The Best One-And-Done College Basketball Players
Who is the best one-and-done in college basketball history? The one and done rule in college basketball means a player must spend at least one year in college before they are allowed to enter the NBA. The byproduct of a rule established under the NBA's 2005 collective bargaining agreement, high school basketball stars have the option to attend college, go play overseas (a la LaMelo Ball), or join the G League. Look no further college hoops fans, because we've got you covered with all the best college basketball players who played college basketball for one season. Who are the best one-and-dones of all time? Which one and done college basketball players do you love?
Out of all the one and done NCAA basketball stars, three national champions stand out. Carmelo Anthony at Syracuse, Anthony Davis at Kentucky, and Jahlil Okafor at Duke all took their teams to the title and won it all like true freshman phenoms, then landed as top draft picks in the subsequent NBA draft. Other incredible NCAA one and dones like Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, and Chris Bosh went on to have great NBA careers. Then there's modern NBA stars like Zion Williamson, Ben Simmons, and Trae Young who were all the best freshman in college basketball at one point.
Vote up your favorite college hoops one and dones of all time! Then, check back every year as new college basketball freshman are added to the list!
College Stats: 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game
College Season Results: Missed the NCAA tournament, ACC Rookie of the Year, Second-team All-ACC
College: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
NBA Draft pick: 4th overall (2003)
College Stats: 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks per game
College Season Results: Elite 8 appearance, Consensus second-team All-American, SEC Rookie of the Year, First-team All-SEC
College: Kentucky Wildcats
NBA Draft pick: 5th overall (2010)
College Stats: 16.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 stocks per game
College Season Results: Elite Eight appearance, Consensus first-team All-American, SEC Player of the Year
College: Kentucky Wildcats
NBA Draft pick: 1st overall (2010)
College Stats: 14.9 points, 4.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds per game
College Season Results: Lost in the National Championship Game, Third-team All-American, C-USA Freshman of the Year
College: Memphis Tigers
NBA Draft pick: 1st overall (2008)
College Stats: 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.9 blocks per game
College Season Results: Upset in the 2nd Round of NCAA tourney, Consensus National Player of the Year, First Team All-American
College: Texas Longhorns
NBA Draft pick: 2nd overall (2007)
College Stats: 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game
College Season Results: Lost in the First Round of NCAA tourney, Third-team All-American, Pac-10 Player of the Year
College: California Golden Bears
NBA Draft pick: 3rd overall (1996)
College Stats: 22.2 points, 10 rebounds per game
College Season Results: National Championship, Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Second Team All American
College: Syracuse Orange
NBA Draft pick: 3rd overall (2003)
College Stats: 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 stocks per game
College Season Results: Lost in the Second Round of the NCAA tournament, Consensus second-team All-American, First-team All-Big 12, Big 12 Freshman of the Year
College: Kansas Jayhawks
NBA Draft pick: 1st overall (2014)
College Stats: 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.9 stocks (steals + blocks) per game
College Season Results: Lost in the 2nd Round of NCAA tourney, Consensus First-Team All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year
College: Kansas State Wildcats
NBA Draft pick: 2nd overall (2008)
College Stats: 27.4 points, 8.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds per game
College Season Results: Lost in the First Round of the NCAA tournament, Consensus first-team All-American, USBWA National Freshman of the Year, First-team All-Big 12
College: Oklahoma Sooners
NBA Draft pick: 5th overall (2018)
College Stats: 21 points, 11.1 rebounds per game
College Season Results: Elite 8 appearance, Consensus First-Team All-American, ACC Player of the Year
College: Duke Blue Devils
NBA Draft pick: 2nd overall (2018)
College Stats: 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 stocks per game
College Season Results: Sweet 16 appearance, AP Honorable Mention All-American, Second-team All-ACC, ACC Rookie of the Year
College: Duke Blue Devils
NBA Draft pick: 2nd overall (2016)
College Stats: 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2 steals per game
College Season Results: Missed the NCAA tourney, Consensus First-Team All-American, First-team All-SEC
College: LSU Tigers
NBA Draft pick: 1st overall (2016)
College Stats: 22.6 poitns, 8.9 rebounds, 3.9 stocks per game
College Season Results: Elite 8 appearance, National college player of the year, Consensus First-Team All-American, ACC Player of the Year
College: Duke Blue Devils
NBA Draft pick: 1st overall
College Stats: 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.7 blocks per game
College Season Results: National Championship, Consensus National Player of the Year, First Team All-American
College: Kentucky Wildcats
NBA Draft pick: 1st overall (2012)
College Stats: 20.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game
College Season Results: Upset in the Second Round of the NCAA tournament, Third-team All-American, First-team All-SEC
College: Kentucky Wildcats
NBA Draft pick: 7th overall (2016)
College Stats: 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 blocks per game
College Season Results: Tore his ACL and missed the NCAA tourney, SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC First Team
College: Kentucky Wildcats
NBA Draft pick: 6th overall (2013)
College Stats: 15.0 points, 10.4 rebounds per game, 24 double-doubles in 40 games
College Season Results: Lost in the National Championship Game, Third-team All-American, SEC Rookie of the Year
College: Kentucky Wildcats
NBA Draft pick: 7th overall (2014)
College Stats: 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game
College Season Results: Elite 8 appearance, Consensus First-Team All-American, First Team All-ACC
College: Duke Blue Devils
NBA Draft pick: 3rd overall (2019)
College Stats: 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3 stocks per game
College Season Results: Lost in the Second Round of the NCAA tournament, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC All-Freshman Team
College: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
NBA Draft pick: 3rd overall (2010)
College Stats: 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game
College Season Results: No NCAA Tournament, SEC Rookie of the Year, Second-team All-SEC
College: Georgia Bulldogs
NBA Draft pick: 1st overall (2020)
College Stats: 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game
College Season Results: Elite 8 appearance, Second-team All-American, First-team All-Big 12, Big 12 Freshman of the Year
College: Kansas Jayhawks
NBA Draft pick: 4th overall (2017)
College Stats: 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game
College Season Results: Lost in the Second Round of the NCAA tournament, Third-team All-Big 12, Big 12 Freshman of the Year
College: Texas Longhorns
NBA Draft pick: 11th overall (2015)
College Stats: 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals per game
College Season Results: Sweet 16 appearance, National Player of the Year Finalist, First-team All-Conference USA, Conference USA Freshman of the Year
College: Memphis Tigers
NBA Draft pick: 4th overall (2009)
College Stats: 10.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks per game
College Season Results: Lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Big East All-Freshman Team
College: UConn Huskies
NBA Draft pick: 9th overall (2012)
