NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Maryland of last decade
By Joey Loose
5. Markelle Fultz – Washington
An elite five-star prospect from Upper Marlboro, Fultz opted to head west, playing his lone collegiate season in the Pac-12 with Washington. A highly-touted 6’4 guard, Fultz would spend just a single season in the college game before heading to the next level, but he certainly showed off his abilities across that singular season. Unfortunately, his Huskies team was not so fortunate, really struggling in that season.
Arriving in 2016, Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game for a Washington team that went just 9-22 during the season. Fultz clearly did all he could, even flirting with a triple-double on multiple occasions. He scored at least 30 points in his first two collegiate games and had a career-high 37 points in a win over Colorado later that January.
Fultz was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and was clearly one of the most impactful freshmen in the nation. He led the conference in points per game and ranked near the top in assists, field goals, and blocks as well. Fultz had a fantastic freshman season, even being named a Third Team All-American, and parlayed that success to the next level, becoming the first pic of the 2017 NBA Draft. He’s spent these last five years in the NBA, though it hasn’t quite been as productive as he may have hoped.