Kansas Legend Recognized Among Best College Basketball Players This Decade

The Athletic just released its top 25 college basketball players of the 2000s. Which former Kansas legend made the list?

Nov 16, 2024; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of the Kansas Jayhawks logo on a bench chair prior to a game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Lindsay Schnell, an author at The Athletic, recently unveiled a lengthy list ranking the 25 best college basketball players of the current decade.

The Kansas Jayhawks have been one of the premier programs in college basketball for decades, consistently producing elite talent year after year, so it came as no surprise that former KU great Nick Collison earned a spot on the list, landing at No. 24.

The Athletic's Top 25 College Basketball Players of the 200s

T-25: Zion Williamson, Cooper Flagg (Duke)
24. Nick Collison (Kansas)
23. Michael Beasley (Kansas State)
22. JJ Redick (Duke)
21. Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)
20. Joakim Noah (Florida)
19. Jay Williams (Duke)
18. Emeka Okafor (UConn)
17. Russ Smith (Louisville)
16. Jimmer Fredette (BYU)
15. Adam Morrison (Gonzaga)
14. Shabazz Napier (UConn)
13. Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin)
12. Dwyane Wade (Marquette)
11. Doug McDermott (Creighton)
10. Kevin Durant (Texas)
9. Zach Edey (Purdue)
8. Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina)
7. Shane Battier (Duke)
6. Jameer Nelson (Saint Joseph's)
5. Kemba Walker (UConn)
4. Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
3. Stephen Curry (Davidson)
2. Jalen Brunson (Villanova)
1. Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse)

"Confession: Though Kansas has been arguably the most consistent program of the last 25 years, no Jayhawk automatically jumped out as a “must-rank” — a testament to the balanced teams Roy Williams and Bill Self built in Lawrence," Schnell explained.

"The 2003 NABC national player of the year and a consensus All-American, Collison was an absolute monster in the paint. He graduated as the Big 12’s all-time leading scorer, a mark that’s since been surpassed, but his 2,097 career points still rank No. 7."

Collison, who recently took home an NBA Finals ring as a special assistant in the Oklahoma City Thunder's front office, was a member of some of KU's best teams in recent memory.

He left a lasting mark on the program, graduating as KU's second all-time leading scorer and third all-time leading rebounder.

While Collison never captured that coveted national title — the Jayhawks fell to Syracuse and the list's No. 1 ranked player Carmelo Anthony in 2003 — his personal accolades alone landed him a spot on the rankings.

It comes as a surprise that no Bill Self-coached players were named on the list. Frank Mason III, for example, was the 2017 Wooden Award recipient and certainly deserving of a top 25 ranking.

Either way, it’s nice to see Collins' illustrious Jayhawk career receiving national recognition.