NCAA Basketball: Top 15 Players to Play for Tubby Smith

9. Trevor Mbakwe

Career stats: 10.7 ppg 8.5 rpg 1.1 apg

Smith is an old-school coach in many ways. One of those traits involves having both big men in the frontcourt stay inside the three-point line, rather than hoisting up shots on the perimeter. One of them was Mbawke from Minnesota, who had an injury-riddled career.

When healthy though he was a monster on the boards, averaging a double-double in the 2010-11 basketball season. In his final year, he helped lead the Gophers to the 2013 NCAA Tournament. An outstanding defensive and rebounding big man, Mbakwe was the prototypical big man for Smith.

8. Jamaal Maglorie

Career stats: 7.3 ppg 5.4 rpg 0.4 apg

After being a role player in his first few seasons in Lexington, Maglorie broke out in his senior season. He averaged 13.2 ppg and 9.1 rpg in his final year, along with a couple of blocks. The former Wildcat was the SEC’s rebounding leader while ranking in the top three in rejected shots.

He was buried in Kentucky’s frontcourt over the seasons before he got extended minutes, but that one productive season was all that was needed for the NBA to get him, where he ultimately had a solid career.

7. Rajon Rondo

Career stats: 9.6 ppg 4.5 rpg 4.2 apg

Looking at Rondo’s career in the NBA, he made the best decision playing for Smith, as the two were a perfect match. The floor general looked good in his two seasons at Kentucky, filling up the stat sheets in similarly in the way he’s doing now.

While he didn’t get a triple-double in college, Rondo did have a 12 assist game against Ole Miss, as well as a whopping 19 rebounds in a game versus Iowa. His facilitating skills were refined in Lexington, under the teachings of Smith.