Zion Williamson and the 20 best one-and-done players of all time

Zion Williamson and the 20 best one-and-done players in college basketball history

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Teammates Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils react against the Syracuse Orange during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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SYRACUSE, NY – MARCH 27: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs up court against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the east regional final of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Carrier Dome on March 27, 2010 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

9. DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky, 2009-2010

The Wildcats are coming fast and furious now, with DeMarcus Cousins checking in here at seven on our countdown. After Kentucky lured John Calipari away from Memphis in 2009, he made a huge push to capitalize on one-and-done players, with Cousins being one of the anchors in his first recruiting class.

The man who would come to be known as “Boogie”, Cousins had a huge impact on the Wildcats in his lone season in Lexington, averaging 15.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 1.8 bpg. The Wildcats made it all the way to the Elite Eight that year before falling to West Virginia in the regional final, but Cousins had made his impact felt throughout the tournament.

Cousins was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings. The Kings never really got anything going with Cousins there, but it was hardly his fault as he became one of the best centers in the modern NBA.

Cousins would go on to become a perennial All-Star before getting shipped out of Sacramento, ending up with fellow Wildcat alum Anthony Davis in New Orleans. That Kentucky reunion didn’t last long as Cousins tore his Achilles’ tendon in January of 2018, sidelining him for the rest of the season.

Boogie is currently playing on a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, where he is hoping to cash in with his first ever NBA title before securing a huge free agent payday this summer.