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Best Texas basketball players: All-time starting lineup – From T.J. Ford to Kevin Durant

By Brandon Jefferson

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 14: Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder enjoys the game from the sidelines as the Texas Longhorns host the Mississippi Rebels on September 14, 2013 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 14: Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder enjoys the game from the sidelines as the Texas Longhorns host the Mississippi Rebels on September 14, 2013 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
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Best Texas basketball players
(Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images) /

PG – T.J. Ford

T.J. Ford makes it three straight players from the state of Texas who have made this list. If nothing else, Rick Barnes knew how to keep the talent in his backyard home. Ford was a born winner and in his final two high school seasons, he led his team to a 75-1 record, which included a 62-game winning streak and two Texas Class 5A state titles.

Ford brought that winning with him to Austin where he was able to make an immediate impact for the Longhorns. As a freshman, he led the team in minutes per game (32.4) and steals (2.2 per game) but he also became the first freshman ever to lead the entire NCAA in assists per game (8.27). He helped the team make it to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

However, he followed that up by giving Texas basketball an unforgettable season the very next year. Ford led the team in scoring (15 points per game), assists (7.7 per game [third in the nation]) and steals (2 per game) and the team made it to their first Final Four since 1947. Though the team would ultimately lose to Syracuse — who was led by Carmelo Anthony — the Longhorns have yet to come closer to winning the national championship.

Ford racked up the Big-12 Rookie of the Year, a consensus All-American selection, selected to All-Big 12 in both of his years in Austin and is one of two players to be named national player of the year for the school. He won the Naismith and Wooden awards following his sophomore year. Ford was one of four athletes (Earl Campbell, Roger Clemens and Ricky Williams are the others) in all of Texas athletics to have his jersey retired by the school.