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

19. Connor Vanover

Vanover is a 7’3 center from Little Rock, Arkansas who initially struggled to find his place in the college game. Boasting a tall, lanky figure, he began his career at California before transferring to Arkansas under Eric Musselman. He’d sit out a season and become a minor contributor on some great Razorbacks clubs before deciding to transfer again.

This past season, he found a home at Oral Roberts, filling a vital frontcourt role during a great season for the Golden Eagles. Vanover averaged 12.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game, helping lead this program to regular season and tournament titles in the Summit. In a season where Oral Roberts finished 30-5, Vanover played a major role with some great performances, including in the Summit League Tournament. He had a couple of games with 8 blocks and was a valuable piece at the back end.

For that lone season in the conference, Vanover was named First Team All-Summit and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. He finished second in the nation with 110 blocks on the year, was one of the league’s top interior scorers, and was a major part of a historic season for the Golden Eagles. Suffice to say, Vanover found his fit in the Summit, though he’ll spend his final year of eligibility next season at Missouri, back in the SEC.