On the 51st anniversary of historic day commemorating sports icon Hank Aaron, it should be pointed out he was surrounded by hoopers his entire 23-year MLB career. The majority of Milwaukee Braves' starting infield was comprised of former college basketball players on April 23, 1954, when Aaron contributed his first big-league RBI and homer (against St. Louis Cardinals). Aaron was outhomered in his rookie campaign by 1B teammate Joe Adcock, 23-13, eight years after Adcock set SEC Tournament record with 15 field goals for Louisiana State's basketball squad in 1946. Does new coach Bucky McMillan know that ex-Texas A&M hooper Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg in 1948-49 and 1949-50) earned National League Rookie of the Year acclaim over Aaron when the Cards CF led league in plate appearances (716) and ranked among top six in hits (193), triples (9), runs (106) and stolen bases (18)? Twenty years later in Atlanta, Aaron's 715th round-tripper surpassing Babe Ruth on April 8, 1974, was hit off Los Angeles Dodgers lefthander Al Downing, who attended Muhlenberg (Pa.) on a basketball scholarship but left school before ever playing to turn to Organized Ball and his ultimate date with sports history while also donning uniform #44.

Opposing catcher adjacent to Aaron for historic homer was Downing's batterymate Joe Ferguson, who played for Pacific against eventual NCAA basketball champion UCLA in 1967 West Regional final. LA's manager was Walter Alston, a basketball letterman with Miami of Ohio from 1932-33 through 1934-35. The winning hurler in historic baseball game was Atlanta's Ron Reed, who led Notre Dame in rebounding as a junior (17.7 rpg in 1963-64) and scoring as a senior (21 ppg in 1964-65). Reed played more seasons (nine) with Aaron than any ex-college cager. Former hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City College under coach Jerry Tarkanian) and Davey Johnson (Texas A&M) combined for 40 homers with the Braves in Aaron's final campaign with them in 1974. Johnson, who tied Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby's record for most single-season round-trippers by a second baseman the previous year, became a regular with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 by succeeding slick-fielding Jerry Adair, a top three scorer for Oklahoma State in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under legendary coach Hank Iba.

Aaron led the entire majors in homers in a single season only once (44 in 1957) before pacing N.L. three more times (1963, 1966 and 1967). Former college hooper contemporaries swatting more circuit clouts than Aaron in a season when he registered at least 20 round-trippers included Adcock (38 in 1956 and 35 in 1961), Bob Cerv (attended Nebraska/38 in 1958 with Kansas City Athletics), Evans (41 in 1973 and 25 in 1974), Gil Hodges (St. Joseph's IN & Oakland City IN/32 in 1956 with Brooklyn Dodgers), Frank Howard (Ohio State/44 in 1968, 48 in 1969 and 44 in 1970 with Washington Senators), Johnson (43 in 1973), Don Lock (Wichita/28 in 1964 with Senators), Graig Nettles (San Diego State/22 in 1974 with New York Yankees) and Leon "Daddy Wags" Wagner (Tuskegee AL/31 in 1964 with Cleveland Indians). Johnson, Evans and Aaron comprised the first trio of teammates to each hammer at least 40 homers in a single season.

Aaron's 755th and final homer came against the California Angels on 7/20/76 (hit none in his final 23 games covering 2 1/2 months). In Aaron's next-to-last MLB game, his final extra-base hit was a sixth-inning double vs. Baltimore Orioles on 9/29/76 before scoring eventual winning run on a single by Eastern League MVP/Triple Crown winner/September call-up Dan Thomas in the Milwaukee Brewers' 6-3 victory. The tally was Aaron's final of 2,174 runs scored. His successor as the Brewers' principal DH early in 1977 was Thomas before career for "The Sundown Kid" unraveled under Bud Selig's stewardship prior to becoming MLB commissioner. Believe it or not, Thomas died in Aaron's hometown of Mobile, Ala., under distressing circumstances. If you need to win a sports trivia bar bet, please be aware that Thomas' high-school basketball coach at Dupo, Ill., in the St. Louis Metro East area was Cal Neeman Sr. (catcher with Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators for seven years from 1957 through 1963 after leading Illinois Wesleyan hoops in scoring in 1947-48 and 1948-49).

Adding to hoop connection, the college baseball coach for Thomas, 6th pick overall in 1972 MLB June amateur draft following Southern Illinois' runner-up finish in 1971 College World Series, was recently-deceased Richard "Itchy" Jones, an ex-Salukis hooper averaging 8.9 ppg in 1956-57. Moreover, Thomas was runner-up to Sixto Lezcano in batting average in 1973 with the Shreveport Captains' AA Texas League club managed by Gene Freese, the captain of West Liberty State WV hoop squad participating in 1952 NAIA Tournament. On 5-1-75, Lezcano scored record-setting run on Aaron's third-inning single when Aaron passed Ruth in career RBI (2,210).

It's a small sports world, after all. In 1950, Neeman was a minor-league teammate of New York Yankees farmhand Mickey Mantle for Joplin (Class C Western Association). Mantle earned his second of three A.L. MVP awards in 1957. In Neeman's MLB debut with the Cubs on opening day 1957 against the Braves, he got his first big-league safety off Cy Young Award winner Warren Spahn (single to right-center; Aaron was RF). One week later on 4/23/57, Aaron was a firsthand witness early in his lone MVP campaign to Neeman's first MLB homer (decisive 10th-inning blast off World Series MVP Lew Burdette of the Braves). Coincidentally, Aaron (fractured left ankle sliding into third base) and Neeman (fractured little finger of right hand) both had their regal rookie seasons stall the first week in September because of injuries. For the record, Thomas' first big-league homer came at Yankee Stadium off Catfish Hunter. Eventual Hall of Fame shortstop Robin Yount went 2-for-18 with Milwaukee in the four games Thomas hit a round-tripper in September of 1976. Yount, the Brewers' top June amateur draft pick (3rd overall) the year after Thomas, wound up with 3,140 other safeties. Thomas' third HR came off Yankees lefthander Ken Holtzman. Unbelievably, Thomas' high school baseball coach was Bill Schlueter, Holtzman's batterymate while attending Illinois and son of MLB catcher Norm Schlueter, who played in A.L. same decade (1930s) as none other than Yankees legend "The Babe." Holtzman was the last MLB hurler to throw a no-hitter without a strikeout.

Aaron went deep against Downing (three times), Holtzman (four) and 308 other hurlers over the course of his celebrated career. Victims of Aaron's blasts included All-Americans Joe Gibbon, Johnny O'Brien and Dick Ricketts among the following alphabetical list of former college hoopers: Steve Arlin (Ohio State/yielded two HRs), Curt Barclay (Oregon/one), Joe Black (Morgan State/one), Ray Burris (Southwestern Oklahoma State/one), Danny Coombs (Seton Hall/one), Roger Craig (North Carolina State freshman team/10), Gibbon (Mississippi/two), Bob Gibson (Creighton/eight), Dave Giusti (Syracuse/two), Dallas Green (Delaware/one), Don Gross (Michigan State freshman/two), Paul Hartzell (Lehigh/one), Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech/one), Bill Henry (Houston/two), Jay Hook (Northwestern/eight), Ken Hunt (Brigham Young/one), Don Kaiser (East Central OK/one), Cal Koonce (Campbell/two), Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati freshman/seven), Lindy McDaniel (Oklahoma freshman/four), Joe Niekro (West Liberty State WV/two), O'Brien (Seattle/one), Steve Renko (Kansas/two), Ricketts (Duquesne/one), Robin Roberts (Michigan State/nine), George Stone (Louisiana Tech/two), Jim Todd (Parsons IA & Millersville PA/one), Bob Veale (Benedictine KS/three) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA/six).

Getting back to Neeman, he coached Thomas in Southern Illinois high school hoops in 1968-69 against Gary Simpson (Pistol Pete's backcourt successor with Louisiana State in 1970-71), Rick Suttle (Kansas' 1974 Final Four team) and Dave Taynor (Kansas captain). Eerily, Thomas and Simpson both passed away in 1980 at the age of 29. Thirteen winters apart, Neeman and Thomas played baseball in Venezuela within a year of each of them concluding their MLB careers. Curiously, the aforementioned Johnson was Thomas' first-year skipper in 1979 with the Miami Amigos franchise in short-lived AAA Inter-American League. Earlier that decade, Johnson gained distinction as the only player to hit behind both Aaron and Japan's all-time home-run king (Sadaharu Oh). Adcock, Evans, Johnson and Reed are among the following list of Aaron's baseball teammates with the Braves and Brewers who previously played college basketball (14 from current power-conference members):

Aaron's Ex-Hooper Teammates	Pos.	MLB Team	College Hoops School
Joe Adcock	1B	Braves 54-58	Louisiana State
Rick Austin	LHP	Brewers 75-76	Washington State
Frank Bolling	2B	Braves 61-65	Spring Hill AL
Jim Colborn	RHP	Brewers 75-76	Edinburgh (Scotland)
Gene Conley	RHP	Braves 54-58	Washington State
Billy Cowan	OF	Braves 65	Utah
George Crowe	1B	Braves 55	Indiana Central
Al Dark	UT	Braves 60	Louisiana State/USL
John DeMerit	OF	Braves 57-61	Wisconsin
Jack Dittmer	2B	Braves 54-56	Iowa
Darrell Evans	3B	Braves 69-74	Pasadena City College CA
Davey Johnson	1B	Braves 73-74	Texas A&M
Art Kusnyer	C	Brewers 76	Kent State
Johnny Logan	SS	Braves 54-61	Binghamton
Gary Neibauer	RHP	Braves 69-73	Nebraska
Joe Niekro	RHP	Braves 73-74	West Liberty State WV
Johnny O'Brien	2B	Braves 59	Seattle
Ron Reed	RHP	Braves 66-74	Notre Dame
Mel Roach	UT	Braves 54 & 57-61	Virginia
Don Schwall	RHP	Braves 66-67	Oklahoma
Roy Smalley Jr.	INF	Braves 54	Drury MO
George Stone	LHP	Braves 67-72	Louisiana Tech
Gary Sutherland	INF	Brewers 76	Southern California
Cecil Upshaw	RHP	Braves 66-73	Centenary
Sammy White	C	Braves 61	Washington
Jim Wilson	RHP	Braves 54	San Diego State

NOTE: A couple of Aaron's MLB managers - Birdie Tebbetts (1961 and 1962/Providence) and Harvey Kuenn (1975/Wisconsin) - also were former college hoopers. Tebbetts, while skipper of the Cincinnati Reds, gushed about the lanky Neeman's power: "That big catcher can hit a ball a mile (but 725 fewer than Aaron)." Neeman's baseball impact continued as a grandson, Kevin Graham, belted a three-run homer in his first start with Ole Miss and was named Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball in 2019. Graham, an INF/OF, led the NCAA Regional host Rebels in homers during 2021 regular season and finished campaign with NCAA-high 60 consecutive contests reaching base. The Rebs were ranked in the national Top 10 much of the first half of season two years ago despite Graham missing about a month after sustaining a fractured wrist early in year fewer than two weeks following seven-RBI performance in rain-shortened game against Arkansas State. Graham was hitting a team-high .345 (.371 in SEC competition) when Ole Miss commenced NCAA Tournament participation two campaigns ago en route to CWS championship. He was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB draft and began 2025 season at Triple A level.

Perennial power Kentucky notched its 10th victory over an eventual NCAA titlist (Florida) this season and all four of Tennessee's triumphs against a kingpin came against the Gators' three champions. But Notre Dame has a significant lead in compiling the most all-time victories against teams in a season the opponent went on to capture the NCAA championship. The Fighting Irish, boasting 14 such triumphs despite never winning a Final Four contest, are joined by Kentucky (10), Duke (nine), St. John's (nine), Maryland (eight), Indiana (seven), Louisville (seven), Virginia (seven) and Wake Forest (seven) as the only schools defeating more than six eventual NCAA playoff titlists. Louisville leveled Connecticut a total of five times in 2011 and 2014.

St. John's (Georgetown '84/Villanova '85/Louisville '86) and Illinois (Indiana '87/Kansas '88/Michigan/'89) are the only schools to upend three different NCAA champions-to-be in as many years. Wake Forest knocked off four different North Carolina titlists in a 28-year span (1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009). Saint Louis, which kayoed four different national kingpins in a 13-year span from 1949 through 1961 (champions combining to win 94.3% of their other games those seasons), never has reached an NCAA tourney regional final.

Michigan State, despite advancing to eight Final Fours under coach Tom Izzo, never has beaten a school during the season the opponent eventually captured an NCAA championship. Four of Kansas' setbacks three seasons ago were virgin territory for Baylor, Dayton, Texas Christian and Texas Tech as they notched their first-ever victory over an NCAA titlist. Prominent universities with that dubious distinction include Arizona State, Brigham Young, Colorado, Penn State, Saint Joseph's, San Francisco, Texas A&M, Texas-El Paso and Virginia Tech.

Surprisingly, Northwestern has notched three triumphs against NCAA titlists despite never participating in the national tourney until 2017. Additional schools with more wins against NCAA kingpins during the regular season than playoff victories include Bowling Green (one tourney triumph), Nebraska (winless), Niagara (two tourney wins), Texas-Pan American (never appeared) and Wright State (winless). DII Alaska-Anchorage is among more than 25 non-power league members on the following alphabetical list of schools defeating NCAA DI champions-to-be:

School (Total Wins vs. Eventual DI Titlists)	Pre-NCAA Tournament Victories Against National Champions-to-Be
Alabama (three)	Kentucky (won title in 1978), Arkansas (1994) and Florida (2006)
Alaska-Anchorage (one)	Michigan (1989)
Arizona (four)	Duke (1991), Kentucky (1998), Michigan State (2000) and Maryland (2002)
Arkansas (three)	Oklahoma A&M (1945), Duke (1991) and Florida (2006)
Auburn (one)	Kentucky (1958)
Baylor (one)	Kansas (2022)
Boston College (two)	Villanova (1985) and North Carolina (2009)
Bowling Green (two)	Oklahoma A&M (1946) and Loyola of Chicago (1963)
Bradley (three)	Oregon (1939) and Cincinnati (1961 and 1962)
Butler (one)	Villanova (2018)
California (two)	UCLA (1995) and Arizona (1997)
UC Santa Barbara (one)	UNLV (1990)
Canisius (one)	CCNY (1950)
Cincinnati (three)	Marquette (1977), Louisville (1986) and Connecticut (2014)
City College of New York (one)	Oregon (1939)
Clemson (one)	Indiana (1981)
Connecticut (two)	Syracuse (twice in 2003)
Creighton (three)	Villanova (2018) and Connecticut (2023 and 2024)
Dayton (one)	Kansas (2022)
DePaul (four)	Oklahoma A&M (1945 and 1946), Marquette (1977) and Georgetown (1984)
Detroit (one)	Marquette (1977)
Duke (nine)	Kansas (1988), North Carolina (1993, 2005 and twice in 2017), Maryland (2002), Louisville (2013) and Virginia (twice in 2019)
Duquesne (two)	Wyoming (1943) and Holy Cross (1947)
Florida (one)	Kentucky (1998)
Florida State (three)	Florida (2007), North Carolina (2009) and Virginia (2019)
Georgetown (five)	Villanova (twice in 1985), Duke (1991 and 2010) and Louisville (2013)
Georgia (two)	Villanova (1985) and Florida (2025)
Georgia Tech (six)	Kentucky (1958), North Carolina (1993, 2005 and 2017), Connecticut (2004) and Duke (2010)
Houston (two)	UCLA (1968) and Connecticut (2014)
Illinois (six)	UCLA (1965), Louisville (1980), Indiana (1987), Kansas (1988) and Michigan (twice in 1989)
Indiana (seven)	Ohio State (1960), Michigan State (1979 and 2000), Michigan (twice in 1989), Kentucky (2012) and North Carolina (2017)
Iona (one)	Louisville (1980)
Iowa (five)	UCLA (1965), Indiana (twice in 1981 and once in 1987) and Kansas (1988)
Iowa State (one)	Kansas (1988)
Kansas (six)	Louisville (twice in 1986), UNLV (1990), Florida (2007), Baylor (2021) and Connecticut (2024)
Kansas State (six)	Kansas (1952, twice in 1988 and once in 2008), Indiana (1953) and California (1959)
Kentucky (10)	Utah (1944), La Salle (1954), Ohio State (1960), Indiana (1981), Louisville (1986), Arkansas (1994), Michigan State (2000), North Carolina (2017), Kansas (2022) and Florida (2025)
Louisiana State (three)	Kentucky (1978), UNLV (1990) and Florida (2007)
Louisville (seven)	North Carolina State (1983), Kentucky (1998) and Connecticut (twice in 2011 and three times in 2014)
Loyola of Chicago (two)	Kentucky (1949 and 1958)
Marquette (four)	Wisconsin (1941) and Connecticut (2011 and twice in 2023)
Maryland (eight)	Kentucky (1958), Marquette (1977), North Carolina State (twice in 1983), Villanova (1985), Duke (2001 and 2010) and North Carolina (2009)
Massachusetts (one)	Kentucky (1996)
Memphis (three)	North Carolina State (1983), Louisville (1986) and Syracuse (2003)
Miami FL (three)	Connecticut (1999), Duke (2015) and North Carolina (2017)
Michigan (five)	Marquette (1977), Michigan State (1979), Indiana (1981), North Carolina (1993) and Arizona (1997)
Minnesota (five)	Indiana (1940 and 1953), Wisconsin (1941), Marquette (1977) and Michigan (1989)
Mississippi (one)	Kentucky (1998)
Mississippi State (two)	Arkansas (1994) and Kentucky (1996)
Missouri (two)	North Carolina State (1983) and Florida (2025)
Nebraska (one)	Kansas (1988)
New Mexico (one)	Arizona (1997)
New Mexico State (one)	UNLV (1990)
Niagara (three)	CCNY (1950) and La Salle (twice in 1954)
North Carolina (six)	Indiana (1981), North Carolina State (1983), Duke (1991, 1992 and 2001) and Connecticut (2004)
North Carolina State (five)	Louisville (1986), Duke (1991, 2010 and 2015) and Maryland (2002)
Northwestern (three)	Indiana (1940), Holy Cross (1947) and Michigan State (1979)
Notre Dame (14)	Kentucky (1948), Indiana (1953), UCLA (1971 and 1975), Michigan State (1979), Indiana (1981), North Carolina State (1983), Kansas (1988), Connecticut (2004 and twice in 2011), Louisville (2013), Duke (twice in 2015)
Ohio State (two)	Indiana (1940) and Michigan State (2000)
Oklahoma (six)	CCNY (1950), Kansas (twice in 1988), UNLV (1990), Maryland (2002) and Villanova (2016)
Oklahoma State (three)	Kansas (1952 and 2008) and Baylor (2021)
Oregon (four)	California (1959), UCLA (1970 and 1995) and Arizona (1997)
Oregon State (two)	Oregon (1939) and Stanford (1942)
Pittsburgh (five)	Wisconsin (1941), Villanova (1985), Syracuse (2003) and Connecticut (2004 and 2011)
Providence (four)	Connecticut (2004 and 2023) and Villanova (2016 and 2018)
Purdue (four)	Michigan State (1979 and 2000) and Indiana (1981 and 1987)
Rutgers (one)	Syracuse (2003)
St. John's (nine)	Georgetown (1984), Villanova (three times in 1985 and once in 2018), Louisville (1986), Kansas (1988) and Connecticut (2011 and 2023)
Saint Louis (four)	Kentucky (1949 and 1951), California (1959) and Cincinnati (1961)
Santa Clara (two)	Stanford (1942) and North Carolina (2005)
Seattle (one)	Texas Western (1966)
Seton Hall (four)	Cincinnati (1961), Villanova (2016) and Connecticut (2023 and 2024)
South Carolina (two)	Florida (twice in 2006)
Southern California (four)	Stanford (1942), UCLA (1969 and 1970) and Arizona (1997)
Southern Methodist (three)	Kentucky (1958) and Connecticut (twice in 2014)
Stanford (six)	Oregon (1939), California (1959), UCLA (1975), Arizona (1997), Duke (2001) and Connecticut (2014)
Syracuse (six)	CCNY (1950), Villanova (1985), Connecticut (1999, 2004 and 2011) and Louisville (2013)
Temple (three)	Oklahoma A&M (1945), Kentucky (1948) and La Salle (1954)
Tennessee (four)	Florida (twice in 2006, once in 2007 and once in 2025)
Texas (three)	Michigan State (2000) and Kansas (2008 and 2022)
Texas Christian (one)	Kansas (2022)
Texas-Pan American (one)	Indiana (1981)
Texas Tech (one)	Kansas (2022)
UCLA (five)	CCNY (1950), San Francisco (1955), North Carolina State (1974) and Arizona (twice in 1997)
Utah (two)	Ohio State (1960) and Louisville (1980)
Vanderbilt (four)	Kentucky (1951 and 2012), Indiana (1987) and Florida (2007)
Villanova (two)	Georgetown (1984) and Louisville (2013)
Virginia (seven)	North Carolina (1982 and 2017), North Carolina State (twice in 1983), Duke (1991 and 2001) and Villanova (2016)
Wake Forest (seven)	North Carolina (1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009), North Carolina State (1983) and Duke (1991 and 1992)
Washington (two)	UCLA (1975) and Arizona (1997)
Washington State (one)	Oregon (1939)
West Virginia (two)	Kentucky (1958) and Connecticut (2011)
Wichita State (three)	Cincinnati (1962), Loyola of Chicago (1963) and Marquette (1977)
Wisconsin (three)	Michigan State (1979), Michigan (1989) and Duke (2010)
Wright State (one)	Michigan State (2000)
Wyoming (one)	Holy Cross (1947)
Xavier (three)	Villanova (2016) and Connecticut (twice in 2023)

