Baylor Basketball: Ranking of the top 20 players from 2000-2020

12. Brady Heslip SG (2011-2014)

The Canadian sharpshooter will go down as one of the best three-point shooters in Baylor basketball history. Yet another transfer, Heslip wasted no time as he was immediately logged into the starting lineup as a sophomore. Heslip was lights out as he averaged just 10.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. However, his success shooting could not be denied as he connected on 45% of his three’s and a staggering 92% from the free throw line

By far, Heslip’s most notable performance was in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament. The sophomore from Ontario hit nine of his 12 three-pointers and finished with 27 points in the Bears’ win over Colorado. After ranking 7th in the nation in 3-Point Field Goal Percentage, he would take a step back as a junior. He averaged just 8.6 points on a pedestrian 38.6%

After winning the NIT to finish his junior year, his numbers would go back to his sophomore season as a senior, as he would land inside the Top 10 in the country in 3 point shooting once again at 46.5% and 45% from the field. He was more effective from beyond the arc than inside at just 36%. His free throw went back up after being 76% the previous year as he got to 80% as a senior.

Heslip did the best of his work in the postseason. In two separate NCAA Tournament appearances, he went 22-44 from three-point range, good for 50%. Heslip would be behind a miraculous run by Baylor in 2013-2014 with the Bears finishing the season in the Sweet Sixteen and notably beating Doug McDermott-led #3 Creighton in the NCAA Tournament.

There’s not a lot of areas that Heslip shined in and he was not close to being a complete player. His display of excellent three-point shooting over a certain amount of time certainly makes him one to remember.

11. Rico Gathers PF/C (2012-2016)

Gathers is an ironic name for someone that is the all-time rebounding leader at Baylor. Gathers came from Laplace, Louisiana, and was another of Drew’s highly touted recruits he got to come to Waco. Gathers was the 32nd ranked recruit in the class of 2012 and played every single game as a Freshman.

Gathers was known for being an elite level rebounder as he made an appearance in the Top 10 in every season over his entire four-season career. He holds the record for the most offensive rebounds in a career in the Big 12 with 482 and 3rd in total rebounds with 1,134.

Gathers’ frame of 6’8 280 lbs. made him so difficult to box out. Gathers strength would get easily by other defenders. This was not more apparent than his junior season when Baylor played Huston-Tillotson. In that game, Gathers finished with 25 points on 52% shooting and a career-high 28 rebounds. To put it into perspective, the entire Huston-Tillotson team had 28 rebounds for the entire game.

Gathers was around the program when the Bears were consistently a contender for the conference and in the upper half of the league. Baylor didn’t get below 22 wins while he was there and was apart of three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Although not the most dominant scorer at a career average of 8.6 points and 49% from the field, Gathers dominant glass performance will never be forgotten, by not only Baylor fans, but Big 12 fans in general. Gathers would end up giving up basketball and pursued Football instead. Gathers would get drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL Draft and would stay with the team for a few seasons.