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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players from college participating in 2019 NBA Finals

By Brandon Simberg

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 21: Stephen Curry #30, Kevin Durant #35 and DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors laugh on the bench during a 130-111 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 21: Stephen Curry #30, Kevin Durant #35 and DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors laugh on the bench during a 130-111 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 12: Pascal Siakam #43 of the New Mexico State Aggies winces in pain after butting heads with a Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners player during the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Gurzinski/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 12: Pascal Siakam #43 of the New Mexico State Aggies winces in pain after butting heads with a Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners player during the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Gurzinski/Getty Images) /

10. Pascal Siakam – New Mexico State (2014-2016)

Anyone who is surprised by Siakam’s rise, clearly never saw him play at New Mexico State. Siakam, who was an unranked recruit according to 247 Sports, is initially from Cameroon. He attended prep school at God’s Academy (yes, this is the actual name of the school) in Lake Dallas, Texas.

Siakam came off the bench for the first seven games of his freshman season before ultimately working his way into the starting lineup. From there he finished his rookie campaign averaging 12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks to become the WAC Freshman of the year. The Aggies won the WAC conference tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed, before losing to Kansas in the first round.

Being WAC Freshman of the Year was not enough for Siakam who came back his sophomore season even better. Siakam was on a tear from game one, averaging 20.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the entire year. Siakam’s dominance led him to being the WAC Player of the Year. The Aggies however did not make the NCAA Tournament again as they lost to CSU Bakersfield in the second round of the WAC conference tournament.

Siakam lost the opportunity to showcase how much he improved on the big stage, but this likely helped the Raptors as Siakam fell to the 27th pick in the 2016 draft. Just like in college, Siakam has been rapidly improving in the NBA and is a strong candidate to win Most Improved Player this season. If the Raptors want a real shot at beating the Warriors, they will need Siakam to step up.

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