NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Illinois of last decade

By Joey Loose | Aug 11, 2022

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) drives against Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) in the second half in the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jahlil Okafor – Duke

Again, Coach K just had a knack for landing big talent from his hometown, with Okafor joining the Blue Devils for a historic 2014-15 season. The top prospect in the entire country, this 6’11 center arrived at Duke for his only college basketball season and left as a national champion.

Okafor averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game during the season. He had a 25-point, 20-rebound performance against Elon in nonconference play and put up a career-high 30 points in a win at Virginia Tech. In leading Duke to the national championship, he had a number of key performances, including a 26-point game against San Diego State and an 18-point effort over Michigan State in the Final Four.

Not only did Okafor get to cut down the nets in his only collegiate seasons, but he was named a First Team All-American and also the ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. He led the entire conference in points, offensive rebounds, and field goal percentage, while also leading the whole nation in field goals made on the year. A lottery pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, Okafor had some solid success in the NBA and now plays overseas in China.

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