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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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USC Trojans guard Julian Jacobs Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
USC Trojans guard Julian Jacobs Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Julian Jacobs – USC

Next, we have a 6’4 guard from Las Vegas who took his talents down to Los Angeles. Jacobs was a talented young point guard who played at USC, on campus during Andy Enfield’s first three seasons with the Trojans. He was a starter for most of those three years, developing into one of the best backcourt players in the Pac-12.

Jacobs had decent numbers to begin his career, including a 14-point, 7-rebound, 7-assists game in a win over Xavier. The Trojans weren’t a great program in his first two seasons, but his junior year was one to remember. Jacobs averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 assists per game, helping lead USC back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years with a 21-win season.

Developing into one of the league’s best point guards, Jacobs was First Team All-Pac 12 for that junior season while leading the conference in assists. He had decent offensive and defensive numbers, but certainly fit the role more as a distributor than scorer, with everyone in that USC starting lineup averaging double-digit points. He left school early but was not drafted, playing professionally outside of the NBA in subsequent years.