Sun Belt Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade ('13-23)

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

By Joey Loose | Sep 4, 2023

Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Georgia State Panthers bench surrounds Panthers guard R.J. Hunter (22) after their victory over the Baylor Bears in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena.Georgia State defeated Baylor 57-56 on Hunter's three point basket with 2.8 second left in the game. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sun Belt Basketball Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns forward Shawn Long Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Shawn Long

A 6’9 forward from Morgan City, Louisiana, Long had himself a very prosperous collegiate career in the Sun Belt. He began that career back in 2012 at Louisiana-Lafayette, becoming a major factor across the next four seasons with the Ragin’ Cajuns. We’ll begin our focus in his sophomore season, though he was already a major player and the league’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman.

What’s important to know is that Long averaged a double-double in all four of his collegiate seasons. As a sophomore, not only did he put up 18.6 points a game but he helped lead Louisiana to a Sun Belt Tournament title and a trip to the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t return to the Big Dance, but Long had two more dominant seasons. He had a 29-point, 20-rebound effort against Troy in a senior season where he’d average 18.9 points and 12.1 rebounds a night.

Long was First Team All-Sun Belt for three straight years and was named Player of the Year as a senior. He left Lafayette as a legend in the program, scoring 2342 career points and leading the Sun Belt in total rebounds in all four of his season. Long was one of the best defensive rebounders in college basketball since the turn of the century and was a great shot blocker as well. He put up monster numbers in all four seasons and even got a taste of March Madness.