Big 12 Basketball: Ranking of top 20 overall players since 2000

1. Kevin Durant – F Texas (2006-2007)

Career Stats (1 season): 25.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 40% 3P, 81% FT

Apart from Cade Cunningham and Joel Embiid, the highest-ranked recruit to come to a Big 12 school came from Kevin Durant. Durant was a rare prospect that had the length to play down low, but also the shooting ability to be a perimeter threat.

When he had committed to Texas in 2006, immediately was an intriguing prospect and was considered must-watch TV. He would back that up with legendary performances in crucial games. Durant’s lowest scoring output was 10 points, as he was in double-figures all 35 games of his career.

Over half of his games ended up being double-doubles. One game in particular was a road matchup against Texas Tech, where Durant ended with 37 points and 23 rebounds. Durant also hit 10 3 pointers in the game and only turned the ball over 3 times.

Even standing at 6’9, he was 40% from three-point range and was a solid 81% from the free throw line. the build of Durant seemed so bizarre and otherworldly, however, would only be the beginning of a trend of what it is now considered to be an elite player at not only the college level but the NBA.

Durant swept every notable award given, including both the Naismith and Wooden Award. A one-year performance from a freshman really sparked the usage of “one and done”. Although he wasn’t the first, the landscape changed of younger more talented players being higher picks in the draft and later on, being household NBA names.

From a team success standpoint, Texas was a pretty good team. However, they did lose in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to USC. A game where he scored 30 points, had nine rebounds, and shot 45% from the field.

Durant would be the #2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, heading to the Seattle SuperSonics, now known as the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has exceeded his college expectations in college, with two NBA titles, winning the NBA MVP in 2014 and being apart of the best team in NBA History, when the Golden State Warriors went 73-9 in 2015-2016.

There have been many players to come through the conference and players, that are the best at certain skillsets. However, Kevin Durant is the most complete and talented player to come through the Big 12 Conference.