NOTE: During World War II, NCAA champions Stanford lost to the Athens Club in 1942, Wyoming lost at Denver Legion in 1943, Utah lost to Ft. Warren, Salt Lake AB and Dow Chemical in 1944 and Oklahoma A&M lost to NATTS Skyjackets in 1945.

Which cliche is most accurate? If a team is on a winning streak entering the NCAA Tournament, it has momentum on its side and is peaking at the right time. On the other hand, some observers contend a loss before the start of the playoffs is deemed a wake-up call. Two years ago, Connecticut became the seventh champion in previous nine tourneys to enter playoffs on a losing note. Last season, UConn repeated entering the tourney with the most triumphs of the previous 10 kingpins (seven), which is one more than Florida had this campaign.

All of Duke's champions under coach Mike Krzyzewski entered the NCAA tourney with fewer than eight straight triumphs. Since the last undefeated team in Division I (Indiana was 32-0 in 1975-76), there have been 48 national champions. Twenty-six of those squads entered the tourney on a winning streak and 22 entered with a defeat. The longest winning streak of a champion-to-be in that span was by UCLA, which won 13 in a row in 1995 before posting six more triumphs in the playoffs. Louisville accounted for two of the other double-digit victory streaks for champions-to-be entering the playoffs.

Of the 26 aforementioned squads entering on a winning note, the average winning streak was same as Florida's six in a row. Following in reverse order is how those 48 post-unbeaten IU titlists entered the NCAA playoffs (including conference tournaments):

If you are qualified and gotten more interested these days in the vanguard of state-by-state All-American blackboard information than bored by which state petty politicians are lying in, then campaign with the following strategic delegate knowledge: Duke's Cooper Flagg, who commenced his high school career in Maine, is the first product from the state to become an All-American named by AP, NABC and USBWA for an out-of-state university.

Six states have accounting for more than 40 different A-As beyond their borders. The leaders are: New York (97), Illinois (66), Pennsylvania (51), Indiana (44), California (43), New Jersey (42), Texas (32), Maryland (28), Georgia (27), Ohio (24), Missouri (22), North Carolina (21), Virginia (21) and Michigan (20). Following is an alphabetical list of states supplying players who were from or attended high school (some before attending prep school) in a state other than where they earned All-American recognition while attending a four-year university:

Alabama (11) - Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins (2010), Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore (1970 and 1971), Kentucky State's Travis Grant (1972), Colorado State's Bill Green (1963), Memphis State's Larry Kenon (1973), Southern Illinois' Joe C. Meriweather (1975), Louisville's Allen Murphy (1975), Kansas' Bud Stallworth (1972), Texas Southern's Ben Swain (1958), Southwestern Louisiana's Andrew Toney (1980) and Indiana's D.J. White (2008)

Alaska (2) - Duke's Trajan Langdon (1998 and 1999) and Carlos Boozer (2002)

Arizona (6) - Duke's Mark Alarie (1986), Duke's Marvin Bagley III (2018), Gonzaga's Brandon Clarke (2019), Dayton's DaRon Holmes II (2024), Marquette's Markus Howard (2019 and 2020) and Brigham Young's Joe Richey (1953)

Arkansas (9) - Oklahoma State's James Anderson (2010), Texas Western's Jim Barnes (1964), Gonzaga's Frank Burgess (1961), San Diego State's Michael Cage (1984), Memphis State's Keith Lee (1982-83-84-85), Minnesota's Quincy Lewis (1999), Seattle's Eddie Miles (1963), Kentucky's Malik Monk (2017) and Memphis State's Dexter Reed (1977)

California (43) - Baylor's James Akinjo (2022), UNLV's Stacey Augmon (1991), Oregon's Greg Ballard (1977), Oregon State's Fred Boyd (1982), Arizona State's Joe Caldwell (1963), Oregon State's Lester Conner (1982), New Mexico's Michael Cooper (1978), Penn's Howie Dallmar (1945), Boston College's Jared Dudley (2007), Brigham Young's John Fairchild (1965), Kansas' Drew Gooden (2002), Utah State's Cornell Green (1962), Texas' Jordan Hamilton (2011), Arizona State's James Harden (2009), Brigham Young's Mel Hutchins (1951), Arizona's Stanley Johnson (2015), Oregon State's Steve Johnson (1980 and 1981), Arizona's Steve Kerr (1988), Weber State's Damian Lillard (2012), Oregon's Stan Love (1971), Oregon State's John Mandic (1942), Utah's Billy McGill (1960 through 1962), Utah's Andre Miller (1998 and 1999), Arizona's Chris Mills (1993), Duke's DeMarcus Nelson (2008), Notre Dame's Kevin O'Shea (1947 through 1950), Oregon State's Gary Payton (1990), Kansas' Paul Pierce (1998), Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince (2001 and 2002), UNLV's J.R. Rider (1993), Creighton's Paul Silas (1962 through 1964), Arizona's Miles Simon (1998), Boston College's Craig Smith (2005 and 2006), Brigham Young's Michael Smith (1988), Temple's Terence Stansbury (1984), Oregon's Vic Townsend (1941), Vanderbilt's Jan van Breda Kolff (1974), Utah's Keith Van Horn (1996 and 1997), Kansas' Jacque Vaughn (1995 through 1997), Arizona's Derrick Williams (2011), Portland State's Freeman Williams (1977 and 1978), Kansas' Jeff Withey (2013) and Utah's Delon Wright (2015)

Colorado (10) - Utah's Art Bunte (1955 and 1956), Purdue's Joe Barry Carroll (1979 and 1980), Iowa's Chuck Darling (1952), Nevada's Nick Fazekas (2006 and 2007), Wyoming's Bill Garnett (1982), Notre Dame's Pat Garrity (1998), Wyoming's Harry Jorgensen (1955), Tennessee's Dalton Knecht (2024), Kansas' Mark Randall (1990) and North Carolina State's Ronnie Shavlik (1955 and 1956)

Connecticut (12) - Boston College's John Bagley (1982), Dartmouth's Gus Broberg (1940 and 1941), Massachusetts' Marcus Camby (1996), Providence's Kris Dunn (2016), UCLA's Rod Foster (1981 and 1983), Duke's Mike Gminski (1978 through 1980), Providence's Ryan Gomes (2004), Niagara's Calvin Murphy (1968 through 1970), Seattle's Frank Oleynick (1975), Villanova's John Pinone (1983), Rhode Island's Sly Williams (1978 and 1979) and Michigan's Henry Wilmore (1971 and 1972)

Delaware (1) - Temple's Terence Stansbury (1984)

District of Columbia (13) - Seattle's Elgin Baylor (1957 and 1958), Syracuse's Dave Bing (1965 and 1966), Notre Dame's Austin Carr (1970 and 1971), Utah's Jerry Chambers (1966), Duke's Johnny Dawkins (1985 and 1986), Syracuse's Sherman Douglas (1988 and 1989), Iowa's Luka Garza (2020 and 2021), San Francisco's Ollie Johnson (1965), North Carolina's Bob Lewis (1966 and 1967), Syracuse's Lawrence Moten (1995), Kansas' Thomas Robinson (2012), Duke's Jim Thompson (1934) and Providence's John Thompson Jr. (1964)

Florida (19) - Duke's Grayson Allen, North Carolina's Joel Berry (2018), Houston's Otis Birdsong (1977), Auburn's Johni Broome (2024 and 2025), Duke's Vernon Carey Jr. (2020), North Carolina's Vince Carter (1998), North Carolina State's Chris Corchiani (1991), Oklahoma State's Joey Graham (2005), Georgia Tech's Tom Hammonds (1989), Illinois' Derek Harper (1983), Wake Forest's Frank Johnson (1981), Vanderbilt's Will Perdue (1988), Villanova's Howard Porter (1969 through 1971), Kansas State's Mitch Richmond (1988), Duke's Austin Rivers (2012), Louisville's Clifford Rozier (1994), Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell (2015), Minnesota's Mychal Thompson (1977 and 1978) and Kansas' Walt Wesley (1966)

Georgia (27) - California's Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1996), Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon (2015 and 2016), Providence's Marshon Brooks (2011), Marquette's Jae Crowder (2012), North Carolina's Hook Dillon (1946 and 1947), Florida State's Toney Douglas (2009), Tennessee's Dale Ellis (1982 and 1983), Louisville's Pervis Ellison (1989), Southern Illinois' Walt Frazier (1967), Oklahoma's Harvey Grant (1988), Clemson's Horace Grant (1987), Grambling's Charles Hardnett (1961 and 1962), Utah's Merv Jackson (1968), Tennessee's Reggie Johnson (1980), Auburn's Walker Kessler (2022), Mississippi State's Jeff Malone (1983), Kentucky's Jodie Meeks (2009), Baylor's Davion Mitchell (2021), Auburn's Mike Mitchell (1978), Arkansas' JD Notae (2022), Clemson's Tree Rollins (1977), Kentucky State's Elmore Smith (1971), Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr. (2022), Kentucky's Bill Spivey (1950 and 1951), Florida State's Al Thornton (2007), Kentucky's Kenny Walker (1985 and 1986) and North Carolina's Al Wood (1980 and 1981)

Idaho (1) - Brigham Young's Roland Minson (1951)

Illinois (66) - Ohio State's Keita Bates-Diop (2018), Minnesota's Jim Brewer (1973), Seattle's Charley Brown (1958 and 1959), Villanova's Jalen Brunson (2018), Indiana's Quinn Buckner (1974 through 1976), Iowa's Carl Cain (1956), Penn's Corky Calhoun (1973), Detroit's Bob Calihan (1939), West Virginia's Jevon Carter (2018), Kansas' Sherron Collins (2009 and 2010), Wisconsin's Bobby Cook (1947), Kentucky's Anthony Davis (2012), Indiana's Archie Dees (1957 and 1958), Detroit's Bill Ebben (1957), Marquette's Bo Ellis (1975 through 1977), California's Larry Friend (1957), William & Mary's Chet Giermak (1950), Michigan's Rickey Green (1976 and 1977), Indiana's A.J. Guyton (2000), Wisconsin's Ethan Happ (2017 and 2019), Notre Dame's Tom Hawkins (1958 and 1959), Michigan's Juwan Howard (1994), Kentucky's Dan Issel (1969 and 1970), Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (2015), Central Missouri's Earl Keth (1938), Minnesota's Tom Kondla (1967), Notre Dame's Moose Krause (1932 through 1934), Iowa's Ronnie Lester (1979 and 1980), Ohio State's E.J. Liddell (2022), Oklahoma A&M's Bob Mattick (1954), Marquette's Jerel McNeal (2009), Colorado's Cliff Meely (1971), Dartmouth's George Munroe (1942), Iowa's Don Nelson (1961 and 1962), Wisconsin's Ab Nicholas (1952), Duke's Jahlil Okafor (2015), Duke's Jabari Parker (2014), Valparaiso's Alec Peters (2017), Houston's Gary Phillips (1961), Kansas State's Jacob Pullen (2011), Murray State's Bennie Purcell (1952), Kentucky's Antonio Reeves (2024), Wisconsin's Don Rehfeldt (1950), Notre Dame's Eddie Riska (1941), Marquette's Doc Rivers (1982 and 1983), Wyoming's Flynn Robinson (1965), Kansas' Dave Robisch (1971), Memphis' Derrick Rose (2008), Michigan's Cazzie Russell (1964 through 1966), Duke's Jon Scheyer (2010), Evansville's Jerry Sloan (1965), Purdue's Forrest Sprowl (1942), Notre Dame's Jack Stephens (1955), Indiana's Isiah Thomas (1981), Wisconsin's Alando Tucker (2007), Ohio State's Evan Turner (2010), Kentucky's Tyler Ulis (2016), Wichita State's Fred VanVleet (2014), Marquette's Dwyane Wade (2003), Arkansas' Darrell Walker (1983), Marquette's Lloyd Walton (1976), Marquette's Jerome Whitehead (1978), Cincinnati's George Wilson (1963), Kansas' Julian Wright (2007), Arizona's Michael Wright (2001) and Georgia Tech's Rich Yunkus (1970 and 1971)

Indiana (44) - Michigan State's Chet Aubuchon (1940), Tennessee State's Dick Barnett (1958 and 1959), Xavier's Trevon Bluiett (2018), Cincinnati's Ron Bonham (1963 and 1964), Denver's Vince Boryla (1949), Louisville's Junior Bridgeman (1975), Wyoming's Joe Capua (1956), Memphis' Rodney Carney (2006), East Tennessee State's Tom Chilton (1961), Kentucky's Louie Dampier (1966 and 1967), North Carolina State's Dick Dickey (1948 and 1950), Kentucky's LeRoy Edwards (1935), Arizona's Jason Gardner (2002 and 2003), Western Michigan's Harold Gensichen (1943), Virginia's Kyle Guy (2018 and 2019), Florida's Joe Hobbs (1958), Georgia Tech's Roger Kaiser (1960 and 1961), Wyoming's Milo Komenich (1943), Texas' Jim Krivacs (1979), Kansas' Clyde Lovellette (1950 through 1952), Kentucky's Kyle Macy (1978 through 1980), North Carolina's Sean May (2005), Drake's Willie McCarter (1969), Tennessee State's Porter Merriweather (1960), North Carolina State's Vic Molodet (1956), North Carolina's Eric Montross (1993 and 1994), Texas Christian's Lee Nailon (1998), Kentucky's Cotton Nash (1962 through 1964), Ohio State's Greg Oden (2007), Kentucky's Jack Parkinson (1946), Duke's Mason Plumlee (2013), Louisville's Jim Price (1972), Northwestern's Ray Ragelis (1951), North Carolina State's Sam Ranzino (1950 and 1951), Cincinnati's Oscar Robertson (1958 through 1960), Michigan State's Scott Skiles (1986), Wake Forest's Jeff Teague (2009), Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas (2013), Tennessee's Gene Tormohlen (1959), North Carolina State's Monte Towe (1974), Michigan's John Townsend (1937 and 1938), Southern California's Ralph Vaughn (1940), UCLA's Mike Warren (1967 and 1968) and North Carolina's's Tyler Zeller (2012)

Iowa (8) - North Carolina's Harrison Barnes (2012), Creighton's Ed Beisser (1943), Kansas' Nick Collison (2003), Kansas' Kirk Hinrich (2002 and 2003), Creighton's Kyle Korver (2003), Kansas' Raef LaFrentz (1997, Creighton's Doug McDermott (2012 through 2014) and 1998) and Carleton's Wayne Sparks (1937)

