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

12. Jakob Poeltl

Poeltl is a 7’0 center originally from Austria who arrived in the Pac-12 at Utah back in 2014. The Utes were still struggling to find their footing since joining the league a few years prior, but Poeltl played a major role in their success over the next two seasons, becoming one of their most impactful frontcourt stars since the turn of the century.

In his freshman season, Poeltl averaged 9.1 points and 6.8 rebounds and played quite the role for the Utes. He played his best ball late in the year, helping Utah to a 2nd place finish in the Pac-12 and a run to the Sweet Sixteen, with a season-high 18 points against Stephen F. Austin in the opening round. His numbers were even more impressive the following year, including a career-high 32-point effort against Temple. On the year he was good for 17.2 points and 9.1 rebounds and led the Utes back to the NCAA Tournament, with 16 points and 18 rebounds against Fresno State in a first-round victory.

Poeltl truly established himself in that second season, as he was named a Second Team All-American, Pac-12 Player of the Year, and the winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. He was one of the most efficient scorers in the nation and developed into quite the weapon for the Utes, as the program won three NCAA Tournament games during those two seasons. Poeltl then became the 9th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft after becoming quite the legend with the Utes.