Duke basketball: 50 best players to play for Coach K

37 of 50

GREENSBORO, NC – MARCH 18: Shelden Williams #23 of the Duke Blue Devils goes after a loose ball next to Carl Elliott #25 of the George Washington Colonials during the Second Round of the 2006 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 18, 2006 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

14. Shelden Williams (2002-2006)

Shelden Williams was one of the best defensive players to ever play college basketball in Durham, as he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year twice, and was named to the ACC All-Defense team three times. But he was also a great player overall as he received All-ACC honors three times, was a consensus All-American, and was named to the All-ACC Tournament team three times.

Despite playing less than 20 minutes per game his freshman year, Williams averaged 8.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. Over the course of his final three seasons, he averaged 15.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 3.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game.

During Williams’ four years in Durham Duke won two ACC Regular Season titles, three ACC Tournament titles, made four trips to the Sweet Sixteen, and also made it to the 2004 Final Four. Williams was taken with the 5th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, and he played in the NBA for six seasons averaging 4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game.