1. Zion Williamson
Still revered as one of the most hyped college basketball players in recent memory, Williamson was quite the stud prospect when he arrived at Duke in 2018. A 6’7 forward, this 5-star developed quite the following during his lone season with the Blue Devils. It was national news when he missed time due to a foot injury after his shoe exploded, and there was plenty to like about that freshman campaign.
Williamson averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Blue Devils that season and helped lead the team to the Elite Eight. He scored 28 points against Kentucky in his collegiate debut, had more than a dozen double-doubles, and was essential for Duke’s entire season. He returned from that injury in time to lead the Blue Devils to the ACC Tournament title. He would score 32 points against UCF in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and average more than 25 a game, with Duke falling to Michigan State just shy of the Final Four.
An impressive talent, Williamson led the entire nation in effective field goal percentage, earning him AP Player of the Year honors. Unsurprisingly, he was also a First Team All-American, ACC Player and Rookie of the Year, and the recipient of many other awards, including the Naismith, Wooden, and Karl Malone Awards. His work with the Blue Devils was impressive and he clearly paved his way to the NBA with that standout season. Even just playing one season, he showed that he was that rare athlete in talent, build, and productivity.