Kansas (7) - Kentucky's Bob Brannum (1944), Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein (2015), Vanderbilt's Matt Freije (2004), Army's Dale Hall (1945), Colorado's Jack Harvey (1940), Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (2021) and Oklahoma's Gerry Tucker (1943 and 1947)

Kentucky (19) - Navy's Buzz Borries (1934), Florida State's Dave Cowens (1970), Cincinnati's Ralph Davis (1960), Tennessee Tech's Jimmy Hagan (1959), Alabama's Jerry Harper (1956), Tennessee's Allan Houston (1992 and 1993), Virginia's Jeff Lamp (1980 and 1981), Tennessee's Chris Lofton (2006 through 2008), Louisiana State's Rudy Macklin (1980 and 1981), Duke's Jeff Mullins (1963 and 1964), Ohio State's Arnie Risen (1945), Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell (2015), Tennessee's Danny Schultz (1964), Furman's Frank Selvy (1952 through 1954), Army's Mike Silliman (1966), Xavier's Hank Stein (1958), Cincinnati's Tom Thacker (1963), Duquesne's Jim Tucker (1952) and South Carolina's Grady Wallace (1957)

Louisiana (14) - Texas' D.J. Augustin (2008), Creighton's Benoit Benjamin (1985), Baylor's Jared Butler (2020 and 2021), Duke's Chris Duhon (2004), Houston's Louis Dunbar (1974), Iowa State's Marcus Fizer (2000), Vanderbilt's Shan Foster (2008), Houston's Elvin Hayes (1966 through 1968), Villanova's Kerry Kittles (1995 and 1996), Georgetown's Greg Monroe (2010), Kentucky's Cotton Nash (1962 through 1964), Oklahoma's Hollis Price (2003), Jacksonville's James Ray (1980) and Kentucky's Rick Robey (1977 and 1978)

Maine (1) - Duke's Cooper Flagg (2025)

Maryland (28) - Virginia's Justin Anderson (2015), Boston College's John Austin (1965 and 1966), Kansas State's Michael Beasley (2008), Wyoming's Charles Bradley (1981), North Carolina State's Kenny Carr (1976 and 1977), San Francisco's Quintin Dailey (1982), Notre Dame's Adrian Dantley (1975 and 1976), Michigan's Hunter Dickinson (2021) before duplicating feat with Kansas (2024), Texas' Kevin Durant (2007), Syracuse's C.J. Fair (2014), Duke's Danny Ferry (1988 and 1989), North Carolina's Joseph Forte (2001), Washington's Markelle Fultz (2017), Connecticut's Rudy Gay (2006), Notre Dame's Jerian Grant (2015), Kansas' Tony Guy (1982), Villanova's Josh Hart (2016 and 2017), Davidson's Fred Hetzel (1963 through 1965), North Carolina's Ty Lawson (2009), St. John's RJ Luis Jr. (2025), North Carolina State's Rodney Monroe (1991), Indiana's Victor Oladipo (2013), Duke's Nolan Smith (2011), Virginia Tech's Dale Solomon (1982), Saint Joseph's Delonte West (2004), North Carolina State's Hawkeye Whitney (1980), Georgetown's Reggie Williams (1987) and Pittsburgh's Sam Young (2009)

Massachusetts (14) - Rutgers' James Bailey (1978 and 1979), Villanova's Michael Bradley (2001), Notre Dame's Bonzie Colson (2017), Georgetown's Patrick Ewing (1982 through 1985), Rhode Island State's Chet Jaworski (1939), Yale's Tony Lavelli (1946 through 1949), Oregon's Ron Lee (1974 through 1976), Marshall's Russell Lee (1972), Rhode Island State's Stan Modzelewski (1942), Connecticut's Shabazz Napier (2014), Iowa State's Georges Niang (2015 and 2016), Ohio State's Scoonie Penn (1999 and 2000), Michigan's Rumeal Robinson (1990) and Providence's Jimmy Walker (1965 through 1967)

Michigan (20) - Duke's Shane Battier (2000 and 2001), Dayton's Bill Chmielewski (1962), Syracuse's Derrick Coleman (1989 and 1990), New Mexico's Mel Daniels (1967), Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts (2008), Arizona's Bob Elliott (1977), Canisius' Larry Fogle (1974), Iowa State's Jeff Grayer (1988), Texas Western's Bobby Joe Hill (1966), Florida's Al Horford (2007), Kansas' Josh Jackson (2017), Arkansas' George Kok (1948), North Carolina's Tom LaGarde (1977), Alabama State's Kevin Loder (1981), Temple's Mark Macon (1988), Tennessee State's Carlos Rogers (1994), Purdue's Steve Scheffler (1990), Missouri's Doug Smith (1990 and 1991), Bradley's Chet Walker (1960 through 1962) and Iowa's Sam Williams (1968)

Minnesota (8) - Kansas' Cole Aldrich (2010), Boston College's Troy Bell (2001 and 2003), Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren (2022), Dayton's John Horan (1955), Duke's Tre Jones (2020), Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs (2021), Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor (2011) and South Dakota State's Nate Wolters (2013)

Mississippi (5) - Missouri's Melvin Booker (1994), Murray State's Isaiah Canaan (2012), Louisiana State's Chris Jackson (1989 and 1990), UC Irvine's Kevin Magee (1981 and 1982) and Alabama's Derrick McKey (1987)

Missouri (22) - UCLA's Lucius Allen (1968), Princeton's Bill Bradley (1963 through 1965), Idaho State's Lawrence Butler (1979), Duke's Chris Carrawell (2000), Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough (2011), North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough (2006 through 2009), Tulsa's Steve Harris (1985), Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (2025), Southern Methodist's Jon Koncak (1985), Southern Methodist's Jim Krebs (1957), Oklahoma A&M's Bob Kurland (1944 through 1946), Arizona's Caleb Love (2024), Kansas' Ben McLemore (2013), Drake's Red Murrell (1958), Tulsa's Bob Patterson (1955), Georgetown's Otto Porter Jr. (2013), Kansas' Fred Pralle (1938), Texas-Pan American's Marshall Rogers (1976), Notre Dame's Dick Rosenthal (1954), Kansas' Brandon Rush (2008), Kansas' Jo Jo White (1967 through 1969) and Memphis State's Win Wilfong (1957)

Montana (3) - Iowa's Chuck Darling (1952), Utah State's Wayne Estes (1964 and 1965) and Duke's Mike Lewis (1968)

Nebraska (7) - Kansas State's Bob Boozer (1958 and 1959), South Dakota State's Mike Daum (2019), George Washington's Bob Faris (1939), Michigan's Mike McGee (1981), Wisconsin's John Tonje (2025), Wyoming's Les Witte (1932 and 1934) and Iowa's Andre Woolridge (1997)

Nevada (3) - New Mexico's Darington Hobson (2010), Arizona State's Lionel Hollins (1975) and Missouri's Willie Smith (1976)

New Jersey (42) - Miami's Rick Barry (1964 and 1965), Temple's Mike Bloom (1938), West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler (2010), DePaul's Clyde Bradshaw (1980), Illinois' Tal Brody (1965), Notre Dame's Gary Brokaw (1974), George Washington's Corky Devlin (1955), Providence's Vinnie Ernst (1963), Morehead State's Kenneth Faried (2011), Dayton's Henry Finkel (1966), Columbia's Chet Forte (1957), Villanova's Randy Foye (2006), South Carolina's Skip Harlicka (1968), Holy Cross' Tom Heinsohn (1955 and 1956), Duke's Bobby Hurley (1992 and 1993), North Carolina's Tommy Kearns (1957 and 1958), Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2012), Pittsburgh's Brandin Knight (2002), Stanford's Brevin Knight (1997), Southern California's Mo Layton (1971), Villanova's Bill Melchionni (1966), Providence's Eric Murdock (1991), Notre Dame's Troy Murphy (2000 and 2001), Seattle's Eddie O'Brien (1953), Seattle's Johnny O'Brien (1952 and 1953), North Carolina's Mike O'Koren (1978 through 1980), Holy Cross' Togo Palazzi (1953 and 1954), Notre Dame's David Rivers (1988), Massachusetts' Lou Roe (1994 and 1995), Iowa's Ben Selzer (1934), Notre Dame's John Shumate (1974), Duke's Jim Spanarkel (1978 and 1979), Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor (2012), Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns (2015), Notre Dame's Kelly Tripucka (1979 through 1981), Duke's Bob Verga (1966 and 1967), Saint Joseph's Bryan Warrick (1981 and 1982), Xavier's David West (2002 and 2003), Long Island's Sherman White (1950), Duke's Jason Williams (2001 and 2002), Miami's Isaiah Wong (2023) and Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler (2025/also NY)

New Mexico (2) - Kansas' Bill Bridges (1961) and West Texas State's Charles Halbert (1942)

New York (97) - UCLA's Lew Alcindor (1967 through 1969), Georgia Tech's Kenny Anderson (1990 and 1991), Penn State's Jesse Arnelle (1955), Minnesota's Ron Behagen (1973), Kansas State's Rolando Blackman (1980 and 1981), Duke's Elton Brand (1999), North Carolina's Pete Brennan (1958), Dartmouth's Audie Brindley (1944), Utah's Ticky Burden (1975), North Carolina State's Lorenzo Charles (1984), Missouri's Derrick Chievous (1987), Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (2021 and 2022), New Mexico State's Jimmy Collins (1970), Holy Cross' Bob Cousy (1948 through 1950), North Carolina's Billy Cunningham (1964 and 1965), Wake Forest's Charlie Davis (1971), North Carolina's R.J. Davis (2024), Wichita State's Cleanthony Early (2014), Maryland's Len Elmore (1974), Massachusetts' Julius Erving (1971), Duke's Kyle "Flip" Filipowski (2024), Georgia's Vern Fleming (1984), Brigham Young's Jimmer Fredette (2010), Louisville's Francisco Garcia (2005), Louisville's Don Goldstein (1959), Louisiana State's Al Green (1979), Duquesne's Sihugo Green (1954 through 1956), UNLV's Sidney Green (1983), Tennessee's Ernie Grunfeld (1976 and 1977), North Carolina State's Tom Gugliotta (1992), Penn's Ron Haigler (1975), Loyola of Chicago's Jerry Harkness (1963), Notre Dame's Billy Hassett (1945), Hawaii's Tom Henderson (1974), Villanova's Larry Hennessy (1952 and 1953), Duke's Art Heyman (1961 through 1963), North Carolina State's Julius Hodge (2004), Xavier's Tu Holloway (2011), Baylor's Vinnie Johnson (1979), West Virginia's Kevin Jones (2012), South Carolina's Kevin Joyce (1973), Holy Cross' George Kaftan (1947 and 1948), Guilford's Bob Kauffman (1968), Cincinnati's Sean Kilpatrick (2014), Maryland's Albert King (1980 and 1981), Tennessee's Bernard King (1975 through 1977), North Carolina's Mitch Kupchak (1975 and 1976), Duke's Christian Laettner (1991 and 1992), North Carolina's York Larese (1959 through 1961), Marquette's Butch Lee (1977 and 1978), Davidson's Mike Maloy (1968 through 1970), Georgia Tech's Stephon Marbury (1996), Kentucky's Jamal Mashburn (1993), Louisville's Rodney McCray (1983), Richmond's Bob McCurdy (1975), Marquette's Dean Meminger (1970 and 1971), North Carolina's Doug Moe (1961), Notre Dame's John Moir (1936-37-38), Florida's Joakim Noah (2007), Kansas State's Markquis Nowell (2023), Louisville's Jordan Nwora (2020), Boston College's Jim O'Brien (1971), Kentucky's Bernie Opper (1939), Idaho's Ken Owens (1982), North Carolina's Sam Perkins (1982 through 1984), Penn State's Jalen Pickett (2023), Connecticut's A.J. Price (2008), Villanova's Allan Ray (2006), Arizona's Khalid Reeves (1994), South Carolina's Tom Riker (1972), Kentucky's Pat Riley (1966), South Carolina's John Roche (1969 through 1971), North Carolina's Lennie Rosenbluth (1956 and 1957), Georgia Tech's John Salley (1986), North Carolina's Charlie Scott (1968 through 1970), Rutgers' Phil Sellers (1975 and 1976), Iowa State's Don Smith (1968), North Carolina's Kenny Smith (1987), Louisville's Russ Smith (2013 and 2014), Providence's Kevin Stacom (1974), DePaul's Rod Strickland (1988), Miami of Ohio's Wally Szczerbiak (1999), Marquette's Earl Tatum (1976), Princeton's Chris Thomforde (1967), Marquette's George Thompson (1969), Iowa State's Jamaal Tinsley (2001), Marquette's Bernard Toone (1979), Dayton's Obi Toppin (2020), Connecticut's Kemba Walker (2011), Providence's Lenny Wilkens (1960), Southern California's Gus Williams (1975), Austin Peay's Fly Williams (1973), Michigan's Henry Wilmore (1971 and 1972), Wyoming's Tony Windis (1959), Tennessee's Howard Wood (1981), Marquette's Sam Worthen (1980) and Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler (2025/also NJ)

North Carolina (21) - Fresno State's Courtney Alexander (2000), Indiana's Walt Bellamy (1960), UCLA's Henry Bibby (1972), Kansas' Devon Dotson (2020), Kansas State's Mike Evans (1978), Furman's Darrell Floyd (1955 and 1956), Georgetown's Sleepy Floyd (1981 and 1982), Kansas' Devonte' Graham (2018), Minnesota's Lou Hudson (1965 and 1966), Minnesota's Bobby Jackson (1997), Maryland's John Lucas (1974 through 1976), Kansas' Danny Manning (1986 through 1988), Louisiana State's Pete Maravich (1968 through 1970), Lamar's Mike Olliver (1981), Texas' P.J. Tucker (2006), Kentucky's John Wall (2010), Xavier's David West (2002), Tennessee's Tony White (1987), Georgia's Dominique Wilkins (1981 and 1982), Maryland's Buck Williams (1981) and Tennessee's Grant Williams (2019)

Ohio (24) - Michigan's Trey Burke (2013), Southern California's Sam Clancy (2002), Washington State's Don Collins (1980), Northwestern's Evan Eschmeyer (1999), Notre Dame's Bob Faught (1942), Michigan's Gary Grant (1987 and 1988), Michigan State's Johnny Green (1958 and 1959), Kentucky's Kevin Grevey (1974 and 1975), Kentucky's Alex Groza (1947 through 1949), Michigan's Phil Hubbard (1977), Duke's Luke Kennard (2017), Southwestern Louisiana's Bo Lamar (1972 and 1973), Pittsburgh's Jerome Lane (1987 and 1988), Kentucky's Jim Line (1950), Indiana's Scott May (1975 and 1976), Purdue's Todd Mitchell (1988), Notre Dame's John Paxson (1982 and 1983), Kentucky's Mike Pratt (1970), Long Beach State's Ed Ratleff (1972 and 1973), Arkansas' Alvin Robertson (1984), Davidson's Dick Snyder (1966), North Carolina State's Bobby Speight (1953), Oklahoma Baptist's Albert Tucker (1966 and 1967) and Kansas State's Chuckie Williams (1976)

Oklahoma (7) - Texas Western's Jim Barnes (1964), San Francisco's Winford Boynes (1978), Arkansas' Lee Mayberry (1992), Kansas State's Willie Murrell (1964), Georgia Tech's Mark Price (1984 through 1986), Syracuse's Etan Thomas (2000) and Duke's Shelden Williams (2005 and 2006)

Oregon (9) - Brigham Young's Danny Ainge (1979 through 1981), Duke's Mike Dunleavy (2002), UCLA's Kevin Love (2008), Gonzaga's Blake Stepp (2004), Arizona's Damon Stoudamire (1995), Arizona's Salim Stoudamire (2005), UCLA's Richard Washington (1975 and 1976), Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss (2017) and Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer (2015)

Pennsylvania (51) - Duke's Gene Banks (1979 and 1981), Kentucky's Sam Bowie (1981 and 1984), Kansas' Wilt Chamberlain (1957 and 1958), Wake Forest's Len Chappell (1961 and 1962), Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas (2015), DePaul's Dallas Comegys (1987), Seton Hall's Bob Davies (1941 and 1942), Cincinnati's Danny Fortson (1996 and 1997), Loyola Marymount's Hank Gathers (1989 and 1990), UNLV's Armon Gilliam (1987), North Carolina's George Glamack (1940), Duke's Dick Groat (1951 and 1952), Connecticut's Richard Hamilton (1998 and 1999), UCLA's Walt Hazzard (1963 and 1964), Duke's Gerald Henderson (2009), Kansas' Wayne Hightower (1960 and 1961), West Texas State's Simmie Hill (1969), George Washington's Joe Holup (1956), Virginia's De'Andre Hunter (2019), Loyola Marymount's Bo Kimble (1990), Duke's Ed Koffenberger (1946 and 1947), Rutgers' Bob Lloyd (1967), Drake's Lewis Lloyd (1980 and 1981), Navy's Elliott Loughlin (1933), Marquette's Maurice Lucas (1974), Duke's Jack Marin (1966), Connecticut's Donyell Marshall (1994), Vanderbilt's Billy McCaffrey (1993), Michigan State's Julius McCoy (1956), Maryland's Tom McMillen (1972 through 1974), North Carolina's Larry Miller (1967 and 1968), Winston-Salem State's Earl Monroe (1967), Kansas' Marcus Morris (2011), Syracuse's Billy Owens (1990 and 1991), Virginia's Barry Parkhill (1972 and 1973), North Carolina State's Lou Pucillo (1959), North Carolina State's John Richter (1959), West Virginia's Wil Robinson (1972), North Carolina's Lee Shaffer (1959 and 1960), West Virginia's Lloyd Sharrar (1958), Virginia's Sean Singletary (2007), Utah's Mike Sojourner (1974), Weber State's Willie Sojourner (1971), Cincinnati's Jack Twyman (1955), Michigan State's Horace Walker (1960), Virginia's Wally Walker (1976), North Carolina's Rasheed Wallace (1995), Syracuse's Hakim Warrick (2004 and 2005), Miami's Isaiah Wong (2023) and North Carolina's Dennis Wuycik (1972)

