed with Syracuse and led the Orangemen to their only National Championship as a freshman. During the season, he averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game. In the Final Four, Anthony scored a freshman-record 33 points against Texas and had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Championship Game against Kansas. Anthony was drafted No. 3 overall in 2003 and is an eight-time All-Star.

Share On Facebook

Share