Fansided

30 greatest college basketball players this century

By Cody Williams

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: J.J. Redick #4 of the Duke Blue Devils walks down the court during their Preseason NIT game against the Drexel Dragons at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: J.J. Redick #4 of the Duke Blue Devils walks down the court during their Preseason NIT game against the Drexel Dragons at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 26: Evan Turner #21 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on against the Tennessee Volunteers during the Midwest Regional semi-final of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Edward Jones Dome on March 26, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. Tennessee advanced with a 76-73 win. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 26: Evan Turner #21 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on against the Tennessee Volunteers during the Midwest Regional semi-final of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Edward Jones Dome on March 26, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. Tennessee advanced with a 76-73 win. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

24. Evan Turner, Ohio State (2007-2010)

  • 2010 Wooden Award Winner
  • 2010 Consensus First-Team All-American
  • 2010 Big Ten Player of the Year

Evan Turner spent his first season under Thad Matta with the Ohio State Buckeyes playing as more or less a role player. In the 2007-08 season, the sizeable guard put up solid numbers, as he averaged 8.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game on the year. However, it was when he was given the reins of the team that he fully delivered what he had to offer the college basketball world.

Seeing his workload rise by 9.3 minutes per game from his freshman to sophomore seasons, Turner rewarded Matta with a big uptick in production. The guard put up 17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, four assists and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 50.3 percent from the field in the process. And though the Buckeyes were upset in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament that year by Siena, Turner was the bright spot as he posted a near triple-double in the double-overtime loss.

In his junior and final season, Turner again stepped up in a bigger way, even playing slightly fewer minutes than he did as a sophomore. During his last campaign in Columbus, the guard posted averages of 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, six assists and 1.7 steals per game, even improving his shooting as he hit on 51.9 percent of his attempts.

That final year carried him to winning the Wooden Award and, though the Buckeyes lost in the Sweet 16, Turner’s individual prowess is enough to land him a solid spot on this list.