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

1. Shabazz Napier – Connecticut

By the time Napier’s college career was over, he had accomplished something that very few had in the history of the sport. A 6’1 guard from Roxbury, he was another top 100 recruit wooed to nearby Connecticut by Jim Calhoun and his coaching staff. Napier played a dynamic role in multiple national championships for the Huskies and developed into quite the star by the end of his college days.

Off the bench, he had a solid freshman season, playing in all 41 games as the Huskies brought him the national championship. He became a starter in year two and was an important fixture in the offense, averaging at least 17 points and 4.5 assists per game in his final two seasons. Senior year was certainly his legendary season, which included a career-high 34 points in a win against Memphis. He also had a run of great performances as the Huskies won another national championship, including 22 points in the title game over Kentucky.

Napier was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, AAC Player of the Year, and a First Team All-American, while also winning the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s best point guard. Having already won a first national title and starring in the Big East, he helped the Huskies make a big splash in their first year in the AAC and stood out as one of the best guards in the nation. A late first-round draft pick in 2014, Napier spent parts of six seasons playing in the NBA and has most recently played overseas.

We have finished our deeper look at the best college basketball players from the state of Massachusetts from the last ten seasons; how do you think we did with the list?