Rhode Island (1) - Marquette's Tyler Kolek (2023 and 2024)

South Carolina (7) - Connecticut's Ray Allen (1995 and 1996), North Carolina's Raymond Felton (2005), North Carolina's Brice Johnson (2016), Louisiana State's Pete Maravich (1968 through 1970), Wichita State's Xavier McDaniel (1985), Murray State's Ja Morant (2019) and Duke's Zion Williamson (2019)

Tennessee (16) - Wake Forest's Skip Brown (1977), Arkansas' Todd Day (1991 and 1992), Kentucky's Tony Delk (1996), Oral Roberts' Richie Fuqua (1972 and 1973), Oklahoma A&M's Bob Harris (1949), Indiana's Kirk Haston (2001), Cincinnati's Paul Hogue (1961 and 1962), Mississippi State's Bailey Howell (1958 and 1959), Marquette's Kam Jones (2025), Kansas' Dedric Lawson (2019), Western Kentucky's Tom Marshall (1954), Kentucky's Ron Mercer (1997), Alabama's Brandon Miller (2023), Mississippi's Johnny Neumann (1971), Oral Roberts' Anthony Roberts (1977) and Tulsa's Bingo Smith (1969)

Texas (32) - Oral Roberts' Max Abmas (2023), Oklahoma's Mookie Blaylock (1989), Kentucky's Bob Burrow (1955 and 1956), Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham (2021), Detroit's Antoine Davis (2023), Wyoming's Fennis Dembo (1988), Arizona State's Ike Diogu (2005), Purdue's Keith Edmonson (1982), Purdue's Carsen Edwards (2018 and 2019), Memphis' PJ Haggerty (2025), North Carolina's Justin Jackson (2017), UNLV's Larry Johnson (1990 and 1991), Syracuse's Wesley Johnson (2010), San Diego State's Jaedon LeDee (2024), Oklahoma State's John Lucas III (2004), Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin (2000), Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. (2024), Oklahoma's Eduardo Najera (2000), Connecticut's Tristen Newton (2024), Connecticut's Emeka Okafor (2003 and 2004), Louisiana State's Shaquille O'Neal (1991 and 1992), UNLV's Eddie Owens (1977), Kentucky's Julius Randle (2014), Mississippi State's Lawrence Roberts (2004), Mississippi's Ansu Sesay (1998), Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart (2013 and 2014), Wichita State's Dave Stallworth (1963 through 1965), Gonzaga's Drew Timme (2021 through 2023), South Carolina's Freddie Tompkins (1934), Kentucky's P.J. Washington (2019), Illinois' Deron Williams (2005) and Kansas' Jalen Wilson (2023)

Utah (3) - Montana State's Cat Thompson (1929 and 1930), Montana State's Frank Ward (1930) and Iowa's Herb Wilkinson (1945)

Virginia (21) - Duke's Tommy Amaker (1987), North Carolina's Armando Bacot (2023 and 2024), Maryland's Bosey Berger (1932), Kentucky's Keith Bogans (2003), Wake Forest's Randolph Childress (1995), Duke's Grant Hill (1992 through 1994), Georgetown's Allen Iverson (1996), East Tennessee State's Mister Jennings (1991), Kansas State's Keyontae Johnson (2023), North Carolina's Kendall Marshall (2012), Kansas' Frank Mason III (2017), Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning (1989 through 1992), Kansas State's Jack Parr (1957 and 1958), Tulsa's Paul Pressey (1982), Duke's J.J. Redick (2004 through 2006), North Carolina's J.R. Reid (1988 and 1989), Villanova's Scottie Reynolds (2010), Navy's David Robinson (1986 and 1987), Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott (1990), Maryland's Joe Smith (1994 and 1995) and Xavier's David West (2002 and 2003)

Washington (7) - Duke's Paolo Banchero (2022), Oregon's Aaron Brooks (2007), Arizona's Michael Dickerson (1998), San Diego State's Malachi Flynn (2020), Arizona's Jason Terry (1999), Louisville's Terrence Williams (2009) and Oregon's Slim Wintermute (1938 and 1939)

West Virginia (2) - Virginia Tech's Chris Smith (1960) and Virginia's Buzz Wilkinson (1955)

Wisconsin (8) - St. Louis' Dick Boushka (1955), Iowa's Fred Brown (1981), Connecticut's Caron Butler (2002), Louisville's Reece Gaines (2003), Iowa's John Johnson (1970), Utah's Jeff Jonas (1977), Minnesota's Chuck Mencel (1953 and 1955) and Cincinnati's Nick Van Exel (1993)

Wyoming (1) - Utah's Vern Gardner (1948 and 1949)

NOTE: Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont are the only states failing to supply an All-American for an out-of-state college.

CollegeHoopedia.com hopes the rigors of this daily Q&A during the playoffs didn't give you an inferiority complex. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, this bonanza is the climax of 23 days featuring a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions (10 per day from Selection Sunday until a grand finale added value of 20 on the day of traditional championship game) tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):

1. Name the only automatic qualifier to enter the NCAA playoffs with an overall losing record despite compiling a winning conference mark. Hint: The school lost in first round to nation's top-ranked team, an opponent the school succumbed to four seasons earlier when eventual NBA guard Lindsey Hunter scored a then school-record 48 points.

2. Name the only one of the different teams to twice defeat an eventual NCAA champion in their title season to not appear in the NCAA Tournament that year. Hint: A former NBA coach guided the school to its only NCAA playoff victory against an opponent whose coach also later coached in NBA.

3. Name the only team since seeding started to reach the Final Four without meeting a top eight seed. Hint: The team was eliminated in national semifinals.

4. Name the only school to twice be denied an at-large bid in a 10-year span despite going undefeated in regular-season conference competition. Hint: The school reached a regional final next time it went unbeaten in league play.

5. Name the only school in the 20th Century to compete for the national championship in both football and basketball in the same academic school year. Hint: The school lost both games.

6. Who is the only individual to win tournament games while coaching schools from the three conferences with the top winning percentages in NCAA Tournament competition reflecting actual membership (ACC, Big East and Big Ten)? Hint: He is the only coach to win playoff games with as many as three different schools when they were seeded ninth or worse.

7. Who is the only coach to win national championships in junior college, the NIT and the NCAA. Hint: He won the NIT in his first year as a major college head coach.

8. Who is the only leading scorer in an NCAA Tournament championship game to subsequently serve as an admiral in the U.S. Navy? Hint: He was an NCAA consensus first-team All-America the next season before eventually commanding aircraft carrier Saratoga for two years.

9. Who is the only championship game starter in the 20th Century to be the son of a former NCAA consensus All-American? Hint: The father was a U.S. Olympic team member and the star player for first black coach at a predominantly white Division I school.

10. Name the only teammate twosome to each score more than 25 points in an NCAA final. Hint: They combined for 53 points to lead their school to its first of multiple NCAA Tournament titles.

11. Name the only starting backcourt to combine for more than 50 points in a Final Four game. Hint: They combined to shoot 39 percent from the floor in two Final Four games that year.

12. Who is the only individual to coach teams in the NAIA Tournament, NCAA Division III Tournament, NCAA Division II Tournament, National Invitation Tournament and NCAA Division I Tournament? Hint: He took two different schools to the five levels of national postseason competition in a 13-year span beginning with an appearance as an interim head coach.

13. Who is the only individual to be the team-high scorer for both winning and losing teams in NCAA championship games although his season scoring average was less than half of the team leader each year? Hint: He played in the shadow of an All-American whose total of points and rebounds (4,663) is highest in NCAA history.

14. Who is the only coach to guide teams from the same school to the football Rose Bowl and basketball Final Four? Hint: The Rose Bowl and Final Four appearances were 17 years apart.

15. Name the only son of a member of one of the first classes of baseball Hall of Fame selections to start for a school in its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Hint: The son pitched for four major league teams before becoming a prominent executive. His father was a first baseman.

16. Name the only school to reach the Final Four and College World Series championship game in the same year. Hint: The school advanced to Final Four again the next season.

17. Who is the only coach to win three first-round games with teams seeded 12th or worse? Hint: The former coach was 4-1 in tournament games decided by fewer than five points. He played basketball at Fordham when NFL Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi was the Rams' freshman basketball coach.

18. Name the school that won all four of its first-round games despite being seeded eighth or worse each time. Hint: The four victories came in first five tournaments after NCAA introduced seeding.

19. Name the only school to appear in at least three NCAA Tournaments in the 20th Century and reach a regional final each time. Hint: The school's playoff appearances were in successive years.

20. Who is the only player to obtain NCAA and NBA championship rings without participating in postseason competition for either the college or pro title teams? Hint: The 7-0 center was in his first year with both of championship squads.

Answers (Day 23)
Day 22 Questions and Answers
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Day 20 Questions and Answers
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Day 1 Questions and Answers

A year ago, Connecticut became a rarity as only the fifth school in a 41-year span atop the national rankings entering the NCAA playoffs since North Carolina '82 to capture the national championship. Usually, there is a clear and present danger for pole sitter such as Duke, which lost as top-ranked team in 2025 regional semifinal.

In 2006, Duke became the ninth No. 1 team in 17 years to fail to advance to a regional final when the Blue Devils were eliminated by Louisiana State. In 1992, Duke defied a trend by becoming the first top-ranked team in 10 years entering the NCAA Tournament to win a national title. The five top-ranked teams prior to Duke failed to reach the championship game. UNLV lost twice in the national semifinals (1987 and 1991) and Temple '88, Arizona '89 and Oklahoma '90 failed to reach the Final Four.

Temple, a 63-53 loser against Duke in the 1988 East Regional final, and Kansas State, an 85-75 loser against Cincinnati in the 1959 Midwest Regional final, are the only teams ranked No. 1 by both AP and UPI entering the tourney to lose by a double-digit margin before the Final Four.

The school gaining the sweetest revenge against a top-ranked team was St. John's in 1952. Defending NCAA champion Kentucky humiliated the Redmen by 41 points (81-40) early in the season when the Catholic institution became the first to have a black player on the floor at Lexington, Ky. The African-American player, Solly Walker, played only a few minutes before he took a hit sidelining him for three weeks. But St. John's, sparked by center Bob Zawoluk's 32 points, avenged the rout by eliminating the Wildcats (64-57) in the East Regional, ending their 23-game winning streak. The Redmen, who subsequently defeated second-ranked Illinois in the national semifinals, lost against Kansas in the NCAA final.

In the 1982 championship game, North Carolina needed a basket with 16 seconds remaining from freshman Michael Jordan to nip Georgetown, 63-62, and become the only top-ranked team in 13 years from 1979 through 1991 to capture the NCAA title. It was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for seven of the 11 top-ranked teams to lose in the NCAA championship game in overtime or by two or three points in regulation.

It's win or go home! Less than one-third of the top-ranked squads captured the NCAA crown. Following is analysis sizing up how the No. 1 teams fared in the NCAA playoffs since the Associated Press introduced national rankings in 1949:

21 - Won national title (Kentucky '49; Kentucky '51; Indiana '53; San Francisco '56; North Carolina '57; UCLA '64; UCLA '67; UCLA '69; UCLA '71; UCLA '72; UCLA '73; North Carolina State '74; UCLA '75; Indiana '76; Kentucky '78; North Carolina '82; Duke '92; UCLA '95; Duke '01; Kentucky '12, and Connecticut '24.

14 - Finished national runner-up (Bradley '50/defeated by CCNY; Ohio State '61/Cincinnati; Ohio State '62/Cincinnati; Cincinnati '63/Loyola of Chicago; Michigan '65/UCLA; Kentucky '66/Texas Western; Indiana State '79/Michigan State; Houston '83/North Carolina State; Georgetown '85/Villanova; Duke '86/Louisville; Duke '99/Connecticut; Illinois '05/North Carolina; Ohio State '07/Florida, and Gonzaga '21/Baylor.

10 - Lost in national semifinals (Cincinnati '60/defeated by California; Houston '68/UCLA; UNLV '87/Indiana; UNLV '91/Duke; Massachusetts '96/Kentucky; North Carolina '98/Utah; North Carolina '08/Kansas; Florida '14/Connecticut; Kentucky '15/Wisconsin, and Duke '25/Houston.

10 - Lost in regional final (Kentucky '52/defeated by St. John's; Kansas State '59/Cincinnati; Kentucky '70/Jacksonville; Michigan '77/UNC Charlotte; Temple '88/Duke; Indiana '93/Kansas; Kentucky '03/Marquette; Louisville '09/Michigan State; Kansas '16/Villanova, and Duke '19/Michigan State.

9 - Lost in regional semifinals (North Carolina '84/defeated by Indiana; Arizona '89/UNLV; Kansas '97/Arizona; Duke '00/Florida; Duke '02/Indiana; Duke '06/Louisiana State; Ohio State '11/Kentucky; Gonzaga '22/Arkansas, and Alabama '23/San Diego State.

8 - Lost in second round (DePaul '80/defeated by UCLA; DePaul '81/St. Joseph's; Oklahoma '90/North Carolina; North Carolina '94/Boston College; Stanford '04/Alabama; Kansas '10/Northern Iowa; Gonzaga '13/Wichita State, and Villanova '17/Wisconsin.

2 - Lost in first round (West Virginia '58/defeated by Manhattan and (Virginia '18/UMBC.

1 - Declined a berth (Kentucky '54).

NOTE: After United Press International started ranking teams in 1951, UPI had just three different No. 1 teams entering the national playoffs than AP - Indiana lost in 1954 East Regional semifinals against Notre Dame, California finished as 1960 national runner-up to Ohio State and Indiana lost in 1975 Mideast Regional final against Kentucky.

Extra! Extra! As a new season picks up steam amid #Dimorat protests of Donald Trump and Elon Musk across the country, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Two former small-college hoopers from Iowa - Davey Lopes (Iowa Wesleyan) and Jim Todd (Parsons) before transferring to schools in other states - made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-hoopers Mark Acre (New Mexico State), Tony Clark (Arizona/San Diego State), Mark Hendrickson (Washington State) and Darrell Sutherland (Stanford) from Far West universities. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 6

• Oakland A's RHP Mark Acre (played in 1990 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament with New Mexico State) earned his second relief victory in three days against the New York Yankees in 1997.

• Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) scored four runs in 1983 game against the Kansas City Royals.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92 after transferring from Arizona) contributed two sixth-inning hits, including a grand slam, in a 10-inning, 10-9 win over the Chicago White Sox in 2001. Eight years later, Clark clobbered back-to-back homers for the Arizona Diamondbacks in a season-opening, 9-8 win against the Colorado Rockies in 2009.

• Boston Red Sox C Carlton Fisk (runner-up in scoring with 13.7 ppg and top rebounder for New Hampshire's freshman squad in 1965-66) cracked two homers, scored four runs and drove in six in 1973 season opener against the New York Yankees.

• In 2006, LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State four straight seasons in rebounding 1992-93 through 1995-96) hurled first complete-game shutout for the Tampa Devil Rays in a span of 349 contests (three-hit, 2-0 whitewash against Baltimore Orioles).

• Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring to Washburn KS with his coach and becoming All-CIC choice with 1968 NAIA Tournament team) scored three runs and stole three bases against the San Diego Padres in a 1974 game.

• RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) purchased from the Atlanta Braves by the Houston Astros for $35,000 in 1975.

• In his first start with the St. Louis Cardinals, RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1974.

• RHP Darrell Sutherland (averaged 8.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg for Stanford from 1960-61 through 1962-63) awarded on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Mets as a first-year waiver selection in 1964.

• RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Kansas City Athletics in 1966.

• RHP Jim Todd (Parsons IA hooper before averaging 16 ppg with Millersville PA in 1968-69) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland Athletics for a player to be designated and cash in 1975.

• After 159 MLB starts, RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) made his debut with the Seattle Mariners as a reliever (two hitless innings against Oakland Athletics in 2014).

In 1965-66, the best team in the country might have been UCLA's freshman squad. The Bruins' frosh, led by 7-1 Lew Alcindor's 31 points and 21 rebounds, defeated the two-time NCAA champion UCLA varsity, 75-60. The yearlings compiled a 21-0 record, outscoring their opponents 113.2 points per game to 56.6. Starters for what is considered by some as the best freshman team in NCAA history included Alcindor (33.1 ppg and 21.5 rpg), forwards Lynn Shackelford (20.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg) and Kent Taylor (7.2 ppg) and guards Lucius Allen (22.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg) and Kenny Heitz (14.3 ppg).

Freshmen became eligible for varsity competition seven years later, but there are no guarantees despite a recruit's regal high school resume. In fact, UCLA had a couple of the most disappointing classes in memory thus far in the 21st Century before gifted groups for Duke and Kentucky failed to live up to great expectations the past couple of campaigns. Michigan saw both ends of the spectrum with a couple of its freshman recruiting crops in the 1990s that were highly acclaimed. One lived up to expectations while the other went from feast to famine.

The "Fab Five" in the first half of the 1990s probably will stand the test of time and earn recognition among the best classes in college basketball history despite never capturing a Big Ten Conference crown. On the other hand, guard Louis Bullock was all that was left at the conclusion of the Wolverines' promising 1995-96 freshman class that included Tractor Traylor (left early to become an NBA lottery pick) and Albert White (transferred to Missouri where he was the Tigers' leading scorer in 1998-99 with 16.3 ppg). Minus Traylor and White, Michigan posted an anemic 12-19 record in 1998-99 and finished in a tie for ninth place in the Big Ten (5-11).

In the aftermath of Michigan's recruiting hauls, Duke had an amazing series of regal freshman classes. The Blue Devils' 1997-98 freshman crop (William Avery, Shane Battier, Elton Brand and Chris Burgess) dominated the ACC and was well on its way toward challenging Indiana's superb group in the mid-1970s as the premier class of all time until Avery and Brand left school early for the NBA and Burgess transferred to Utah. The splendid original class was eventually regarded as superior to Michigan's "Fab Five" but with only two years intact won't boast the extended excellence to supplant Indiana's brilliant crew featuring Quinn Buckner, Scott May and Bobby Wilkerson.

