NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Tennessee of last decade
By Joey Loose
8. Nick King – Memphis / Alabama / Middle Tennessee
A top 40 recruit way back in 2013, King originally made his way to Memphis but only stayed for two seasons under Josh Pastner. A 6’7 forward from Memphis, he transferred away from his hometown to join Alabama, but played just seven games with the Crimson Tide. It was King’s final collegiate season that got him on today’s list, as he had an incredible impact with Middle Tennessee.
King had a 23-point effort early in his career against Oklahoma State but struggled for consistent minutes with the Tigers. He averaged 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game as a sophomore before sitting out the next season as he transferred. A lung infection knocked him out early in his junior season at Alabama, but that senior year at Middle Tennessee was worth the wait. King averaged 21.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with numerous double-doubles while leading the Blue Raiders to the second round of the NIT.
Highly-touted but somewhat unheralded early in his career, King was named C-USA Player of the Year for that final season at Middle Tennessee. He was one of the top scorers and rebounders in the conference and helped fill the holes on a transitioning team that was still very successful. King is another player who wasn’t drafted but has seen his basketball career continue at the professional level, with most of that experience coming overseas.