Baylor Basketball: Re-ranking the top 20 Bear players from 2000-21
By Andrew Tineo
1. Jared Butler PG/SG (2018-2021)
It wasn’t extremely hard to make the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year be high up on this list. Butler possessed the combination of ball-handling skills, playmaking ability, and scoring to be a First Round draft pick. After his immaculate 2020-2021 season, he has only cemented his place in the NBA Draft.
He was considered by many to be a late first projection, even with being a Sophomore. Butler made the bold decision to return to Baylor to bring back the trio of guards that makes up, possibly the best backcourt in College Basketball this season, alongside Teague and junior Davion Mitchell.
The former top-100 high school recruit finished 2019-2020, leading the Bears in scoring with 16 PPG on shooting a pretty solid 38% from 3 point range.
Butler isn’t the most intimidating defender. However, the craftiness that he uses to get to the basket, is among the best out of any Baylor Bear to play.
The freshman phenom flashed some of his potential late in his Freshman season. A Baylor team that was fighting for an NCAA bid, Butler went up to Lawrence and scored 31 Points on 47% shooting.
Butler continued that his Sophomore season, with even more impressive performances. 22 points against Villanova and Kansas, to go along with 19 more in the second meeting of the Jayhawks.
The off-season of 2020 was a big one for Butler as he had entered his name into the NBA Draft, testing the waters, alongside his draft stock. Butler ended up returning to Baylor and recorded the most successful season in Baylor Basketball history.
Somehow, Butler improved his stats in every single category, including 41.6% from beyond the arc, 4.8 assists, and more steals than the beforementioned Mitchell, at exactly two per game.
The continued elite stretch of games would continue with Butler winning National Player of the Week, after combining for 54 points in wins over Kansas and Oklahoma State. Butler nabbed 25 more, to go with a game-tying layup against West Virginia, that would send the game to overtime, and earn the Bears their first Big 12 Championship.
The irony of the finishing of Butler’s career was the first game of his career was a home loss against Texas Southern. 93 games later, he finishes as a solidified first-round draft pick and National Champion.
dark. Next. WTE Big East power rankings
During his time at Baylor, Butler exemplified many rare skills and was going to go down as a Top 3 player of the last two decades. However, with the individual and team accolades won, it’s clear to say there is a new No. 1 in Waco, as Butler exits his Baylor tenure as the best player to ever step on the court to wear Green and Gold.