Big 12 Basketball: Ranking of top 20 overall players since 2000
By Andrew Tineo
5. Blake Griffin – F Oklahoma (2007-2009)
Career Stats (2 seasons): 18.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 61% FG
One of two players from the Big 12 ended up being on the cover of NCAA Basketball. The last cover player from the game was Blake Griffin. The #16 ranked recruit in the 2007 class made an immediate impact as he was named Freshman of the Year and All-Big 12 member.
He averaged 14.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and shot 56% from the field. For a freshman, that is numbers where Griffin would be a very good candidate to be a one and done. Griffin shocked the conference and returned for his sophomore season. Griffin’s stock shot through the roof as a sophomore.
Griffin had the single most dominant season from a non-freshman, with 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, and shooting 65% from the field. Griffin would dominate on the glass, grabbing 500 rebounds and 41 blocks on the season. His 40-point, 23-rebound performance against Texas Tech is one of most notable. He shot 16/22 from the field and bullied the Red Raiders the entire night.
Not only that, but the Sooners had a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, courtesy of Griffin. Griffin scored double-doubles in each of the four games and shot 75% on 23 points and 16 rebounds in their season-ending loss to the eventual national champion North Carolina Tar Heels in the Elite 8.
On a team featuring future NBA players in Willie Warren and Taylor Griffin, Blake was by far the main attraction. His dominance in every facet of the game easily made him a top-3 pick in the draft.
Blake was the #1 overall pick in the 2009 Draft and has been a household name in the league for a long time. He has made five All-NBA Teams and is currently playing for the Detriot Pistons.