Baylor Basketball: Re-ranking the top 20 Bear players from 2000-21

15. Curtis Jerrells SG (2006-2009)

With Kevin Durant in town, it would be very appealing for nearby kids to play in Austin for Rick Barnes. Instead, the Austin native decided to play for rival Baylor and immediately became a threat for the rest of the conference. Just two years after the cover-up and firing of David Bliss, Jerrells would play for Baylor and would be on the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.

Jerrells would average 13.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 44% shooting from the field. Jerrells only played 17 games as that was all Baylor had that season. As part of the sanctions, Baylor’s non-conference schedule was wiped out for the season.

During his next season, Jerrells would take the next step, as well as, Baylor did. Even with a below .500 record, the Bears went 11-4 during the regular season and won 15 games, after winning just four the year before. Jerrells lead the Bears in scoring with 15 points. He would also add 4.7 rebounds and lead the team with 3.8 assists.

Over the course of the next two seasons, Jerrells’ numbers would continue to improve as he was playing at an All-Big 12 level, finishing his senior season with 16.3 points and shooting 42.7% on the season. He was never an elite three-point shooter, as he was just 35% in his career. However, his ability to be a scorer and a star for a program that has not it in a long time.

He was also a part of the team that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. The first of the gems for the Baylor program under Drew was Jerrells and is someone many people will remember for being a bright spot during a dark time.

14. 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.