Four of Duke's top six scorers for their Final Four squad this season are freshmen (Cooper Flagg/Kon Knueppel/Khaman Maluach/Isaiah Evans), triggering some pundits without sufficient historical perspective to declare this as one of the greatest freshman classes of all-time. But it might not even be the best in Duke history as the Blue Devils may have half of the top 10 crops in NCAA history. In 1999-00, Duke's stunning freshmen included Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Jason Williams. In 2002-03, the Devils' frosh class included guards Sean Dockery and J.J. Redick plus centers Shavlik Randolph and Shelden Williams. All of these groups were Final Four-bound. As a means of comparison, the Blue Devils' outstanding class comprised of Mark Alarie, Jay Bilas, Johnny Dawkins and David Henderson embarked with an 11-17 mark in 1982-83 before concluding their collegiate careers with an NCAA single-season standard for victories (37-3 in 1985-86). But none of these gifted groups compare to Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen capturing an NCAA title as Blue Devil freshmen in 2015. Four years later, Duke assembled an even superior group of yearlings when R.J. Barrett, Tre Jones, Cameron Reddish and Zion Williamson were top four scorers for a regional finalist.

Ranking recruiting classes regarding their long-term impact on college basketball is risky business. For instance, does Michigan's Fab Five, which never won a Big Ten Conference crown, deserve more acclaim than Butler's mid-major level class also reaching back-to-back NCAA championship games? Where does Kentucky's terrific title trio in 2012 deserve to be ranked insofar as it was around only one year? And what does the future hold for elite recruiting classes assembled again by Duke and Kentucky if they aren't normal one-year mercenaries?

It is a simplistic copout to accept the instant visibility of icon programs and automatically cite them among the most influential in college history. Classes from Alcorn State, Butler, East Tennessee State, San Francisco, Southern Mississippi and Wichita State are mentioned in this appraisal. In an era of "one 'n done" freshmen, extended impact becomes an even more vital factor in separating the premier recruiting classes.

There is little doubt Kentucky's 2012 title team frosh class would have quickly moved up the pecking order if they had chosen to return. Where should Duke's celebrated class be ranked after squandering six-point lead in last half minute of 2025 semifinal setback against Houston? It's highly unlikely the NCAA will tamper with a nation's fascination on freshmen by making them or future yearlings ineligible. Following is CollegeHoopedia.com's view, factoring in length of tenure (undergraduates declaring for the NBA draft), of the premier recruiting crops (excluding junior college signees) since the introduction of freshman eligibility in 1972-73:

1. Indiana (class of '76)
Recruiting Class: Tom Abernethy, Quinn Buckner, Jim Crews, Scott May, Bobby Wilkerson.
Achievements: Last NCAA champion to go undefeated compiled a 63-1 record in last two seasons this class was intact, climaxing a run of four Big Ten titles. Reached 1973 Final Four with freshmen Buckner and Crews as starting guards under coach Bob Knight (May was ineligible as a freshman for academic reasons). Posted an amazing 59-5 conference mark while capturing four consecutive Big Ten titles. Abernethy, Buckner, May and Wilkerson all played at least five seasons in the NBA while Crews went on to coach Evansville, Army and Saint Louis for more than 20 seasons

2. Duke (class of '01)
Recruiting Class: William Avery, Shane Battier, Elton Brand, Chris Burgess (transfer/Utah).
Achievements: Won 31 of 32 ACC games in two seasons together before Avery and Brand left early for the NBA draft. NCAA playoff runner-up in 1999 under coach Mike Krzyzewski

3. Georgetown (class of '85)
Recruiting Class: Ralph Dalton, Patrick Ewing, Anthony Jones (transfer/UNLV), Bill Martin.
Achievements: Won NCAA title in 1984, runner-up in 1985 and reached Final Four in 1982. Went 30-7, 22-10, 34-3 and 35-3 under coach John Thompson. The Hoyas' worst Big East record in that span was 11-5 in 1982-83 although their only conference crown was in 1984. Ewing was the only one of the group to play more than three season in the NBA.

4. Florida (class of '08)
Recruiting Class: Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford, Joakim Noah.
Achievements: Brewer, Horford and Noah were top nine NBA draft choices as undergraduates after capturing back-to-back NCAA crowns in 2006 and 2007. Green was a top two scorer for the titlists.

5. Duke (class of '18)
Recruiting Class: Grayson Allen, Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow.
Achievements: Okafor, Winslow and Jones left after capturing NCAA crown as freshmen to become NBA first-round draft choices. Allen, an improbable hero in the title game, went on to become an All-American the next season.

6. North Carolina (class of '06)
Recruiting Class: Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants, Sean May, David Noel, Byron Sanders.
Achievements: Felton, McCants and May earned All-ACC honors in their final seasons as juniors when they captured the NCAA crown before becoming top 14 NBA draft choices.

7. Kansas (class of '03)
Recruiting Class: Nick Collison, Drew Gooden, Kirk Hinrich.
Achievements: Collison, Gooden and Hinrich each became an NBA lottery pick. After Gooden left early for the NBA draft, Collison and Hinrich were All-Americans in 2003 when the Jayhawks finished NCAA Tournament runner-up under coach Roy Williams. KU went unbeaten in the Big 12 Conference in 2002.

8. Duke (class of '03)
Recruiting Class: Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Jason Williams.
Achievements: Might have been the school's best if any of them had exercised all of their eligibility similar to teammate Shane Battier. Reached NCAA playoff final in 1999 and 2001 under coach Mike Krzyzewski.

9. Michigan (class of '95)
Recruiting Class: Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, Chris Webber.
Achievements: NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1992 (25-9) and 1993 (31-5) as freshman and sophomore starters. Howard, Rose and Webber became NBA first-round draft choices as undergraduates and each played more than 12 years in the league. Principal drawback is that none of the "Fab Five" was a member of a Big Ten Conference title team under coach Steve Fisher.

10. Duke (class of '22)
Recruiting Class: Joey Baker (transfer/Michigan), R.J. Barrett, Tre Jones, Cameron Reddish and Zion Williamson.
Achievements: Barrett, Williamson, Reddish and Jones were top four scorers for a regional finalist (32-6 record) ranked atop AP's final regular-season poll. Williamson, Barrett and Reddish became top 10 NBA draft selections after just one year while Jones hung around one more campaign before declaring early.

11. North Carolina (class of '10)
Recruiting Class: Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, Alec Stephenson (transfer/Southern California), Deon Thompson, Brandan Wright.
Achievements: Wright was a "one 'n done" recruit, but core of group cruised to 2009 NCAA crown by winning their playoff games by an average of 20.2 points.

12. Notre Dame (class of '81)
Recruiting Class: Tracy Jackson, Gilbert Salinas, Kelly Tripucka, Stan Wilcox, Orlando Woolridge.
Achievements: Final Four participant in 1978 and Midwest Regional runner-up in '79. Irish went 23-8, 24-6, 22-6 and 23-6 under coach Digger Phelps. Jackson, Tripucka and Woolridge were its top three scorers each of their last three seasons. Tripucka (26.5 ppg/15.3) and Woolridge (25.1/10.6) had long NBA careers where they flourished as scorers, posting a pro career-high scoring average significantly higher than their college career mark.

13. North Carolina (class of '16)
Recruiting Class: Joel James, Brice Johnson, Marcus Paige, J.P. Tokoto.
Achievements: Compiled a 108-40 record over four seasons. Reached NCAA Tournament final as seniors despite Tokoto declaring early for the NBA draft after the previous campaign.

14. Louisville (class of '82)
Recruiting Class: Wiley Brown, Jerry Eaves, Scooter McCray, Derek Smith, Pancho Wright.
Achievements: Won NCAA title in 1980 with Brown, Eaves and Smith starting while McCray was sidelined with a knee injury. Reached the 1982 Final Four under coach Denny Crum. Went 24-8, 33-3, 21-9 and 23-10 with Metro Conference crowns the first three years.

15. Kentucky (class of '15)
Recruiting Class: Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Kyle Wiltjer (transfer/Gonzaga).
Achievements: Undefeated SEC worksheet before capturing an NCAA title in their lone season together. Outside marksman Wiltjer was the only one not to declare for the NBA draft after their 38-2 freshman campaign under coach John Calipari.

16. North Carolina (class of '97)
Recruiting Class: Guy McInnis, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Serge Zwikker.
Achievements: Zwikker was the only Tar Heels representative for each of their three 28-win campaigns in this four-year span under coach Dean Smith.

17. Kentucky (class of '83)
Recruiting Class: Sam Bowie, Derrick Hord, Charles Hunt, Dirk Minniefield.
Achievements: Oft-injured Bowie played five years, reaching Final Four in 1984. Original class had respective records of 29-6, 22-6, 22-8 and 23-8, but never advanced beyond second game of NCAA playoffs. Captured three SEC championships in that span under coach Joe B. Hall.

18. UCLA (class of '77)
Recruiting Class: Marques Johnson, Wilbert Olinde, Gavin Smith (transfer/Hawaii), Jim Spillane, Richard Washington.
Achievements: Won John Wooden's] final NCAA title in 1975. Washington left for the NBA a year early. Bruins went 26-4, 28-3, 28-4 and 25-4 with four Pacific-8 Conference crowns. Reached Final Four in '76 under coach Gene Bartow.

19. Ohio State (class of '10)
Recruiting Class: Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook, David Lighty, Greg Oden.
Achievements: Known as the "Thad Five" (when adding juco recruit Othello Hunter), the Buckeyes compiled a 35-4 as NCAA Tournament runner-up in 2007. Oden and Conley were top four NBA draft choices following freshman campaign.

20. North Carolina (class of '77)
Recruiting Class: Bruce Buckley, Walter Davis, John Kuester, Tom LaGarde.
Achievements: Lost 1977 NCAA playoff final (28-5 record) after posting similar marks (composite of 70-18) the previous three years. Captured ACC regular-season championships their last two seasons under coach Dean Smith.

21. North Carolina (class of '94)
Recruiting Class: Eric Montross, Derrick Phelps, Brian Reese, Clifford Rozier (transfer/Louisville), Pat Sullivan.
Achievements: Won NCAA title in 1993 after reaching 1991 Final Four as freshmen. Compiled records of 29-6, 23-10, 34-4 and 28-7 under coach Dean Smith. Only ACC regular-season championship was in 1993.

22. Illinois (class of '06)
Recruiting Class: James Augustine, Dee Brown, Deron Williams, Kyle Wilson (transfer/Wichita State).
Achievements: Bill Self's recruits became NCAA Tournament runner-up in 2005 under coach Bruce Weber.

23. Kentucky (class of '13)
Recruiting Class: Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, John Wall.
Achievements: Regional runner-up after winning SEC regular-season and league tournament titles in 2010 in their lone season together. All four recruits became NBA first-round draft choices.

24. Michigan State (class of '81)
Recruiting Class: Mike Brkovich, Magic Johnson, Rick Kaye, Jay Vincent.
Achievements: Recovered from embarrassing 18-point defeat to league cellar dweller Northwestern to win 1979 NCAA championship under coach Jud Heathcote with an average victory margin of 20.8 points. Went 25-5 and 26-6 and captured Big Ten titles in Johnson's two seasons before posting losing records (12-15 and 13-14) after he turned pro early.

25. Duke (class of '86)
Recruiting Class: Mark Alarie, Jay Bilas, Johnny Dawkins, David Henderson.
Achievements: Runner-up in 1986 NCAA playoffs with an NCAA-record 37-3 mark after going 24-10 and 23-8 the previous two years following an 11-17 worksheet as freshmen under coach Mike Krzyzewski. Senior season accounted for the group's lone ACC regular-season championship.

26. San Francisco (class of '79)
Recruiting Class: Winford Boynes, Bill Cartwright, Erik Gilberg, Raymond Hamilton (left after two seasons), James Hardy.
Achievements: Went 22-8, 29-2, 22-5 and 22-7 with WCAC championships the last three years. Boynes and Hardy were among the top 13 NBA draft picks after leaving school following their junior season when Dan Belluomini succeeded Bob Gaillard as coach. Cartwright was the third selection overall the next year.

27. Duke (class of '06)
Recruiting Class: Sean Dockery, Lee Melchionni, Shavlik Randolph, J.J. Redick, Shelden Williams.
Achievements: Three seasons with at least 28 victories as All-Americans Redick and Williams exercised all of their collegiate eligibility. Can't be ranked ahead of Michigan's Fab Five because they never reached a Final Four.

28. Kansas (class of '09)
Recruiting Class: Mario Chalmers, Micah Downs (transfer/Gonzaga), Brandon Rush, Julian Wright.
Achievements: Wright left school early for the NBA prior to KU's NCAA title in 2008. None of group was around for the 2008-09 campaign.

29. Syracuse (class of '06)
Recruiting Class: Carmelo Anthony, Billy Edelin, Gerry McNamara.
Achievements: Anthony, the 2003 Final Four MOP, led the champion Orange in scoring in five of its six playoff games. McNamara was Big East Conference Tournament MVP as a senior.

30. Connecticut (class of '07)
Recruiting Class: Josh Boone, Charlie Villanueva, Marcus Williams.
Achievements: Won 2004 NCAA title before each of them left school early for the NBA the next two years.

31. Kansas (class of '05)
Recruiting Class: Keith Langford, Michael Lee, Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien.
Achievements: Splitting time between coaches Roy Williams and Bill Self, this quartet combined for nearly 5,100 points.

32. Marquette (class of '09)
Recruiting Class: Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, Jerel McNeal.
Achievements: Recruited by Tom Crean and playing senior season under Buzz Williams, they combined for more than 5,400 points in compiling four 20-win seasons.

33. Arizona (class of '76)
Recruiting Class: Al Fleming, John Irving (transfer/Hofstra), Eric Money, Coniel Norman, Jim Rappis.
Achievements: Overshadowed by UCLA, UA's "Kiddie Korps" started off 16-10 before members of the original group went 19-7, 22-7 and 24-9 under coach Fred Snowden. Norman averaged 23.9 ppg and Money averaged 18.5 ppg before they turned pro after two seasons. Irving played one season with the Wildcats before transferring to Hofstra, where he led the nation in rebounding in 1975. Fleming became the school's all-time leading rebounder.

34. Purdue (class of '88)
Recruiting Class: Jeff Arnold, Troy Lewis, Todd Mitchell, Dave Stack, Everette Stephens.
Achievements: "The Three Amigos" (Lewis, Mitchell and Stephens) were instrumental in helping the Boilermakers compile a four-year record of 96-28 (.774), including a glittering 29-4 mark as seniors under coach Gene Keady. Lewis and Mitchell still rank among the school's all-time top 10 scorers. Group captured Big Ten Conference titles their last two seasons together. Stephens went on to have the most NBA experience with 38 games.

35. North Carolina (class of '99)
Recruiting Class: Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Ademola Okulaja.
Achievements: Coach Dean Smith must have been frustrated in his last two seasons that teams with talents such as Carter and Jamison lost a total of 18 games in 1995-96 and 1996-97.

36. Arizona (class of '05)
Recruiting Class: Will Bynum (transfer/Georgia Tech), Isaiah Fox, Channing Frye, Dennis Latimore (transfer/Notre Dame), Salim Stoudamire.
Achievements: Might have ranked higher if they didn't go through the turmoil of coach Lute Olson's swan song.

37. Kentucky (class of '78)
Recruiting Class: Jack Givens, Dan Hall (transfer/Marshall), James Lee, Mike Phillips, Rick Robey.
Achievements: Freshmen on UK's national runner-up in 1975. Givens (Final Four MOP), Lee, Phillips and Robey represented four of the Wildcats' top five scorers for the Wildcats' 1978 NCAA titlist under coach Joe B. Hall. UK had to settle for participating in the 1976 NIT when Robey missed more than half of the season because of a knee injury.

38. Kansas State (class of '11)
Recruiting Class: Ron Anderson Jr. (transfer/South Florida), Michael Beasley, Fred Brown, Jacob Pullen, Dominique Sutton (transfer/North Carolina Central), Bill Walker.
Achievements: Notched a 21-12 record in their only season together as Beasley and Walker departed for the NBA after freshman campaign.

39. Maryland (class of '81)
Recruiting Class: Ernest Graham, Albert King, Greg Manning.
Achievements: Graham, King and Manning all finished their careers with more than 1,500 points. The Terrapins went 15-13, 19-11, 24-7 (won 1980 ACC regular-season title) and 21-10 under coach Lefty Driesell.

40. Pittsburgh (class of '91)
Recruiting Class: Bobby Martin, Jason Matthews, Sean Miller (RS in 1990), Darelle Porter, Brian Shorter (Prop 48).
Achievements: All five players became 1,000-point scorers in their careers. The Panthers went 24-7 with a Big East Conference title in 1987-88 when they were freshmen before struggling the next couple of seasons under coach Paul Evans.

SPECIAL MENTION
(Underrated classes failing to generate headlines they deserved.)

Alcorn State (class of '85)
Recruiting Class: Eddie Archer, Aaron Brandon, Tommy Collier, Michael Phelps.
Achievements: Archer, Brandon, Collier and Phelps all finished their careers with more than 1,200 points. The Braves won three SWAC championships in four years from 1982 through 1985 under coach Davey Whitney, winning NCAA playoff games in 1983 and 1984 when they were eliminated by Georgetown and Kansas by a total of six points.

Butler (class of '12)
Recruiting Class: Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack, Ronald Nored, Chase Stigall (redshirt).
Achievements: Hayward nearly hit a game-winning half-court shot in 2010 NCAA title contest. Mack and Nored appeared in back-to-back NCAA championship games. Stigall went on to become one of the Bulldogs' top three-point shooters.

East Tennessee State (class of '91)
Recruiting Class: Greg Dennis, Major Geer, Keith Jennings, Alvin West.
Achievements: All four players became 1,000-point scorers in their careers. East Tennessee State coasted to three consecutive Southern Conference Tournament titles from 1989 through 1991 under coaches Les Robinson and Alan LeForce.

