AAC Basketball: 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jun 22, 2023

Mar 5, 2020; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson talks to guard Quentin Grimes (24) and guard Marcus Sasser (0) after a play against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. UConn defeated Houston 77-71. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

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AAC Basketball Southern Methodist Mustangs forward Semi Ojeleye Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Semi Ojeleye

Ojeleye had quite the journey to the AAC but he showed his potential when he got his opportunity. A Top 40 recruit from the class of 2013, he was one of many highly-touted recruits who committed to Duke, though Ojeleye didn’t really get a chance to stand out with the Blue Devils. He was a bench piece as a freshman and transferred out of the program as a sophomore a few months before Duke won the 2015 NCAA Tournament. After sitting out the next season, he arrived at SMU and became a star.

That redshirt junior season at SMU was remarkable, and it came under first-year head coach Tim Jankovich, as Larry Brown had stepped aside before Ojeleye was eligible. During that campaign, he’d average 19.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc. This 6’8 forward elevated his game for the Mustangs. He had a career-high 36 points in a postseason win over East Carolina a few days before winning AAC Tournament MVP.

His lone season at SMU saw him named AAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring. He rated as the league’s best offensive threat and was of vital importance during a 30-win season for SMU. When given the opportunity, he really put everything together and was elite during that season with the Mustangs before leaving for professional opportunities.