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

By Joey Loose | Aug 16, 2022

Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Perry Ellis (34) reacts with forward Landen Lucas (33) and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half of the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

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Southern Methodist Mustangs forward Semi Ojeleye Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Semi Ojeleye – Duke / SMU

A native of Ottawa (Kansas, not Canada), Ojeleye was a top 40 recruit who took an unusual path in his collegiate career. The 6’8 forward originally committed to Duke, arriving on campus in 2013. However, he played very minimally across two seasons with the Blue Devils, leading him to transfer to SMU. Ojeleye only spent one season with those Mustangs but it was a pretty successful season.

Ojeleye saw limited time at Duke and was granted his release late in 2014, leaving the program during a season that would end in a national championship. When he retook the court with SMU, he was an immediate factor for the Mustangs. During that season, he averaged 19.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, scoring in the double-digits in all but one of his games. He helped lead SMU to AAC regular season and tournament titles, including a 36-point, 12-rebound effort against East Carolina in the tourney.

Ojeleye may not have fit on that Duke team, but he won AAC Player of the Year in his lone year with the Mustangs. He led the conference in points, free throws, and offensive rating and certainly was an impactful player on an SMU team that finished the year 30-5. The AAC Tournament MVP did not stay beyond that season, declaring for the draft and going late in the second round to the Boston Celtics, having seen time in each of the last five NBA seasons.

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