Ranking college basketballs No. 1 prospects since 2006 based on their NCAA careers

After the unusual saga that led to the No. 1 prospect for the 2019 class, James Wiseman, who only played three college games, we were treated last season to a show by Cade Cunningham, who was 2020’s No. 1 overall prospect. , according to 247Sports. The Oklahoma State Guard produced countless highlights and helped his program to one of his best seasons in recent memory before being named No. 1 overall in the 2021 draft of the NBA.

But how does Cunningham’s lonely college season stack up against the collegiate tenure of former No. 1 overall prospects? The legacy of Anthony Davis in Kentucky is a high bar to handle, but Cunningham is certainly among the most influential No. 1 prospects of the 247Sports rankings era.

More often than not since the age minimum rules were implemented for the NBA Draft in 2005, the prospects with the top spot on the 247Sports rankings end up playing key roles on championship-competing college teams before heading to the NBA. Chet Holmgren pears will likely continue this trend in the 2021-22 season as he prepares to play for a Gonzaga team coming from a sharpness in the national title game.

Aside from Wiseman, Brandon Jennings is the most notable exception, as he chose to play abroad for a season before entering the NBA Draft after being ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 prospect in the 2008 class.

Here’s a listing of how No. 1 ranked players in the 247Sports recruiting rankings have fared in college basketball since the NBA Draft age minimum was implemented for the 2006 class.

1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky - 2011

When it comes to class in 2011, Davis' head and shoulders are above the herd in every respect. There is no doubt that he deserved his No. 1 ranking, and it is without a doubt that his lone season of college basketball is the best played from a No. 1 perspective in the 247Sports era.

He was the driving force behind Kentucky’s 38-2 record and national championship in 2012. Davis led the Wildcats in scoring, rebounding, blocks and stealing, and was named the most outstanding player in the Final Four. The Pelicans took Davis No. 1 overall and he has become a multi-year NBA All-Star and MVP candidate. Other prospects No. 1 ranked more successful offensive numbers, but few have been as influential for title-caliber teams as Davis was in the 2011-12 season.

2. Jahlil Okafor, Duke - 2014

If you judge Okafor based on his NBA career, you will think he is too high on this list. But it was just five years ago that he led Duke to a record of 35-4 and a national championship with an average of 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He also made incredibly effective 66.4% of his shooting attempts during his lonely college season.

Injuries and a shift in the way the NBA game is played have kept Okafor from reaching star status in the professional ranks. Karl-Anthony Towns, who was ranked No. 5 in the 2014 class, has clearly had a better pro career. But Duke got everything it could have wished for and more from Okafor during his time with the Blue Devils.

3. Greg Oden, Ohio State - 2006

Oden teamed up with fellow freshman phenom Mike Conley to lead the Buckeyes to the national title game in 2007. While there, Ohio State lost to Florida. However, Oden shone in that match by finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks while playing Joakim Noah and Al Horford.

The Trail Blazers first selected Oden overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, though his NBA career never came to fruition due to injuries. But Odin’s average of 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks as a rookie in Ohio State proved its potential for star status. In hindsight, Oden and No. 2 overall prospect Kevin Durant should have been flipped on the recruiting rankings. Still, the fact remains that Oden led the Buckeyes to the national title game as a rookie and played as a superstar on the big stage.

4. Marvin Bagley, Duke - 2017

Bagley averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Match for a Duke team that went 29-8 and advanced to Elite Eight. The star season gave him consensus across All-American honors, the ACC Player of the Year and more than justified his No. 1 prospect ranking.

Arizona’s Deandre Ayton ended up being selected first overall in the 2018 draft, but Bagley finished No. 2 overall. Although his NBA career has hit some early hiccups, he still has a future All-Star.

5. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State - 2020

Cunningham earned first-team CBS Sports All-American honors and was named CBS Sports Freshman of the Year after averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals. The very versatile wing also shot 40% from 3-point range while leading Oklahoma State to a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which was its best seed since 2005. The Cowboys were jumped in the second round by Big Dance, but Cunningham was taken No. 1 overall in the NBA draft. The only thing that prevents him from registering higher on this list is that his squad did not make a deep post-season run.

6. Ben Simmons, LSU - 2015

It’s wild to think that LSU landed one of the most versatile players in the sport this season after snatching a five-year NCAA tournament drought and somehow falling back. That’s what happened during Simmons' lonely college season. Do-it-all-forward averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and two steals per game while shooting 56.1% from the floor for LSU. Still, the Tigers finished 19-14 and missed out on the NCAA Tournament.

