Top 20 Players to Play for 30-Year Head Coach Rick Barnes

NCAA Basketball: Top 20 Players to Play for 30-Year Head Coach Rick Barnes

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 20: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns reacts in the first half against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 20, 2014 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /

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OKLAHOMA CITY – MARCH 12: Guard A.J. Abrams #3 of the Texas Longhorns walks off the court during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship Quarterfinals at the Ford Center March 12, 2009 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

8. AJ Abrams – Texas Longhorns (2006-2009)

Career stats: 13.7 ppg 2.3 rpg 1.8 apg

The 5’11 guard was an outstanding scorer during his time at Texas, averaging 15.0 ppg+ each of the last three years. He was one of the top players in the Big 12, and arguably was the best three-point shooter in the country, averaging around 300 attempts a season. Even with all those shots, Abrams still managed to shoot around 40% from deep. Imagine how good today’s Texas teams would be if they had a guard like Abrams.

7. Kenny Sanders – George Mason Patriots (1986-1989)

Career stats: 20.3 ppg 9.6 rpg 0.8 apg

He’s the only George Mason player on the list, but he may have had to best career in terms of the stat sheets. In the one season where Barnes was with the Patriots, Sanders averaged 22.0 ppg and 11.7 rpg, winning the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. In a way, his play help paved the way for Barnes’ 30-year career as a D-1 head coach.

6. DJ Augustin – Texas Longhorns (2007-2008)

Career stats: 16.9 ppg 2.9 rpg 6.2 apg

There are so many great point guards in any given season, so being declared the best by winning the Bob Cousy Award is a testament of how great a year Augustin had in 2008. He averaged 19.2 ppg and 5.8 apg in an All-American campaign, in route to a 31 win season and a trip to the Elite Eight. The point guard had 6.7 apg his freshman year, with many of those passes going to a Longhorn legend.

5. Michael Smith – Providence Friars (1991-1994)

Career stats: 11.8 ppg 11.0 rpg 1.1 apg

When it comes to rebounds, Smith not only was one of the best in Providence Basketball history, but also for Barnes. He averaged a double-double in each of his final three seasons, leading the Big East. Even back in the early 90’s the conference was still tough as nails, so to lead that league in grabbing boards is all the even more impressive.

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