2. Jabari Smith Jr. – Auburn
One season was more than enough for Smith, a 6’10 forward from Fayetville, to endear himself to the college basketball world. Like some of the previous names on this list, Smith was a five-star top prospect who only spent a single season playing college ball, choosing to spend his collegiate days under Bruce Pearl at Auburn. Unlike some of those earlier names, Smith’s team really excelled and maybe that gave him the boost up the list.
That singular college season saw him average 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on a pretty good Auburn squad. Smith had a number of double-doubles, including a 23-point, 12-rebound effort against Oklahoma. He had two more such performances in the NCAA Tournament, including 15 rebounds in their second-round loss to Miami.
Auburn’s season ended prematurely, but Smith’s season was still one to remember, winning SEC Rookie of the Year and being named to the All-SEC First Team. Smith was also a Second Team All-American, honored as one of the best forwards in the nation. Leaving college after just one year, he was taken as the third pick in the NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets just a few months ago and looks to launch a professional career just as productive as that year with the Tigers.