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

3. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – Villanova

He may not have won a national title like some of his recent predecessors, but Robinson-Earl still had a very successful career at Villanova. A 6’9 forward from Overland Park, he was a five-star recruit who chose the Wildcats over several other high-profile offers. Robinson-Earl was an important piece in the Villanova frontcourt for two seasons, arriving on campus in 2019 before leaving two years later for the NBA.

He started every game of his career and already made an impact as a freshman, averaging 10.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in impressive fashion. He had a 24-point, 13-rebound effort in his college debut and likely would have caused more damage before the pandemic shortened the season. His scoring was even more impressive the following season, averaging 15.7 points per game, including a career-high 28-point effort in a win over Arizona State.

Robinson-Earl was named Big East Rookie of the Year for that fantastic freshman campaign and topped that by taking home Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. He was a high-impact player on a Villanova squad replacing a ton of stars from their recent title teams, though Robinson-Earl’s unit ran into a buzz saw with Baylor in the Tournament. Leaving college after two years, he was drafted early in the second round and continues to play for the Oklahoma City Thunder.