Big 12 Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

11. Udoka Azubuike

A 7’0 center from Nigeria, Azubuike was considered a Top 50 prospect back in 2016. He found his footing at Kansas, spending four pretty successful seasons playing and starring for the Jayhawks. Azubuike was not only a fantastic all-around player but helped lead Kansas to significant success in his college career.

Azubuike was injured and missed most of his freshman season, but had quite the bounce back as a sophomore. He averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds and was a significant contributor and starter as the Jayhawks reached the Final Four. Another injury severely limited his junior year, with Azubuike appeared in just nine games (all Kansas wins), but again he bounced back in a major way. During that final season, he averaged 13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks a game, becoming one of the best post players in the nation.

During both his sophomore and senior seasons, Azubuike led the entire nation in field goal percentage, all while racking up all kinds of honors. He was a Second Team All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year and the NABC Defensive Player of the Year for his immense contributions. He was also one of the top rebounders and shot blockers in the nation and played a major factor in Kansas’s 28-3 season, albeit one shortened by the pandemic.