Georgia (class of '83)
Recruiting Class: Terry Fair, Lamar Heard, Dominique Wilkins.
Achievements: The Bulldogs averaged 19 victories annually from 1979-80 through 1982-83 after winning more than 14 games only once the previous 29 seasons.

Illinois (class of '86)
Recruiting Class: Doug Altenberger, Bruce Douglas, Scott Meents, Efrem Winters, Reggie Woodward.
Achievements: Illini won more than 20 games four consecutive campaigns under coach Lou Henson.

Indiana (class of '93)
Recruiting Class: Calbert Cheaney, Lawrence Funderburke (transfer/Ohio State), Greg Graham, Pat Graham, Chris Lawson (transfer/Vanderbilt), Todd Leary, Chris Reynolds.
Achievements: Reached 1992 Final Four en route to compiling 105-27 record under coach Bob Knight. Cheaney became IU's all-time leading scorer.

Iowa (class of '89)
Recruiting Class: B.J. Armstrong, Ed Horton, Les Jepsen (freshman redshirt), Roy Marble.
Achievements: George Raveling's final recruiting class with the Hawkeyes (including J.C. signee Kevin Gamble) all played in the NBA after helping Tom Davis capture national coach of the year acclaim in 1986-87.

Michigan State (class of '92)
Recruiting Class: Parish Hickman (transfer/Liberty), Mark Montgomery, Mike Peplowski (freshman redshirt), Matt Steigenga.
Achievements: Coming off back-to-back losing campaigns under coach Jud Heathcote, the Spartans averaged almost 22 wins annually the next four seasons from 1988-89 through 1991-92.

Minnesota (class of '82)
Recruiting Class: Mark Hall, Darryl Mitchell, Brian Pederson, Leo Rautins (transfer/Syracuse), Trent Tucker.
Achievements: Gophers compiled 74-44 record under coach Jim Dutcher from 1978-79 through 1981-82, averaging 21 victories annually last three seasons.

North Carolina (class of '69)
Recruiting Class: Jim Bostick (transfer/Auburn), Joe Brown, Bill Bunting, Rusty Clark, Dick Grubar, Gerald Tuttle.
Achievements: In three years of varsity competition (45-6 record against ACC foes and 81-15 overall), this group coached by Dean Smith became the first to finish No. 1 in the regular season, win the ACC Tournament and advance to the Final Four each year.

Ohio State (class of '81)
Recruiting Class: Marquis Miller, Kenny Page (transfer/New Mexico), Todd Penn, Carter Scott, Jim Smith, Herb Williams. Achievements: Eldon Miller, Fred Taylor's coaching successor, returned the Buckeyes to national postseason competition with three four-year starters (Scott, Smith and Williams). Page, after starting most of his freshman season with OSU, twice ranked among the nation's top 11 scorers with the Lobos.

Southern California (class of '89)
Recruiting Class: Jeff Connelly (transfer/Santa Clara), Hank Gathers (transfer/Loyola Marymount), Bo Kimble (transfer/Loyola Marymount), Tom Lewis (transfer/Pepperdine).
Achievements: The nucleus of USC's class, recruited by Stan Morrison, left to become stars in the West Coast Conference after a modest freshman season (11-17) when George Raveling arrived as coach.

Southern Mississippi (class of '88)
Recruiting Class: Casey Fisher, Derrick Hamilton, Randolph Keys, John White.
Achievements: Keys, Fisher, Hamilton and White all finished their careers with more than 1,300 points. The Golden Eagles, overshadowed in the Metro Conference by Louisville, won the 1987 NIT under coach M.K. Turk when each of the quartet scored in double digits.

Syracuse (class of '95)
Recruiting Class: Anthony Harris (transfer/Hawaii), Luke Jackson III, Lawrence Moten, J.B. Reafsnyder (RS), Glenn Sekunda (transfer/Penn State), Lazarus Sims (RS).
Achievements: The Orange were on NCAA probation in 1993 before Moten finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer.

UCLA (class of '83)
Recruiting Class: Darren Daye, Rod Foster, Michael Holton, Cliff Pruitt (transfer/UAB).
Achievements: NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1980 as freshmen under coach Larry Brown. Won Pacific-10 title in '83 under Brown's successor (Larry Farmer). Compiled records of 22-10, 20-7, 21-6 and 23-6.

UNLV (class of '77)
Recruiting Class: Lewis Brown, Glen Gondrezick, Eddie Owens, Jackie Robinson.
Achievements: Core of freshmen, supplemented by JC signee Ricky Sobers first two seasons, wound up in 1977 Final Four under coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Utah (class of '81)
Recruiting Class: Karl Bankowski, Tom Chambers, Scott Martin, Danny Vranes.
Achievements: Formidable frontcourt featuring Bankowski/Chambers/Vranes helped enable Martin to pace the Utes in assists three successive seasons under coach Jerry Pimm.

Wake Forest (class of '82)
Recruiting Class: Mike Helms, Jim Johnstone, Guy Morgan, Alvis Rogers (RS in 1982).
Achievements: All four players finished their careers with more than 1,100 points under coach Carl Tacy. Morgan, Rogers and Johnstone each grabbed more than 550 rebounds. The Demon Deacons posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in school history (22-7 in 1980-81 and 21-9 in 1981-82 when they finished both years in third place in the ACC).

Wichita State (class of '83)
Recruiting Class: Antoine Carr, James Gibbs, Ozell Jones (transfer/Cal State Fullerton), Cliff Levingston.
Achievements: Posted marks of 17-12, 26-7, 23-6 and 25-3 under coach Gene Smithson. Group is somewhat overlooked because the school was on NCAA probation in 1982 and 1983. Levingston left after his junior year. Captured Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships in 1981 and 1983. Jones played in the NBA with Carr and Levingston.

Extra! Extra! As a new season gains steam, you can avoid #MessMedia misfits trailing "The Donald" like a rabid dog by reading news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Former small-college hoopers Frank Baker (Southern Mississippi), Fred Kipp (Emporia State KS), Roger Mason (Saginaw Valley State MI), Ted Savage (Lincoln MO), Ken Singleton (Hofstra) and Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL) were involved in MLB transactions on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 5

• INF Frank Baker (Southern Mississippi basketball letterman in 1965-66 and 1966-67) traded by the New York Yankees to the Baltimore Orioles in 1973.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) smacked two homers among his four hits in a 15-12 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1997. Four years later, Clark contributed four hits against the Minnesota Twins in 2001.

• LHP Fred Kipp (two-time all-conference selection for Emporia State KS in early 1950s) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Yankees in 1960.

• RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year letterman for Saginaw Valley State MI in late 1970s) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the San Francisco Giants in 1985.

• California Angels 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) supplied four hits in an 8-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1974 season opener.

• OF Ted Savage (led Lincoln MO in scoring average in 1955-56) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.

• OF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman squad in mid-1960s) traded with Tim Foli and Mike Jorgensen by the New York Mets to the Montreal Expos for Rusty Staub in 1972.

• Atlanta Braves reliever Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) registered the victory in a season-opening 7-4 success at Cincinnati in 1971. Upshaw missed the previous campaign after almost losing the ring finger on his right hand when it got entangled in a net while dunking basketball.

• OF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) returned by the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago White Sox in 1969 following purchase transaction involving him in early December 1968.

• RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) became the first hurler in New York Mets history to collect two hits in an inning (pair of singles in third against Philadelphia Phillies in 2011). Young contributed a third single in the fifth in his first start with the Mets.

After previously toiling in relative obscurity, former small-college standout Chaney Johnson (Alabama-Huntsville to Auburn) is a vital slasher/finisher in the Tigers' regular rotation. Johnson is on a short list of superb small-school transfer players to go from nowhere to Cloud Nine in the NCAA Division I playoffs. Of course, the most prominent player in history in this climbing-the-ladder category is all-time great Elgin Baylor (Seattle/transfer from 2025 NAIA Tournament kingpin College of Idaho). Consider this alphabetical list of transfers who went from non-Division I four-year college to center stage at the Final Four:

Transfer	Pos.	Non-DI College	Major College	Career Summary
Elgin Baylor	F	College of Idaho 55	Seattle 57-58	Averaged 31.3 ppg and 18.9 rpg for College of Idaho (now Albertson College) before averaging 31.2 ppg and 19.8 rpg for Seattle. He was an NCAA unanimous first-team All-American and Final Four Most Outstanding Player as a junior in 1957-58.
Jim Boylan	G	Assumption MA 74-75	Marquette 77-78	Fifth-leading scorer for 1977 NCAA Tournament champion. He scored 14 points in the tourney final against Phil Ford-led North Carolina.
John Harrell	G	North Carolina Central 76	Duke 78-79	Averaged 15.7 ppg and led N.C. Central in assists in 1975-76. Averaged 5.1 ppg for Duke's NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1977-78 before playing sparingly the next season.
Duncan Robinson	G	Williams MA 14	Michigan 16-18	Led NECSAC in three-point field-goal percentage as a freshman (44.8%) before becoming the fourth-leading scorer (9.2 ppg) and leader in free-throw shooting (89.1%) with the Wolverines' 2018 NCAA tourney runner-up.

NOTE: North Carolina Central subsequently moved up to DI status in MEAC.

Beyond permanent residents of Pollyannaville, the Final Four isn't nearly as clean as the emphasis on Loyola of Chicago's high-flying nun Sister Jean several years ago. Celebrated coaches, occasionally recruiting anyone with a pulse if they exhibit hoop skills, expect us to believe all of their prize prospects arrive on campus as authentic student-athletes knowing precisely how to assemble class schedule without silver-platter input citing no-risk-to-eligibility courses. The academic anemia is as disgusting as much as myopic Meghan Markle's "your truth" and new version of KKK (Known Kneeling Knuckleheads) barked about #TheDonald's presidency. Any "stable genius" or "beautiful" con artist such as hideous Hunter Biledumb knows nothing could be further from the truth amid the institutional self-interest. What was the average SAT score differential between majority of suspect individuals acknowledged in list below such as Michigan State's "communal train" majors and the everyday student attending same institutions? Alabama, the overall top seed in 2023 despite controversy, would have faced a tourney tidal wave of off-the-court questions a couple of years ago from press parasites regarding lingering murder case if arrested player's teammate Brandon Miller didn't leave early for the NBA.

Sordid questions linger this season involving Florida's coaching staff as Gators loyalists embrace "just-move-on" attitude. Most #MessMedia outlets don't boast the cojones to tackle topic by demanding answers or at least some clarification. Head coach Todd Golden was accused of sexual exploitation, stalking and sexual harassment by several women before he was cleared by the school's Title IX office, eliminating a narrow scope of the probe. Meanwhile, a separate inquiry was opened into UF assistant coach Taurean Green (top two scorer for 2006 and 2007 NCAA title teams) stemming from a sexual assault complaint filed against him by an athletic department employee. Did Golden (runner-up to 16-year NBA veteran Patty Mills in assists for Saint Mary's 2008 tourney team) and Green think they were still BMOC like the good ol' days? If allegations are accurate, how did they find time to recruit their regal roster?

For decades, this scholastic sham has been stacking up as a farce devaluing many diplomas and denigrating the mission of a free higher-education racket such as Georgetown's celebrated center Patrick Ewing receiving gratis gratification from Atlanta's Gold Club racketeering owners. It shouldn't have come as any surprise a couple of years ago when six former F4 players were among 19 individuals (combining to earn around $363 million in their on-court NBA salaries) charged with defrauding the NBA's health and welfare benefit plan out of approximately $5 million (defendants received about $2.5 million). The scholars were caught because of grammatical errors and other obvious red flags on their phony paperwork. Just exactly what classes did they take at their institutions of lowering learning; especially during spring semester when attending national semifinals? Yes, the NCAA Tournament is gold-plated, but has blemishes including a striking number of the following former Final Four players who plummeted from their lofty All-American pedestal:

Lew Alcindor, UCLA (coached by John Wooden) - Two-time national player of the year and three-time Final Four MOP in late 1960s ran into trouble with law over marijuana twice in two years at the turn of 21st Century (paid fine after surrendering small amount to officers at Toronto airport and arrested on suspicion of driving under influence). Islamic convert Kareem Abdul-Jabbar offended majority of patriotic Americans by comparing national anthem to slaves singing songs during manual labor. To that bitter end depicted in book Showtime describing disdain for white people, doubt that Kareem "feels" differently in morning than Barack Obama about Arabic call to prayer. Jabbar's son, Adam, was sentenced to six months in jail for stabbing a 60-year-old neighbor several times with hunting knife (nearly bleeding to death) during argument over trash cans.

Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech (Bobby Cremins) - Despite earning close to $63 million in his NBA career, the second-leading scorer and leader in assists for 1990 Final Four squad declared bankruptcy shortly after retiring in 2005. "When you're an athlete, there is always someone holding your hand, helping you get it done, guiding your every step," said Anderson, who had seven children from five different women. "But that NBA lifestyle isn't real. It can gobble you up. And it did me." Anderson was fired from his coaching job at a small Jewish high school in south Florida following his arrest in Pembroke Pines, Fla., at about 4:30 a.m. in late April 2013 after police allegedly saw him driving in and out of his lane. He also was arrested in Miranar, Fla., in mid-December 2011 after leaving the scene following crashing his vehicle into two trees along a swale. In a documentary (Mr. Chibbs), Anderson said he was sexually molested by a Queens neighbor during his childhood.

Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - Leading scorer and rebounder for 2003 NCAA titlist was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at 4 a.m. in mid-April 2008 after one of his worst games of the NBA season in Denver. He was suspended for 25 contests during the 2006-07 campaign for punching New York Knicks guard Mardy Collins in the face during one of the NBA's worst brawls. Took up the mantle of the "stop snitchin'" movement, appearing in an underground DVD circulated in his hometown of Baltimore in 2004 encouraging those who are questioned by the police to refuse to "snitch" on drug dealers, murderers and other criminals. Suspended for one game without pay midway through the 2012-13 campaign for confronting an opposing player (Boston's Kevin Garnett) multiple times (in the arena tunnel, near the players' locker rooms and in the parking garage) following a loss against the Celtics.

Marvin Barnes, Providence (Dave Gavitt) - Unanimous first-team All-American in 1973-74 was arrested for a variety of things - trespassing, being under the influence of narcotics, burglary of a locked vehicle. Homeless in San Diego, he stole X-rated videos to sell for drug money. Leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for 1973 Final Four team claimed his cocaine addiction escalated to the point where he snorted the drug on the Boston Celtics' bench during a game. Jailed in 1977 for violating terms of probation. Barnes contended he hit rock bottom during one of his drug-related prison stints when he almost killed a fellow inmate. Barnes attended the John Lucas Treatment Center in Houston and worked as a director at a halfway house before encountering liver problems. In mid-May 2007, he was arrested by state police on a felony charge of cocaine possession. In mid-January 2012, Barnes, 59, was arraigned in Rhode Island on a charge of soliciting a 17-year-old minor for sex after they met through his Rebound Foundation for at-risk youths. In the fall of 1972, he was charged with assault after hitting PC teammate Larry Ketvirtis with a tire iron following a scrimmage ("Tire Iron" subsequently ordered by federal court to pay $10,000 in damages). Barnes once asked Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds if cocaine kills brain cells before saying: "I must have been a genius when I started out." While incarcerated, Barnes also told Reynolds: "Here I am trying to get myself straightened out and they come out with a brand-new drug (crystal meth)."

William Bedford, Memphis State (Dana Kirk) - All-American as a junior in 1985-86 was arrested in February 2001 after Taylor, Mich., police said they found 25 pounds of marijuana in his car. Second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1985 Final Four squad subsequently served time in a Fort Worth, Tex., prison on drug-related charges. In 1987, he was subpoenaed by a Maricopa County (Ariz.) grand jury investigating drug use among Phoenix Suns players and testified against his teammates after receiving immunity. In March 1988, Bedford admitted he was addicted to cocaine and marijuana and was committed to the NBA's treatment facility in Van Nuys, Calif. Known as "Willie B" - as in "Will he be at practice?" - Bedford relapsed the following October and was readmitted to the clinic. When he returned, his behavior on and off the court grew more erratic. He received a dozen traffic tickets and 10 license suspensions in less than four years. In September 1997, Bedford, who was on three years probation at the time, tested positive for cocaine and was sent to a Texas state jail for one year. Also arrested in Texas for failing to pay more than $300,000 in child support.

Charlie Bell, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Third arrest of 2011 came in December when the three-time Final Four participant (1999 through 2001) showed up drunk to the court hearing regarding his previous arrest, an October 2011 DUI. All-American point guard as senior in 2000-01 was also arrested for DUI in February of same year. His estranged wife, a former Miss Michigan USA, was arrested in spring of 2011 for allegedly stabbing Bell with a box cutter

Mike Bibby, Arizona (Lute Olson) - Police investigated sexual-abuse harassment accusations in late February 2019 but filed no charges against second-leading scorer as freshman of 1997 NCAA titlist while coaching his high school alma mater (winning five titles in six years this decade). Bibby exited his H.S. position following the allegations but was recently named coach at Sacramento State.

Daron "Mookie" Blaylock, Oklahoma (Billy Tubbs) - Leader in assists and steals for 1988 NCAA Tournament runner-up was busted in 1997 when drug sniffing dogs uncovered marijuana on him in a Vancouver, Canada airport. Second-team All-American was arrested around 4 a.m. in early March 1989 and charged with public drunkenness following a report of an argument at a convenience store. He was charged with vehicular homicide arising from a head-on crash killing a mother of five in suburban Atlanta in late May 2013. Blaylock, accused of driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain his lane in the crash, was also wanted on charges of failure to appear in court, DUI and drug possession. Bond was set at $250,000 stemming from a criminal record including six DUIs in a six-year span from late 2007 to late 2013 (one when blood alcohol content was 4 1/2 times legal limit) before he pleaded guilty (term reduced to seven years - suspended after three - and eight years' probation according to a plea deal). Prior to the crash, a doctor had ordered Blaylock (treated for seizures) not to drive, prosecutors said. A former Hawks ball-boy told SI that Blaylock was stoned a large part of the time he played for Atlanta after spending many game days at a strip club.

