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

4. Trae Young

Young is a 6’2 point guard originally from Norman, Oklahoma who did not leave his hometown to play college ball. A five-star recruit, Lon Kruger was more than happy to bring him onto campus. He played for the Sooners for just one season, showcasing his talent in a major way in that freshman campaign.

Young’s sheer numbers were incredible, averaging 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game for the Sooners. He had four different 40-point performances, including wins over Baylor and Oregon, and had a 26-point, 22-assist effort in nonconference player. He was clearly one of the best offensive players in the nation. Unfortunately, Oklahoma was upended by Rhode Island in the first round of the NCAA Tournament despite a 28-point effort from Young.

A stunning season saw Young lead the entire nation in both points and assists per game. A clear First Team All-American, he was the Big 12 Rookie of the Year and probably should’ve been Player of the Year as well, claiming First Team All-Big 12 honors instead. He was simply a major weapon for the Sooners with incredible production and metrics, though it’s a shame how limited his postseason success was while at Oklahoma.