The Emperors Have No Clothes

The 12 greatest 12s in college basketball

1. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Bearcats (1957-60) 
Forget uniform numbers, the Big O is in the conversation as one of the greatest college basketball players of all-time. He was the three-time UPI Player of the Year and led the nation in scoring in all three seasons. His career average of 33.8 points per game is the third highest of all-time. 

2. Steve Alford, Indiana Hoosiers (1983-87) 
Alford led the Hoosiers to the 1987 national title, garnering first-team All-American honors along the way. By the time he left Bloomington, Alford was the school’s all-time leading scorer (since passed by Calbert Cheaney).

3. Phil Ford, North Carolina Tar Heels (1974-78) 
Ford was North Carolina’s all-time leading scorer for 30 years before Tyler Hansbrough surpassed him in 2008. A three-time All-American, he captured the Wooden Award in 1978. 

4. Ralph Beard, Kentucky Wildcats (1946-49) 
Beard’s legacy was tarnished by a point-shaving scandal, but few were better in his era. He was a three-time consensus first-team All-American, and helped lead Kentucky to back-to-back titles in 1948 and 1949.

5. Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State Spartans (1996-2000) 
The only three-time All-American in Spartans history, he led Michigan State to the title in 2000. Cleaves once dished out 20 assists in a game, and is still the Big Ten’s all-time assists leader. 

6. Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1989-91) 
Few players have had such an immediate impact. Anderson finished with the second-most assists ever for a freshman, while also averaging over 20 points per game. He helped guide the Yellow Jackets to a Final Four. As a sophomore, Anderson was a unanimous first-team All-American.

7. Billy McGill, Utah Utes (1959-62) 
McGill’s scoring average of 38.8 points per game in 1961-62 stands as the seventh-highest mark in Division I history. He led Utah to the 1961 Final Four, leading all tournament players in scoring that year. 

8. Mark Macon, Temple Owls (1987-91) 
As a freshman, Macon was a consensus second-team All-American and led Temple to the Elite Eight. He finished as both Temple’s and the Atlantic 10’s all-time leading scorer with 2,609 points. 

9. George Kaftan, Holy Cross Crusaders (1945-49) 
Kaftan was named the Most Outstanding Player in leading Holy Cross to the 1947 national title. A two-time All-American, he played center despite standing just 6-foot-3.

10. Bimbo Coles, Virginia Tech Hokies (1986-90) 
Coles did a whole bunch of scoring for some not-so-great Hokies squads. By the time he graduated, his 2,484 points were not only the most at Virginia Tech, but also more than any other Division I player in the state of Virginia. 

11. Phil Sellers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1972-76) 
The leading scorer and rebounder in Rutgers history, it is safe to call Sellers the school’s best player. The All-American guided the Scarlet Knights to a 26-0 regular season in 1976, as Rutgers made its only Final Four appearance. 

12. John Stockton, Gonzaga Bulldogs (1980-84) 
If this were an NBA list, Stockton would be no lower than second. But his impact on the college game wasn’t nearly as significant. After playing scarcely as a freshman, he put together three quality seasons at Gonzaga, finishing as the Bulldogs’ all-time leader in steals and assists.