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

By Joey Loose | Jul 19, 2023

Mar 19, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; North Texas Mean Green guard James Reese (0) celebrates with guard Mardrez McBride (1) and guard Javion Hamlet (3) during overtime against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

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CUSA Basketball North Texas Mean Green guard Kai Huntsberry Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jordan Walker

A 5’11 point guard from Port Washington, New York, Walker is another player who took a very indirect route to stardom in the CUSA. He began his career by playing a minimal role at Seton Hall before sitting out and transferring to Tulane. After putting up decent production with the Green Wave, he really exploded onto the scene after he transferred to UAB in 2021.

In his first season with the Blazers, Walker averaged 20.3 points and 4.9 assists and really made a name for himself. He had a pair of 40-point performances against Middle Tennessee, including in the CUSA Tournament that his team would later win. While UAB wouldn’t get back to the Big Dance in his final season, Walker would average 22.3 points per game and lead the Blazers to the title game of the NIT. UAB won 56 games in his two seasons on campus.

The conference’s leader in points and 3-pointers in both seasons, Walker was named CUSA Player of the Year and Tournament MVP for that sensational debut at North Texas. His fifth year was just as successful with the Mean Green, racking up a ton of points and leading his program to a plethora of wins while shooting the cover off the ball. He was among the league leaders in assists, had decent steals numbers, and just did everything Andy Kennedy needed from his upperclassman star.