College basketball has been around for decades and the game has evolved to become one of the most popular sports in the United States. Every year, college teams battle it out on the court in search of the national championship. With so many talented players having come through the college game over the years, there are a lot of debates about who is the greatest college basketball player of all-time. In this article, we will explore who is the greatest college basketball player of all-time.
The Dominance of Lew Alcindor
The greatest college basketball player of all-time is undoubtedly Lew Alcindor, otherwise known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played college ball at UCLA from 1965-1969 and was one of the most dominant players in the history of the game. In his four years at UCLA, Alcindor led the Bruins to three consecutive national championships and was named the NCAA Player of the Year three times. He was a three-time All-American and a four-time All-Pac-8 selection. His dominance on the court was unparalleled and he left UCLA as the all-time leading scorer with 2,325 points.
The Legendary Run of Bill Walton
Another great college basketball player who deserves consideration for the title of greatest college basketball player of all-time is Bill Walton. He played at UCLA from 1972-1974 and during his two-year run with the Bruins, he led them to two consecutive national championships and was named the NCAA Player of the Year in both seasons. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-Pac-8 selection. He left UCLA as the all-time leading scorer with 2,325 points and he still holds the record for most rebounds in a season with 557.
The Unstoppable Michael Jordan
The player who is arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time is Michael Jordan. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina from 1981-1984 and during his time with the Tar Heels, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 1984. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-ACC selection. He left UNC as the all-time leading scorer with 2,572 points and he still holds the record for most points per game in a season with 32.3.
The Greatness of Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is another player who deserves consideration for the title of greatest college basketball player of all-time. He played college ball at Michigan State from 1977-1979 and during his time with the Spartans, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 1979. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-Big Ten selection. He left MSU as the all-time leading scorer with 1,650 points and he still holds the record for most assists in a season with 8.2.
The Brilliance of Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner is another player who should not be overlooked when discussing who is the greatest college basketball player of all-time. He played college ball at Duke from 1988-1992 and during his time with the Blue Devils, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 1992. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-ACC selection. He left Duke as the all-time leading scorer with 2,460 points and he still holds the record for most points in a single game with 44.
The Excellence of Grant Hill
Grant Hill is yet another player who deserves recognition for being one of the greatest college basketball players of all-time. He played college ball at Duke from 1991-1994 and during his time with the Blue Devils, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 1994. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-ACC selection. He left Duke as the all-time leading scorer with 2,256 points and he still holds the record for most assists in a career with 892.
The Phenomenal Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is a relatively newer player who has already made a huge impact on college basketball. He played college ball at Kentucky from 2011-2012 and during his time with the Wildcats, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 2012. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-SEC selection. He left Kentucky as the all-time leading scorer with 1,523 points and he still holds the record for most blocks in a season with 186.
The Unbelievable Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon is another player who deserves to be mentioned when discussing who is the greatest college basketball player of all-time. He played college ball at the University of Houston from 1981-1984 and during his time with the Cougars, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 1984. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-SWC selection. He left Houston as the all-time leading scorer with 2,343 points and he still holds the record for most rebounds in a career with 1,691.
The Incredible Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins is yet another player who deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest college basketball players of all-time. He played college basketball at the University of Georgia from 1979-1982 and during his time with the Bulldogs, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 1982. He was also a two-time All-American and a four-time All-SEC selection. He left Georgia as the all-time leading scorer with 2,196 points and he still holds the record for most points in a single game with 57.
Conclusion
As we can see, there have been many great college basketball players over the years. From Lew Alcindor to Michael Jordan to Anthony Davis, there are a lot of players who could be considered the greatest college basketball player of all-time. While it is impossible to definitively say who is the greatest college basketball player of all-time, it is clear that all of these players have made an incredible impact on the game and deserve to be recognized for their greatness.