Everything worked out fine in the end for Simmons, who was taken No. 1 overall by the 76ers. But it’s a shame for the sport that he did not get to show his unique game on the NCAA Tournament stage. Still, his SEC Freshman of the Year performance proved he deserved the No. 1 prospect ranking.

7. Eric Gordon, Indiana - 2007

To earn the No. 1 title in the 2007 class, Gordon had to beat Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Blake Griffin and others who have had long, prolific NBA careers. In hindsight, you could argue that Love, Rose or Griffin should have been the No. 1 overall prospect, as they were all stars on college teams that advanced further in the NCAA Tournament than Gordons. Each of these three has also been the NBA All-Stars for several seasons.

But Gordon was this year’s big ten first year for an Indiana team that started 20-3 before coach Kelvin Sampson’s resignation. In the end, it put a damper on a unique first-year season for Gordon, who was selected as the seventh by the Clippers in the 2008 NBA Draft. He remains one of the best active players to ever make an NBA All-Star game.

8. RJ Barrett, Duke - 2018

It’s easy to forget that Barrett was ranked ahead of Zion Williamson in the 2018 recruitment rankings. Most years, Barrett’s 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Fighting for a 32-win team have made him the undisputed top news of the game. But the 2018-19 season was unique in that Williamson ended up outshining a pair of teammates — Barrett and No. 2 prospect Cam Reddish — who were placed ahead of him in the class.

Still, Barrett took on a huge role for a youth-laden team and continued to build on Duke’s strong, growing track record with top-ranked prospects.

RJ Barrett ranked ahead of superstar teammate Zion Williamson in the 2018 class. USATSI

9. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina - 2010

A rare No. 1 prospect of playing two seasons of college basketball, Barnes averaged 16.3 points and 5.5 rebounds while winning a total of 62 games and making a few Elite Eight tournaments at UNC.

Kyrie Irving, who was the No. 2 player in the class, reached the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft from Duke and in hindsight shows that he was the top player in the class. Barnes, however, was by no means a bust. The Warriors selected him seventh overall in 2012. He won a championship with the club in 2015 and has been a prolific starter in all three of his NBA stops.

10. Josh Jackson, Kansas - 2016

The difference between Jackson in Kansas in the 2016-17 season and Andrew Wiggins in Kansas in the 2013-14 season was the amount of help on the list. Of the Jayhawks ‘seven top scorers in the 2016-17 season, Jackson was the only rookie, whereas four of the team’s seven top scorers were rookies in Wiggins’ lone season.

Having star-studded men around helped Jackson mask the immaturity and offensive inefficiency that has prevented him from living up to his billing in the NBA. He won the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award, averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds for a Jayhawks team that finished 31-5 and advanced to Elite Eight. Several players from his class, including Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum, have comparable or better NBA careers. But Jackson was good enough to justify his No. 1 future ranking during his lonely college season, largely thanks to the veterans around him.

11. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas - 2013

Wiggins led a young Kansas team with 17.1 points per game. Match and was taken first overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. Kansas fellow candidate Joel Embiid has undoubtedly proved to be a better NBA player. But Wiggins was at that time more deserving of no.

The Jayhawks finished 25-10 and lost during the 32nd round of the NCAA Tournament. The season stands as one of only two 10-loss campaigns during Bill Self’s coaching season. However, it was not Wiggins' fault. Some might think he did not live up to huge expectations, but he had a great first-year season while carrying a heavy load for a blue blood program.

12. Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech - 2009

His college career and professional star status are not on par with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, who were ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the 2009 class. Favorites, however, were part of the last Georgia Tech team to make an NCAA tournament. Let it sink in.

The Atlanta native stayed home in his lone season of college basketball, earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Match. The Yellow Jackets made the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished 23-13. Nets' pick favors No. 3 overall in the 2010 draft, and he continues to have a solid NBA career.

13. Nerlens Noel, Kentucky - 2012

It would always be difficult for Noel to meet the soaring expectations that came with being ranked as the No. 1 prospect. It was a weak class, to begin with, who may have unfairly inflated expectations of what he could achieve. He also entered the Kentucky program on the heels of a national championship-winning season and was tasked with following Anthony Davis. Despite all that, he had a great season until he tore his ACL in February.

Kentucky could not recover from losing Noel, and the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament for the only time in John Calipari’s coaching career. Noel averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 blocks in the 24 matches he played in the UK, and was selected as the sixth overall in the 2013 draft. He continued to fight injuries in the NBA while serving as a role player when he was healthy.

14. James Wiseman, Memphis - 2019

Wiseman played only three games for Memphis before deciding to drop out of school to prepare for the NBA draft amid a suspension over NCAA qualifying issues. It marked the first time in over a decade that a No. 1 customer did not play at least 20 games of college basketball.