Tom Burleson, North Carolina State (Norm Sloan) - Leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for 1974 NCAA titlist was greeted by Duke's pep band with chorus of "Pinball Wizard" after two-time All-American center admitted to taking $117 in change from three pinball machines in dormitory lobby.

Marcus Camby, Massachusetts (John Calipari) - National POY in 1996 as leading scorer and rebounder with Final Four team was arrested for possession of marijuana in mid-June 1997. Also arrested by Pearland, Tex., police in mid-September 2011 in black Porsche and charged with marijuana possession. Admitted accepting thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry, rental cars and prostitutes from agents while in college.

Howard Carter, Louisiana State (Dale Brown) - Charged in the spring of 1995 with buying and using drugs after French police arrested him and seized a dose of heroin. He was arrested with five suspected drug dealers in the stairwell of a building shortly before his team was slated to play. Carter, a two-time All-American who averaged 15.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg for LSU from 1979-80 through 1982-83 and appeared in the 1981 Final Four, took out French citizenship and played for the country's national team.

Lorenzo Charles, North Carolina State (Jim Valvano) - All-American as junior in 1983-84 stole two pizzas from delivery boy while in summer session in 1982. Brooklyn native was handed a 10-year suspended sentence for larceny, made to perform 300 hours of community service, do some custodial work for police department and undergo psychiatric counseling. Charles went from doghouse at start of 1982-83 campaign to penthouse in NCAA Tournament title game with decisive dunk vs. heavily-favored Houston.

Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Two-time Big Ten Conference MVP and 2000 Final Four MOP arrested in mid-March 2010 on suspicion of drunken driving but ended up leading to careless driving. Acquitted of sexual assault charges in late summer 2019 after accused of false imprisonment by intoxicated woman who said she was driven in his Cadillac SUV to a Knights Inn and attacked four years earlier following a Flint-area charity golf outing and trip to local bar for drinks. A surveillance video showed Cleaves, clad only in socks, pulling the near-naked woman back to a motel room twice. He faced misdemeanor charges of stealing beer while in college but that case eventually was dropped.

Derrick Coleman, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - The Big East Conference's 1990 MVP was stopped in Farmington Hills, Mich., at 3:30 a.m. in late July 2002 for speeding (120 mph in a 70 mph zone) and taken into custody after refusing a breathalyzer test. Arrested in late October 1999 in Charlotte for driving while under the influence after the vehicle he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer. A couple of months earlier, he was accused of urinating in front of patrons at a downtown Detroit Chinese restaurant and charged with disorderly conduct. Leading rebounder for 1987 national runner-up also faced a civil lawsuit in Michigan in which he was accused of trespassing and battery at a Detroit woman's home in 1997. In summer of 1995, he was arrested and charged with refusing to move his truck and swearing at a police officer in Detroit. Despite earning an estimated $87 million in his NBA career, he owed creditors $4.7 million after a series of poor real estate investments in Detroit. In college, Coleman was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and ordered to make restitution for damage after pleading guilty to charges of harassment and disorderly conduct at a campus dance.

Sherron Collins, Kansas (Bill Self) - In June 2008, months after KU won the NCAA title, a judge ruled in favor of a woman he allegedly sexually assaulted in an elevator the previous year, granting damages in excess of $75,000 in a civil suit. A 35-year-old woman said she was unable to continue working at the Jayhawker Towers because of an incident where Collins was accused of exposing himself and rubbing against her despite being told repeatedly to stop. Collins, a two-time All-American in subsequent seasons, denied the assault but was a no-show at the hearing. The accuser later dropped the lawsuit for mental and physical problems when Collins agreed to drop his counterclaim of defamation.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Louisiana State (John Brady) - Leading scorer and rebounder for 2006 Final Four team as SEC Player of the Year was arrested at a Hampton Inn in Baltimore suburb in early February 2018 with a quarter of a pound of marijuana and $92,000 in cash. Arrested a couple of months later for felony assault with intent to cause great bodily injury. When confronted by a man he apparently almost struck with his vehicle outside a West Hollywood nightclub, Davis allegedly picked up the victim and slammed him on the concrete (facial fractures, broken tooth and broken ribs). In the spring of 2024, he was sentenced to 40 months in prison plus three years' supervised release and ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution after found guilty of health care fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements.

Sherman Douglas, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - Leader in scoring and assists as sophomore for 1987 national runner-up was charged with eluding a U.S. Park Service police officer in early 2004 after hitting him in knee with his car. Douglas, an All-American the next two seasons while finishing among the nation's top six in scoring feeds both years, said he fled because he thought he was being carjacked. He was also subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury to be questioned about a Virginia prison break in summer of 1990.

Raymond Felton, North Carolina (Roy Williams) - All-American in 2004-05 as leader in assists and steals for NCAA titlist was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted knowingly having a large-capacity ammunition magazine and a pistol without a license in his Manhattan apartment. The attorney for his estranged wife turned a semiautomatic firearm into police in late February 2014 after alleging Felton used gun to "intimidate" her during domestic disputes.

Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, Georgetown (John Thompson Jr.) - Leading scorer for 1982 NCAA Tournament runner-up was arrested in early January 1996 in a Houston suburb on charge of misdemeanor assault after a fight with his wife.

Phil Ford, North Carolina (Dean Smith) - Four-time All-American from 1974-75 through 1977-78 was arrested in fall of 1999 and charged with drunken driving for the second time in 25 months. Leader in scoring and assists for 1977 national runner-up pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and entered a treatment center for the second time.

Joseph Forte, North Carolina (Bill Guthridge and Matt Doherty) - Maryland state police arrested leading scorer for 2000 Final Four team in early May, 2003, after finding marijuana and a handgun in his car on a trip back from New York, where he met his idol, rapper Jay-Z. Two-time All-ACC guard (1999-00 and 2000-01) also faced an assault charge when he allegedly punched a man in the face during a pickup game. Questions linger about his mother being hired by the sports agency he subsequently affiliated with upon leaving school early.

Jason Gardner, Arizona (Lute Olsen) - Leader in assists and runner-up in steals for 2001 national runner-up was dismissed after five seasons as IUPUI head coach in late August 2019 after being apprehended intoxicated at 4:30 a.m. asleep behind the wheel of his Nissan.

Jack "Goose" Givens, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall) - Final Four MVP in 1978 found not guilty following arrest during summer of 2004 on charges of sexual battery and lewd molestation of 14-year-old girl after giving her a private basketball lesson at her home while parents were away. Givens acknowledged "bad judgment" via instant-message conversations with the girl, some involving sexual topics, and apologized for "whatever she assumed I did" during a taped phone call with her. A police affidavit said the girl's grandmother was at the home, called the girl's mother twice at her work to report what she thought was inappropriate behavior in the swimming pool and later called the girl out of her bedroom out of concern for her well-being. After first 14 years of the franchise, Givens' contract as a color analyst for the Orlando Magic was not renewed.

Ben Gordon, Connecticut (Jim Calhoun) - Scoring leader for 2004 NCAA titlist was arrested during 2002-03 season for allegedly slapping a female student. Fiancee Sascha Smith was involved in an early-morning brawl at a Charlotte nightclub in mid-December 2012 that landed Tyrus Thomas' wife in jail. Four run-ins with the law in six-month span in 2017 (arrested in early June after allegedly pulling multiple fire alarms at his L.A. apartment complex, hospitalized for a psych evaluation in his hometown of Mount Vernon, N.Y., in October after cops responded to a confrontation he had with a woman at his sports rehab center-owned business, arrested in mid-November in New York City for driving with forged license plate and arrested in late November for felony robbery of apartment manager over his security deposit). In spring of 2023, Gordon was arrested for alleged juice shop knife threat.

Luther Head, Illinois (Bill Self and Bruce Weber) - Leading scorer for 2005 national runner-up was suspended four games with a couple of teammates for being among individuals in a fall 2003 burglary entering an apartment and pilfering as much as $3,000 worth of goods. He also sat out Big Ten Conference opener in 2003-04 following arrest on charges of driving on a suspended license.

Juwan Howard, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - Starter for back-to-back NCAA runners-up (1992 and 1993) was sued on two separate occasions by women claiming he gave them herpes, an infection lasting a lifetime. He was arrested at 3:45 a.m. in mid-November 1996 on a DWI charge after his 1995 Mercedes was spotted speeding. A paternity suit was filed in spring of 1996 by a Detroit-area woman claiming Howard was father of her toddler (contending she became pregnant at Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit in spring of 1991 before Chicago native enrolled at UM). She initially rejected an anemic offer of $175/week in child support.

Mark Jackson, St. John's (Lou Carnesecca) - In the summer of 2012, a salacious story unfolded as a stripper and co-conspirator were busted for a purported $200,000 extortion plot against Jackson, who moonlighted as a minister at a LA suburb-based non-denominational church, for sending compromising nude photographs during a 2006 affair. The NCAA assists average leader in 1985-86 after participating in Final Four the previous season "shimmied off" being called "a Bible-pounding phony" by ESPN colleague Bob Ryan although the network suspended the venerable ex-Boston Globe columnist, not "Action" Jackson, for a couple of weeks.

Marques Johnson, UCLA (John Wooden and Gene Bartow) - Three-time Final Four participant in mid-1970s was arrested in late July 1988 on suspicion of beating his wife during an argument. Nine months after Johnson was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in fall of 1984, they filed suit in federal court to nullify the transaction because the Milwaukee Bucks had not told them about him undergoing treatment at a drug rehabilitation center.

Christian Laettner, Duke (Mike Krzyzewski) - NCAA national player of the year in 1991-92 was suspended for five NBA games in 2003-04 after violating the league's drug policy. Four-time Final Four participant (MOP in 1991) was sued multiple times for failure to repay loans, including $671,309 owed to former teammate Johnny Dawkins. In 2010, Laettner's attorney said his client had $10 million in assets and $40 million in debt. His $3.65 million mansion outside Jacksonville, Fla., was foreclosed on in 2015. In the fall of 2016, a federal judge dismissed an involuntary bankruptcy case against him (five creditors claimed they were among those owed $14.05 million) after he reached a repayment deal his lawyer said should bring a decade of financial woes to a close. He earned $61 million as an NBA player.

Ty Lawson, North Carolina (Roy Williams) - All-American in 2008-09 when reaching Final Four for second season in a row was arrested in an alleged domestic violence incident at his home in mid-August 2013. In mid-July 2015, he was arrested for DUI for the fourth time in an eight-year span and subsequently served two DUI-related suspensions during the first half of the 2015-16 NBA campaign. After ending up banned from the Chinese Basketball Association, he was arrested in Spain in early 2022 following two altercations.

Ron Mercer, Kentucky (Rick Pitino) - Leading scorer as All-American for 1997 NCAA Tournament runner-up faced misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a scuffle in a Nashville strip club in April 2007. Police said Mercer punched a bouncer in the face. He was sued along with Chauncey Billups for attempted rape at Antoine Walker's residence in November 1997 in a case settled out of court (Walker sued for failing to stop alleged incident after socializing at Boston comedy club before also settling). In August 2013, a jury sided with Mercer in a lawsuit brought by an ex-girlfriend over the ownership of a $45,000 Range Rover.

Joakim Noah, Florida (Billy Donovan) - Final Four MOP in 2006 before becoming an A-A the next season was arrested for possession of marijuana in late May 2008 (also cited hours later for driving with suspended license and not wearing seat belt). Suspended 20 games late in 2016-17 NBA season for violating the league's anti-drug policy. Annoyed about playing time, he got into an altercation with coach Jeff Hornacek during a practice that ultimately triggered his exile from the New York Knicks.

Greg Oden, Ohio State (Thad Matta) - All-American center as freshman in 2006-07 was formally charged with battery for allegedly punching his ex-girlfriend in the face around 3:30 a.m. on August 7, 2014, at his mother's home in Lawrence, Ind. In a plea agreement, the leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker for 2007 NCAA Tournament runner-up was found guilty of felony battery with moderate bodily injury.

Howard Porter, Villanova (Jack Kraft) - Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1971 served six months in jail for probation violation on a previous drug conviction. "I was a junkie like any other junkie," Porter told the Tampa Tribune. He was trying to trade money and crack cocaine for sex with a prostitute in St. Paul in May, 2007, when the probation officer was beaten to death, according to murder charges filed several months later.

Jason Richardson, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Leading scorer for 2001 Final Four team was found guilty of domestic violence in early summer of 2003 stemming from a dispute with an ex-girlfriend at her home in Saginaw, Mich., resulting in a three-game suspension by the NBA and a one-year probation sentence. Fresh off a DUI arrest, he was pulled over in late 2008 for going 90 mph in a 35-mph zone with his three-year-old son in the back of vehicle (although not in car seat).

Rumeal Robinson, Michigan (Bill Frieder and Steve Fisher) - Best remembered for converting the game-winning free throws in the 1989 NCAA title game against Seton Hall, he was sentenced in early 2011 to 6 1/2 years in jail for financial fraud. The charges against Robinson were bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution. The two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection borrowed more than $700,000 from a bank in Iowa in 2004, claiming it was for a business. He used the money for personal purposes instead (buying a condominium, cars, furniture and investing in an energy company). He's a bankrupted "strip club addict," according to his adoptive brother. Sparked outrage in his Cambridge, Mass., hometown when he reportedly caused his adoptive mother to be forcibly removed from her home after being tricked into signing a deed that sold a house to Robinson's business associate while receiving no money.

Thomas Robinson, Kansas (Bill Self) - Big 12 Conference Player of the Year in 2011-12 for NCAA tourney runner-up was cited with misdemeanor battery in spring of 2011 following an incident at a nightclub. The city prosecutor dismissed charge involving spitting on a bouncer, who did not want the prosecution to go forward. Robinson completed 20 hours of community service and agreed to write a letter of apology to the victim.

Derrick Rose, Memphis (John Calipari) - Assists leader and second-leading scorer for 2008 tourney runner-up was cleared with a couple of friends of all charges stemming from a civil rape lawsuit in a Los Angeles court. Rose and his co-defendants maintained the sex was consensual. His fraudulent SAT score resulted in the Tigers' vacating their runner-up finish.

Jalen Rose, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - The Wolverines' leader in assists for back-to-back Final Four teams in 1992 and 1993 was arrested around 2 a.m. in March 2011 on suspicion of drunken driving. Accused of operating a vehicle (Cadillac Escalade) while impaired (said he drank six martinis), he declined to take a Breathalyzer. Rose, who put the unbecoming "Uncle Tom" tag on Duke, was pulled from the air briefly by ESPN for failing to disclose his DUI arrest shortly after the release of a controversial documentary about his time with the Fab Five. Given a speeding ticket only hours after being ordered to serve 93 days in jail (all but 20 of them suspended; served 16 days).

Curtis Rowe, UCLA (John Wooden) - Two-time All-American while playing for three straight NCAA champions from 1969 through 1971 was charged in mid-October 1989 with possession of cocaine after Detroit police said they saw him and a companion throw packets of drugs on the ground. Arrested in late February 2008 in a drug raid in a building on Detroit's west side as officers found him with a baggie containing a substance believed to be heroin on his person.

Clifford Rozier, North Carolina (Dean Smith)/Louisville (Denny Crum) - After years of personal and legal trouble (five arrests and bankruptcy), the 1994 first-team All-American was incarcerated in his hometown of Bradenton, Fla., in May 2001, after being charged with grand theft auto. Rozier, jailed after an accusation of stealing a Manatee County sheriff deputy's personal car, was on the run for about a month before police apprehended him in Orlando. His ex-wife had him committed various times to a psychiatric care facility under Florida's Baker Act. Drug panhandler after participating in 1991 Final Four for UNC had three vehicles repossessed and his liabilities included child support to three women. After spending time in jail cells and psychiatric wards, Rozier lived in a halfway house following a 2006 arrest on an assault charge. Arrested in summer of 1998 on charges of assaulting his mother but the case was dropped. According to a 2010 Sarasota Herald-Tribune story, Rozier was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Brandon Rush, Kansas (Bill Self) - Leading scorer for 2008 NCAA titlist was suspended five games for violating NBA drug policy in late August 2010. Arrested while in college for not appearing in court to settle multiple traffic incidents. Faced family court date in spring of 2008 related to a child-support case.

Ralph Sampson, Virginia (Terry Holland) - Three-time national player of the year from 1981 through 1983 was accused of lying to federal authorities about his finances in a child-support case. Sampson pleaded guilty in 2005 in Richmond to failing to pay about $300,000 in court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. Sentencing was postponed after leading rebounder and second-leading rebounder for 1981 Final Four team was indicted on perjury and false claim charges before mail fraud and false-statement allegations were added. In a plea agreement, he was slated to serve two months in jail for mail fraud.

Damon Stoudamire, Arizona (Lute Olson) - Co-Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year in 1994-95 after appearing in Final Four the previous campaign was busted three times on marijuana-related charges in 2002 and 2003. "You live and you learn," Stoudamire said. "Guys are human and guys make mistakes."

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas (Bill Self) - In the spring of 2015, the assists leader for 2012 NCAA Tournament runner-up allegedly cashed a fake money order for $1,000 cash at a food store in his hometown of Hoboken, N.J. Sustained a dislocated thumb in fall of 2009 in an altercation involving several football and basketball players outside of the student union building. Late in 2010-11 campaign, KU suspended Taylor and a women's hooper for reportedly getting frisky playing unauthorized one-on-one inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Isiah Thomas, Indiana (Bob Knight) - A Detroit TV reporter filed an assault and battery complaint against 1981 Final Four MOP during his NBA playing days with the Detroit Pistons, claiming Thomas choked him and threw him against a car. A jury decided in the fall of 2007 that Thomas sexually harassed a former Knicks team executive, subjecting the former Northwestern basketball player to unwanted advances and a barrage of vulgarity (Madison Square Garden eventually settled for $11.5 million). The CBA almost disbanded after Thomas purchased the minor league before selling his interest in 2000. Multiple CBA executives said Thomas was "rude. . . . very poor business person. . . . doesn't listen to people. . . . makes poor decisions."

