Fansided

Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

By Trevor Sinodhinos

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)
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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Ja Morant
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

South Carolina: Ja Morant

South Carolina was admitted to the Union in 1788. In the college basketball world, they only started getting national recognition in 1965 when they were ranked for the first time and made the tournament in their 63rd year of existence. The first South Carolina player to play in the NBA was Jim Neal who made his debut on Oct. 31, 1963. The latest South Carolina player to debut in the NBA happens to also have the best collegiate career in Ja Morant.

His two years at Murray State, Morant dominated the Ohio Valley Conference winning numerous awards and making the All-Conference teams. Over 65 regular-season games, he averaged 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists, averages that would increase in each category come tournament time to 22 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists. His second season was substantially better than his freshman year. As a sophomore, he was named to the All-American first team with a 24 and 10 season average.

Xavier McDaniel played four seasons at Wichita State, but when looking at his stats one must ignore his freshman season when he averaged just 13 minutes. In the remaining three years, ‘X-Man’ would be named to an All-American first team and be named the Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year twice as he averaged 22 points and 14 rebounds. In his one tournament, ‘X’ showed he could maintain those stats with a 22/11 output.

Ja Morant’s ability to stuff the stat sheet in at least three categories on a consistent basis put him as the player from South Carolina who had the best college career, despite the great case that Brice Johnson and A.J English fans will have.