NCAA Basketball: Revisiting the 2003-04 college basketball season
Top 10 recruits
All rankings were found through 247Sports.
1. SF LeBron James – Directly to the NBA
2003-04 season: James did not play in college, as he immediately declared for the NBA Draft out of high school (selected #1 overall).
2. SF Luol Deng – Committed to Duke
2003-04 season: Committed and played at Duke for one season. Teaming up with sophomore guard J.J. Redick, Deng helped guide the Blue Devils to the 2004 Final Four as a freshman. Deng averaged 15.1 points per game (second on the team) and declared for the NBA Draft after the season.
3. PF Ndudi Ebi – Directly to the NBA
2003-04 season: Ebi initially committed to play for Arizona, but declared for the NBA Draft instead, where he was picked 26th overall.
4. SG Shannon Brown – Committed to Michigan State
2003-04 season: Playing for the Spartans, Shannon Brown was an impactful freshman. He averaged 7.9 points per game and shot a respectable 45.1% from the field. Although it was a somewhat down year for Michigan State, Brown helped the Spartans reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a #7 seed.
5. C David Padgett – Committed to Kansas
2003-04 season: Padgett originally committed to play at Kansas, but only spent one season there before transferring and playing his last three seasons with Louisville. With Kansas, he was an effective 53.1% from the field and dropped in 6.5 points per game. He averaged 6.8 points in four NCAA Tournament games while Kansas made the Elite Eight.
6. C Kendrick Perkins – Directly to the NBA
2003-04 season: Perkins initially committed to play at Memphis, but instead declared for the NBA Draft, where he was selected 27th overall.
7. PF Charlie Villanueva – Blairstown, New Jersey
2003-04 season: After committing to play at Connecticut, Villanueva spent two seasons with the Huskies. He had a solid freshman campaign with the team, averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. On a team that also included Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor, Villanueva won the National Championship with UCONN.
8. PF Leon Powe – Oakland, California
2003-04 season: Powe signed with California and played for two seasons. He jumped onto the scene as a freshman with a very solid campaign, tallying 15.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. These accomplishments netted him the Freshman of the Year Award in the Pac-10 as well as an appearance on the First Team All-Pac-10. Cal, however, had a disappointing season and missed the NCAA Tournament.
9. C Brian Butch – Appleton, Wisconsin
2003-04 season: After committing to play under Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, Butch played all four years with the Badgers. Slowly progressing in his time, Butch played on some of the best defensive teams in the country for Wisconsin. Yet, he flashed his offensive ability as a big man who could play both inside and outside. Butch did not play during the 2003-04 season, though, as he elected to redshirt.
10. PG Mustafa Shakur – Philadelphia, PA
2003-04 season: Like Butch, Shakur played all four years in college. He played for the Arizona Wildcats. While in college, Shakur was a well-balanced player. He scored the ball with efficiency and was a unique playmaker. During his freshman campaign, Shakur put up 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Arizona had the top scoring offense in the country during 2003-04, but lost in the first round of the Big Dance.