Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Tournament 2019: Each Final Four school’s most famous basketball alumni

By J.P. Scott

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 09: NBA legend and former Michigan State star Earvin "Magic" Johnson speaks to the crowd during halftime of the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Breslin Center on February 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 09: NBA legend and former Michigan State star Earvin "Magic" Johnson speaks to the crowd during halftime of the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Breslin Center on February 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
SPRINGFIELD, MA – SEPTEMBER 7: Ralph Sampson speaks with his son behind him during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 7, 2012 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA – SEPTEMBER 7: Ralph Sampson speaks with his son behind him during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 7, 2012 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

Ralph Sampson, Virginia

Sampson was a three-time college National Player of the Year from 1981 to 1983. That was good enough to make a three-time consensus All-American during the same span. He also took home the ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 1980.

Ralph was selected 1st overall in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game his rookie season, earning him NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1984.

He was joined by Hakeem Olajuwon the following season to form “The Twin Towers”, and the duo would lead Houston to the NBA Finals during the 1985-1986 season — losing to Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics.

Sampson was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and then the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012

He is quite simply one of the most dominant big men to ever play the college game.

Home/March Madness