Best NCAA basketball players from every state

Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers attempts a free throw against the Florida State Seminoles in the second half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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Arizona: Marvin Bagley III

Up until two years ago, the best collegiate player reigning from The Copper State was easily Sean Elliott. After playing 133 games for Arizona University and averaging just over nineteen points, six rebounds, and shooting 51 percent from the field over his four years, Nick Johnson and Jerred Bayless just did not compare.

In order to complete his one year of college, the 6’11 Marvin Bagley III from Tempe decided to attend Duke University out of Sierra Canyon Prep School. In his only season at Duke, Bagley III put up stats similar to Sean Elliott, if you take the best stats from each of Elliott’s seasons. As a freshman, Bagley III averaged twenty-two points, eleven rebounds, and connected on 61 percent of his field goals. Elliott’s best season in scoring was 22 per game, seven rebounds. His best shooting season was 57 percent.

The fact that this entry is equally part of how well Bagley III performed and part of how Bagley III compared to Elliott demonstrates how great Elliott was. Both were named Consensus All-Americans, Elliott winning twice. During the 1988-89 season, Elliott was not the clear top player in college basketball, Danny Ferry split the major Player of the Year trophies and arguably could have swept them which would have left Elliott without two awards that separate him from Bagley III. In addition, Elliott won the Rupp Trophy which was no longer awarded by the time Bagley III joined Duke.

The Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year award in which Elliott claimed had only been awarded to one freshman as of Bagley III’s season, and it was to Anthony Davis. To strengthen Bagley III’s argument is the fact that senior Jalen Brunson swept the six U.S. men’s college basketball national player of the year awards while Bagley averaged two more points, eight more rebounds, and shot nine percent better from the field than Brunson.

Time is the one thing Bagley III does not have on his side when comparing great Arizona ballers. If Bagley III would have played additional seasons at Duke there would be no question, but this is about what was done, and even in one year, Bagley III got it done.