Top 20 Players Ever to Play for Head Coach Bill Self

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

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates as the Jayhawks defeat the West Virginia Mountaineers 81-70 to win the Big 12 Basketball Tournament Championship game at Sprint Center on March 10, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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08 Mar 2002: Head coach Bill Self of Illinois talks to team members guard Cory Bradford #13, center Robert Archibald #21, guard Frank Williams #30 and forward Brian Cook #34 at the end of a game against Minnesota at the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Illinois defeated Minnesota 92-76. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

10. Brian Cook – Illinois Illini (2000-2003)

Career stats: 13.2 ppg 6.2 rpg 1.3 apg

After a few good seasons as an offensive player, Cook had one of Coach Self’s best individual campaigns by a player. He went from 13.5 ppg to 20.0 ppg in his final year, getting Big Ten Player of the Year Award in 2003. Cook led the Illini to a 25-win season, the last for Self before heading off to Kansas.

9. Sherron Collins – Kansas Jayhawks (2007-2010)

Career stats: 13.2 ppg 2.4 rpg 3.9 apg

After playing a solid role off the bench for the 2008 title team, Collins excelled as a starter his final two seasons. He averaged 18.9 ppg and 5.0 apg on the 2009 Sweet Sixteen team, earning All-Big 12 honors.

8. Devonte’ Graham – Kansas Jayhawks (2015-2018)

Career stats: 12.3 ppg 3.1 rpg 4.5 apg

After playing the proverbial sidekick role to another great Kansas guard, Graham finally had the chance to shine on his own this past season. He averaged 17.3 ppg and 7.2 apg on what ended up being a Final Four team and winning Big 12 Player of the Year Award. His performances down the stretch helped keep the regular season title streak alive.

7. Andrew Wiggins – Kansas Jayhawks (2014)

Career stats: 17.1 ppg 5.9 rpg 1.5 apg

The best “one and done” player to venture to Kansas, Wiggins was an elite scorer who had some huge performance. He broke the freshmen record for the school with 41 points at West Virginia, along with a 19 rebound game against Iowa State in conference play. Wiggins was an All-American as well as a Wooden Award finalist. His exit before the Sweet Sixteen does hurt him on this list though.

6. Thomas Robinson – Kansas Jayhawks (2010-2012)

Career stats: 9.8 ppg 7.3 rpg 1.0 apg

In one of the biggest leaps of development for a player, Robinson went from a roster afterthought to one of the best players in the country in 2012. He averaged 17.7 ppg and 11.9 rpg in route to winning Big 12 Player of the Year. It was his postseason efforts that made him a Jayhawk great, with several huge efforts to lead the team to the title game. In a losing effort, Robinson scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in an eight-point loss to Kentucky.

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