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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(Original Caption) Oscar Robertson, of the Cincinnati Royals, is shown handling the ball against a member of the opposing team, the Baltimore Colts. /

Tennessee: Oscar Robertson

Tennessee is fun, and not just because of Graceland and Dollywood, but because it provides college basketball fans a chance to decide between Oscar Robertson and Anfernee Hardaway. Unfortunately for Hardaway, he was three years removed from his playing days at Memphis when Lil’ Penny came into the limelight, for if Lil’ Penny was around during Hardaway’s 66 college games, he would win this hands down.

We will have to settle with his stats instead to make his case for the best college player born in Tennessee. As a 6-foot-7 guard, scoring was never a problem for Hardaway as he averaged 20 points at Memphis, but it is how he contributed in every area of the game that places him among the NCAA elite, as he averaged almost eight rebounds and six assists.

The season he was named to the All-American first team, he topped those stats. His career tournament stats are at 17 points, five rebounds and five assists, and even better the year he was named to the All-Region team and a No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft.

A high NBA Draft does not guarantee a player anything in this piece, because if it did Oscar Robertson has this won because he was drafted No.1 over in the 1960 NBA Draft out of Cincinnati.  His career averages over 88 games of 34 points,15 rebounds and 78 percent from the free-throw line were enough to get him selected to three All-American first teams and be named consensus Player of the Year three years in a row.

Not only did he win the award that is given annually to the outstanding men’s college basketball player by the United States Basketball Writers Association, but the award is also named after him. With a college career like that, there is no need to mention the three All-Tournament teams or to mention other Tennessee great players in the NCAA like Tony Dellk and JJ Redick.