NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of New York of last decade

8. Precious Achiuwa – Memphis

A five-star prospect, Achiuwa became one of the first big names to play at Memphis under coach Penny Hardaway. A 6’9 forward from the Bronx, he was considered one of the best players in the class of 2019 and a fantastic addition to a Tigers team looking to take that step forward. He played just his freshman campaign at Memphis and starred at the national stage, though the season was cut short by the pandemic.

Achiuwa averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game across an impressive season, leading the program in both categories. He helped lead the Tigers to 21 wins and a 5th place finish in the AAC, holding the fort when the team lost fellow 5-star prospect James Wiseman early in the year. He had a 22-point, 22-rebound effort against Tulane late in the year and ended with a career-high 25 points in a loss at Houston.

Achiuwa’s freshman season did not fall on deaf ears, as he was awarded AAC Rookie of the Year and AAC Player of the Year. He led the conference in rebounding and was one of the league’s better defenders as well. Later that year, he became a late first-round draft pick of the Miami Heat and he continues his pro career with the Toronto Raptors now two years later.