Kansas Basketball: Top 20 Players Ever to Play for Head Coach Bill Self

20. Jeff Withey – Kansas Jayhawks (2010-2013)

Career stats: 8.0 ppg 5.4 rpg 0.6 apg

After never getting minutes in his first couple of seasons, Withey’s defense afforded him an opportunity to play as an upperclassman. He had an All-American senior season, averaging four blocks a night. Withey finished as the all-time blocks leader for Kansas.

19. Tyshawn Taylor – Kansas Jayhawks (2009-2012)

Career stats: 10.8 ppg 2.2 rpg 3.9 apg

A starter for four years, Taylor was a combo guard that wasn’t known too much for his offense. That changed his senior season, where he averaged 16.6 ppg and 4.8 apg. There wasn’t too much offense on that 2012 team, so the senior’s elevated play was much-needed for Coach Self.

18. Joel Embiid – Kansas Jayhawks (2014)

Career stats: 11.2 ppg 8.1 rpg 1.4 apg

This is solely concerning college basketball, and Embiid arguably was the third best player on that 2014 team, his only season in college. But even though he was hampered with injuries at KU as well, the seven-footer still showed great promise. He had a historic near triple-double against Oklahoma State, with eight blocks in a single game.

17. Mario Chalmers – Kansas Jayhawks (2006-2008)

Career stats: 12.2 ppg 2.8 rpg 3.8 apg

He’ll forever be known for the shot that helped Kansas win the national title in 2008, but Chalmers was a solid three-year player throughout his time with the program. He was a consistent double-digit scorer, as well as a solid passer who facilitated the offense.

16. Ben McLemore – Kansas Jayhawks (2013)

Career stats: 15.9 ppg 5.2 rpg 2.0 apg

He was an incredibly efficient player, with shooting splits of 50-42-87. McLemore was an All-American in 2013 and a leading scorer on the Sweet Sixteen team. Although from a talent perspective he’s one of the top players ever, McLemore’s ranking gets hurt by just playing one season with nothing more than a Sweet Sixteen to show for it, which speaks to the high expectations of the program.