NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of South Carolina of last decade

8. Aaron Nesmith – Vanderbilt

A 6’6 forward from Charleston, Nesmith spent his brief collegiate career playing at Vanderbilt. A 4-star recruit and impressive young talent, he was recruited by Bryce Drew and played a vital role in a rough season for the Commodores. He assumed an even more important role in his second season, now under Jerry Stackhouse, but lost most of his year to a foot injury, playing just 14 games as a sophomore.

Vanderbilt won just nine games during his freshman season, but Nesmith did what he could, averaging 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for a team hit hard by injuries and inconsistent play. His sophomore year saw him in an impact role for the Commodores’ offense, averaging 23.0 points per game in that 14-game stretch. He scored a career-high 34 points against both Richmond and UNC Wilmington and helped get the season off to a decent start before suffering a season-ending injury against Auburn.

Nesmith didn’t win any fancy awards for his season and a half at Vanderbilt, but he showed some impressive potential during that 46-game stretch. He was really coming into his own as a scorer and offensive weapon before that injury wiped out his season. He did not return to Vanderbilt after that, later becoming the 14th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft. Nesmith has spent the last two seasons playing mostly in the NBA and looks to build on his success with the Indiana Pacers next season.