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

Mar 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) passes against Virginia Commonwealth Rams guard JeQuan Lewis (1) in the first half during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) passes against Virginia Commonwealth Rams guard JeQuan Lewis (1) in the first half during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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UCLA Bruins guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA Bruins guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Shabazz Muhammad – UCLA

Long ago, this 6’6 guard from Las Vegas was the top-rated prospect in the class of 2012. Muhammad landed at UCLA, spending just his freshman season starring for the Bruins before moving on to the next level. Muhammad may have only spent that singular season at the college game, but it was a pretty special season for the highly-touted guard.

In that singular season, Muhammad averaged 17.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, helping lead the Bruins to a Pac-12 regular season title. The Bruins were upset in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, but Muhammad had a series of impressive performances across the season, including a career-high 27 points in wins over Fresno State and Missouri. He made 37% of his 3-pointers and was the leading scorer on a team full of future NBA players.

Muhammad won Pac-12 Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team for his season. Among the conference’s leaders in points, offensive rebounds and free throws, the only downside to Muhammad’s season was that early postseason exit, which cost head coach Ben Howland his job. Regardless, Muhammad had a fantastic campaign, and was soon after drafted in the middle of the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, spending the next five seasons playing in the NBA.