NCAA Basketball: Top 50 “One and Done” players since 2000

5. Anthony Davis – Kentucky Wildcats

14.2 Points, 10.4 Rebounds, 4.7 Blocks

Davis was another player to have played for John Calipari for one season. The big man has a long list of awards and honors that were bestowed on him after his one season in Lexington. Davis led his team to a National Championship and that was the icing on a fantastic season. Davis accomplished more in one year than many players do in four years. He won the Naismith and Wooden awards for the best player in the country. He was named an All American by every publication. Davis was awarded the most outstanding player for the entire NCAA tournament. The awards did not stop there as Davis was awarded the SEC Freshman, Defensive Player and Player of the year. Davis also holds the single season block record for all Freshman and broke Hassan Whiteside’s record. Davis was the best player to play on one of the best teams of all time.

4. Zion Williamson – Duke Blue Devils

22.6 Points, 8.9 Rebounds, 2.1 Assists

“The Next LeBron James” “The greatest freshman of all time” these are just two of the things used to describe Williamson and his ability to affect a college basketball game. He is one of the most exciting players that may have ever graced a college basketball floor. It is hard to believe that any freshman in history could be better than Zion, especially looking at his resume and his accomplishments for the season. On top of being the most athletic player in the game he was also the best player. He won both the Wooden award and the Naismith award given to the best player in college basketball. He was a consensus All American, named all ACC, the ACC freshman of the year and on the all-defensive team.

Zion broke the single season scoring record set by Marvin Bagley a year earlier. He shot 67% from the field which is the highest percentage ever for a freshman basketball player. The forward is in impressive company as he joined Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis as the only freshman to ever collect 500 points, 50 steals and 50 blocks in the same season. Duke fans will never see a player quite like the small forward ever again.

3. Carmelo Anthony – Syracuse Orangemen

22.2 Points, 10.0 Rebounds, 2.2 Assists

The power forward was the main catalyst on the only National Championship in Syracuse history. Anthony led the Orange in every offensive category, as well as rebounding and free throws made. The native New Yorker was great the entire season but the NCAA tournament he took his game to the next level. He set the freshman scoring record in an NCAA tournament game with 33 points. That earned him the NCAA tournament most valuable player. In his one season in Syracuse, the forward led all freshman in rebounding. He was also a consensus second team All-American. He was the consensus pick for the National Freshman of the year, as well as the Big East Freshman of the year. Carmelo helping win the only National Championship in the school’s history helped secure his spot on this list.

2. Michael Beasley – Kansas State Wildcats

27.2 Points, 12.4 Rebounds, 1.6 Blocks

The Kansas State Wildcats got one of the most dominant players to ever college basketball.  His point and rebounding totals were the most by any Big 12 freshman ever. He ranks second in points and third in rebounds of all freshman to ever step on a college basketball court. The forward set the mark for the most points scored in a single game in Big 12 conference history with 44. The forward shot 54% overall and 40% from three-point range. He holds 30 individual records in the Kansas State record books.

The awards and honors for the Wildcat are endless. He was a consensus first team All American, making him the second player in Wildcat history to be named an All-American by the Associated Press. The forward won the Big 12 Player of the Year as well as the Freshman of the Year. He won the Pete Newell big man of the year award and was the National Freshman of the year. Beasley was a show every time he took the court. He had a swagger and a confidence that rubbed some fans the wrong way. He kept everyone quiet once the game started.

1. Kevin Durant – Texas Longhorns

25.8 Points, 11.1 Rebounds, 1.9 Blocks

The number one player on the countdown belongs to the University of Texas in Austin. The small forward had the most points of any freshman in division one basketball history when he left college. This has since been broken. His season was a season of many firsts. He was a unanimous selection for the National Player of the Year. He was the first freshman in history to win the National Player of the year award. He was also a consensus first team All-American.

The small forward was both the Big 12 Player of the Year and the Freshman of the year, he was the first player in big 12 history to win both of those awards. He was also rewarded for his defensive prowess with a selection on the Big 12 All-Defensive team.

Durant set the bar extremely high for his predecessors and no one has been able to match them. The Longhorns may not have the most basketball tradition on this list, but they do have the best one and done player.