David Thompson, North Carolina State (Norm Sloan) - National player of the year in 1973-74 and 1974-75 had well-publicized involvement with cocaine. Final Four MOP in 1974 was accused of assaulting his wife while free-basing cocaine (received 180-day sentence in minimum security prison in 1987), filed for bankruptcy and suffered a severe knee injury in a dispute at Studio 54 in New York.

Bernard Toone, Marquette (Al McGuire and Hank Raymonds) - All-American in 1978-79 was charged with attempted grand larceny, criminal possession of burglar's tools and criminal mischief in April 1988 in White Plains, N.Y., after allegedly attempting to steal a car stereo system from a new Porsche. Member of 1977 NCAA titlist had been arrested twice in less than a year in 1985 - charged with third-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing a car radio and pleading guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after he was arrested at a fast-food restaurant in a rental car that had been reported stolen.

Kenny Walker, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall and Eddie Sutton) - Two-time NCAA consensus All-American after helping UK reach 1984 Final Four received seven-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to menacing his wife. He had been arrested in early January 1996 and charged with assault for allegedly choking his spouse.

John Wallace, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - A little over a year after becoming an All-American in 1995-96, his girlfriend withdrew a harassment charge alleging he punched her in the face and choked her during a quarrel over their son. Arrested in Brooklyn for driving with a suspended license in late February 2016. Leading scorer and rebounder for 1996 tourney runner-up also charged in summer of 1996 for failing to follow officers' instructions after issuance of a ticket.

Rasheed Wallace, North Carolina (Dean Smith) - Second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1995 Final Four team apologized in court and agreed to perform 50 hours of community service plus seek counseling following accusation of choking the mother of his child while visiting her and the infant over Easter weekend in 1996. Arrested with Portland "Jail Blazers" teammate in late November 2002 in a speeding car in which officers smelled pot.

Chris Webber, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - Leading rebounder for back-to-back NCAA Tournament runner-up teams in 1992 and 1993 was charged with marijuana possession and assaulting a police officer in 1998. He was pulled over and resisted the officer. The vehicle was impounded and traces of marijuana were found inside. Also that year, he was arrested by customs officials for possession of marijuana as he returned from a promotional trip to Puerto Rico. Indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit in September, 2002, on four felony counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to federal investigators (regarding money laundering tied to a shady UM booster, a bookmaker who was convicted of tax evasion and robbery before dying of a heart attack before he testified against Webber, who subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of criminal intent for lying about his role in the scandal). Suspended in mid-February, 2004, for five games by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug program. Sued over the closing of his Sacramento restaurant after signing a 20-year lease in 2005.

Bob "Zeke" Zawoluk, St. John's (Frank McGuire) - All-American in 1950-51 and 1951-52 after scoring school-record 65 points against St. Peter's in 1949-50 had turbulent life including vast emotional instability, an arson rap, crack addiction, grand larceny conviction and prison. After getting fired by one of a series of auto dealers for which he worked, leading scorer and rebounder for 1952 NCAA Tournament runner-up got even in an alcohol-fueled rage in Queens and Nassau County in 1986, dousing two luxury cars with gasoline, torching them, then ramming into 17 other cars, before being apprehended after a high-speed chase. Following another transgression, he was paroled on Christmas Eve, 1993, after serving nearly two years at Clinton Correctional Facility on robbery and grand larceny charges. A subsequent positive drug test violated his parole and sent him to Rikers Island in the mid-1990s.

DISHONORABLE MENTION

Dispensing with politically-correct niceties, many extra-baggage players simply have difficulty comprehending the difference between right and wrong. Heaven only knows how many other Final Four performers have run afoul of the law except for schools protecting them like their Praetorian Guard. Wichita State reached a $495,000 settlement with a former university vice president who sued WSU for retaliation. The ex-VP said he was demoted and his employment subsequently terminated after trying to investigate two student athletes, including one member of the 2013 Final Four squad. By no means comprehensive (example: Joe Hillman of 1987 titlist Indiana reportedly was one of seven agents in an underground bookmaking operation), following is an alphabetical list of non-All-Americans - including striking number from Michigan State and former national semifinal players for three of 2025 Final Four delegates - who didn't generate a prison bus break but might be of sufficient number for some concerned citizen to organize a "Mothers Against Final Four" group:

Player	School	Summary of Off-the-Court Shenanigans
Tony Allen	Oklahoma State	Leader in scoring and steals plus runner-up in rebounding and assists for 2004 Final Four club was charged in late November 2021 with domestic assault, domestic vandalism and interference with emergency calls in connection with an incident at his wife's apartment. Previously, the Big 12 Conference MVP was found not guilty after indicted on three counts of aggravated battery escalating into an August 2005 shooting in his native Chicago. Juco recruit was arrested in late summer 2002 for obstruction and resisting a police officer after 25 cops were summoned at 2:30 a.m. to break up riot of about 300 people linked to rival groups from OSU and Langston University at a Whataburger restaurant. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud in NBA scam (sentenced to community service and supervision).
Darrell Allums	UCLA	Center for the Bruins' NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1980 was sentenced to nine years in state prison for armed robbery. According to a probation report, Allums became dependent on cocaine and turned to robbing Target stores and Domino's Pizza deliverymen to get cash.
Benny Anders	Houston	Flamboyant dunker with Phi Slama Jama had his college career end in the summer of 1985 when he was sentenced to three years' probation for possession of a gun on campus after a pick-up game dispute. Boasting a personalized license plate called "Outlaw" on his new Camaro, he arrived at the 1984 Final Four donning a pink tux.
Alan Anderson	Michigan State	Runner-up in scoring and rebounding for 2005 Final Four team received a 24-month sentence for submitting $121,000 in false claims for himself and recruiting others to join a scheme to defraud the NBA in an additional $710,000 in fraudulent healthcare benefits claims.
Greg Anthony	UNLV	Assists and steals leader for 1990 national champion and 1991 Final Four squad was arrested in a prostitution-solicitation sting in early 2015. Charges dropped if he did 32 hours of community service and stayed out of trouble for four months.
Gilbert Arenas	Arizona	Leading scorer for 2001 tourney runner-up was suspended for most of 2009-10 NBA season stemming from a felony gun possession in locker room and subsequent actions appearing to make light of the episode. Arrested in May 2006 in Miami after allegedly ignoring a police officer's command to return to his car (charges later dropped). Pleaded no contest to misdemeanor weapon charges resulting from an incident in San Mateo County (Calif.) in 2003 after becoming an All-Pacific-10 Conference selection as a sophomore. Arrested in California in late June 2013 for possession of illegal fireworks in the back of his pickup truck. In the spring of 2014, Arenas took a cinder block and smashed a Mercedes his longtime flame had been driving, claiming the incident was revenge for her allegedly breaking numerous windows in his house and ruining his Netflix account by throwing his computer into the pool. In late January 2016, Arenas bragged on social media how he committed credit-card fraud at strip clubs. In late 2023 on a podcast Arenas hosts, he implied that black players should assault white players "one at a time" because "Euros takin' the league from our people."
Vincent Askew	Memphis State	Freshman starter for the Tigers' 1985 Final Four team was arrested in mid-August 2008, accused of unlawfully having sex with a minor (16-year-old girl) in a Miami hotel room. He pleaded guilty to a charge of child abuse with no great bodily harm and was placed on probation for three years. Briefly coached Elliston Baptist Academy in Memphis before leaving the job under a cloud. Attended summer school at Kansas under coach Larry Brown before returning to Memphis. KU was placed on probation stemming from wrongdoing in connection with improper inducements to Askew.
Lonny Baxter	Maryland	Leading rebounder for the Terrapins' 2002 NCAA champion was sentenced to two months in jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, including carrying a handgun without a license a few blocks from the White House, in mid-August, 2006. Uniformed Secret Service agents responded after shots were fired from a white SUV. Two summers earlier, Baxter was arrested at his Washington condominium after a shotgun went off and bullet shattered a neighbor's window across the street. In July, 2007, he pleaded guilty to illegally shipping guns through Federal Express and was sentenced to 60 days in prison.
Corey Beck	Arkansas	Arrested at 2:00 a.m. midway through 1992-93 season for allegedly driving while intoxicated before pacing the NCAA champion Hogs in assists and steals the next campaign. In early November 2004, he was jailed for the third time in two years for failure to pay child support and violating his probation. According to court documents, Beck flunked multiple drug tests for cocaine, admitted to marijuana use and lied to his probation officer about where he lived. In the fall of 2007, he was shot in the hand and face defending himself during an attempted auto theft in Memphis. Arrested in summer of 2008 for contempt of court stemming from failure to pay child support for four daughters. In summer of 2010, he was booked into jail at almost 3:00 a.m. following an arrest for driving while intoxicated. Arrested in late January 2013 for failure to pay fines and costs in connection with his conviction for driving while intoxicated and other traffic offenses in 2011. In early 2013, Beck was arrested for failure to pay fines and costs.
Chane Behanan	Louisville	Member of 2013 All-NCAA Tournament team dismissed from U of L squad midway through the next season for a violation of university policy. Suspended that preseason for a similar disciplinary infraction. In an interview with Bleacher Report's Jason King, Behanan said he "began smoking weed regularly (at Louisville), often after a long practice or a tough, physical game - and almost always when he was alone." After the Cardinals captured the NCAA title, Behanan told King "there were parties every night. People were inviting us places all the time and trying to give us stuff. It was a good feeling. I got caught up in it. Everywhere you went, there was something to get into. It was so easy." Cited for marijuana possession in early April 2014 in Louisville. "Guys like Chane, they think they're living a pro life," said John Lucas, ....... "But it's really a $200 life. You have friends who send you a couple of dollars from time to time, you get free shoes from AAU teams. You have just enough money to make you think you have money, but you really don't have any." In early August 2018, he was arrested and accused of being a backseat passenger in a car with "marijuana residue" and was sitting next to a stolen AK-47-style rifle (marijuana charge dropped after completing education program; possession of stolen firearm charge also dropped after another person in auto took responsibility for weapon). Two months later, Behanan was indicted by a grand jury after allegedly failing to pay child support. In early 2020, he was accused of placing fraudulent charges on a stolen credit card.
Winston Bennett	Kentucky	In UK's regular rotation for 1984 Final Four, he was terminated as a Boston Celtics assistant coach after violating the team's contractual agreement for practicing at Brandeis by having a sexual relationship with a female student enrolled there. All-SEC second-team selection as a junior in 1985-86 was fired as coach at Kentucky State in 2003 after striking a player in the face. Despite being the ultimate backup pro player, Bennett said he "slept with 90 women a month." After only 10 weeks on the job, he was fired in fall of 2017 from his state government position after sending inappropriate emails (including subordinates).
Corie Blount	Cincinnati	Center for 1992 Final Four team served a one-year prison sentence for possession of marijuana. He was charged with felony drug possession in early December 2008 after Butler County (Ohio) authorities saw him pick up a package from California they knew contained marijuana and then found more weed at his home. Deputies confiscated a total of 29 pounds of marijuana, several vehicles, three guns and $34,400 in cash. Blount, who avoided trafficking charges as part of his plea agreement, also was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines, serve 250 hours of community service and lose his driver's license for three years.
Delray Brooks	Providence	Head coach in mid-May 2000 when he pleaded no contest to stealing $25,000 from Texas-Pan American and was sentenced to 10 years probation. He had been dismissed the previous August for depositing a check from a tournament hosted by Southwest Missouri State into his personal account, then frittering away the money. After transferring from IU, Brooks was the second-leading scorer for PC's 1987 Final Four squad. In 2006, he was arrested for a probation violation stemming from his first run-in with the law (failure to pay restitution in the case).
Derek Brower	Syracuse	Member of the Orangemen's 1987 NCAA Tournament runner-up pleaded guilty in a Cincinnati courtroom to interstate travel for drug dealing. Served six months of a five-year sentence in federal prison.
Lewis Brown	UNLV	Beset by an arrest history including charges for drugs, the third-leading rebounder and sixth-leading scorer for the Rebels' 1977 national third-place team spent more than 10 years homeless on the streets of Santa Monica, Calif., before passing away in mid-September 2011 at the age of 56. According to the New York Times, family members said he was using cocaine at UNLV. "Drugs were his downfall," said his sister.
Anthony Buford	Cincinnati	Second-leading scorer for the Bearcats' 1992 Final Four team and his girlfriend were sentenced in February 2012 to 41 months in federal prison for mortgage fraud conspiracy and ordered to pay nearly $2.8 million in restitution to lending institutions they defrauded.
Marcus Bullard	Mississippi State	Starting point guard for 1996 Final Four team was sentenced to three years in prison for violating his probation on drug charges. He was accused of pistol-whipping another student on MSU's campus in 1996, violating terms of his probation by possessing a weapon and failing to report to his probation officer. He had pleaded guilty in 1994 and was put on probation after being charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute the previous year. His older brother served time in the same penitentiary for manslaughter. He pleaded guilty in 1998 to crack cocaine possession and received three years of probation. While on probation, he was accused of hitting a rival fraternity member in the head with a gun. The incident led to revocation of his probation, and he served a short prison term. He went to prison again after pleading guilty to cocaine and ecstasy charges in 2004. Bullard was sent to prison in summer of 2013 on a parole violation following a drive-by shooting in late 2012. In 2016, he was in trouble with the law multiple times.
Norm Cook	Kansas	After several run-ins with the law, he was diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia in 1996 and was incarcerated or confined to his home in Lincoln, Ill., for 30 years until slipping into a diabetic coma and dying in late 2008 at the age of 53. He was KU's second-leading rebounder as a freshman for 1974 national fourth-place team.
Deshawn Corprew	Texas Tech	Juco recruit in regular rotation left program following suspension from 2019 NCAA tourney finalist after allegations of Title IX allegations.
Ed Cota	North Carolina	Assists leader and teammate Terrence Newby, the only seniors on UNC's 1999-00 Final Four squad, were arrested on misdemeanor charges stemming from an early-morning, Halloween-related altercation. Despite claiming they were trying to break up a fight, the duo subsequently agreed to a last-minute deal (community service and sharing cost of medical bills generated by melee).
Branden Dawson	Michigan State	Top rebounder for the Spartans' 2015 Final Four club had charges dropped regarding a felony domestic violence arrest in spring of 2016. In the fall of 2023, the 2014 Big Ten Conference Tournament MVP was suspended for two years from the Dominican Republic Basketball League after sucker punching an opponent.
Teddy Dupay	Florida	Guard for the Gators' 2000 NCAA Tournament runner-up was bound over for trial on charges of rape, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping of a woman in mid-June 2008 at a Utah ski resort. The woman, who had been in a relationship with him for two years, said the telemarketer hit and kicked her 150 times before the rape. More than a year later, he accepted reduced charges, went to jail for 30 days and was placed on a lengthy probation. Previously, evidence surfaced that Dupay, dismissed from UF's team before his senior season, asked another student to place bets for him on the Gators' program. The first UF recruit by Billy Donovan after setting the state's high school career scoring mark (3,744 points) was never charged criminally with gambling violations but state attorney Bill Cervone said there is "no doubt in my mind" Dupay bet on college sports. Dupay subsequently launched a website endorsing the legalization of marijuana.
Devin Ebanks	West Virginia	Suspended at start of 2009-10 Final Four season, New York City product was also suspended for two games at beginning of 2013-14 NBA campaign (pleaded no contest to DUI charge) and for five contests in spring of 2014 for violation of NBA D-League drug policy.
Billy Edelin	Syracuse	Suspended for the 2001-02 season following a female student's claim of sexual harassment (no charges filed but he was booted him school prior to reinstatement). Career was riddled with off-court issues leading to multiple suspensions as he spent portions of four seasons with the Orange but never played an entire campaign (including 2003 NCAA titlist). Starter suddenly disappeared from squad midway through 2003-04.
Khalid El-Amin	Connecticut	Minnesota product, an All-NCAA Tournament selection for 1999 national champion, was detained in spring of 2019 for failure to pay nearly $126,000 in delinquent child support (judge ordered him to pay $780 per month).
Rakym Felder	South Carolina	Brooklyn native arrested in mid-October 2016 at 1:30 a.m. outside a bar after knocking one victim unconscious and fighting police upon confronted by a taser. Regular for USC's 2017 Final Four team was arrested around 2:45 a.m. in mid-July 2017 and charged with third-degree assault and battery stemming from a brawl reportedly precipitated by him spitting on a woman (charges subsequently dismissed). Dropped from Gamecocks' squad in April 2018 after failing to meet guidelines he faced upon him allowed to re-enroll in spring semester.
Bryn Forbes	Michigan State	Fourth-leading scorer for the Spartans' 2015 Final Four team following transfer from Cleveland State was arrested at 5 a.m. on family violence charge in mid-February 2023 after verbal argument with female companion turned physical.
Manuel Forrest	Louisville	Prize prospect hampered by a knee ailment (averaged 8.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85 during which Cardinals made back-to-back Final Four appearances) was arrested in September 2013 after police, stopping vehicle for weaving from lane to lane, discovered marijuana and crack cocaine.
Reggie Garrett	Arkansas	Regular rotation member of the Razorbacks' 1995 national runner-up was arrested 11 times in Rankin County (Miss.) from 1996 to fall of 2003, including DUI and assault.
Glen Gondrezick	UNLV	The third-leading scorer for the Rebels' 1977 Final Four team attempted suicide in Boulder, Colo., in the summer of 1986 following an incident where he was charged with third-degree assault on his wife. Immersed in marital problems, he shot himself with a .22-caliber rifle. The bullet punctured his lung and passed through his body. He went on to become a UNLV radio/TV color commentator for 17 years before passing away in late April 2009 due to complications from a heart transplant he received the previous September.
Michael Graham	Georgetown	Freshman enforcer and member of 1984 All-NCAA Tournament Team for the Hoyas' national champion was dropped from roster of CBA's Tulsa Fast Breakers in 1989 after testing positive for cocaine.
Steve Gray	Duke	Member of the Blue Devils' 1978 NCAA Tournament runner-up pleaded guilty in fall of 2014 to insider trading and was sentenced to 46 months in prison along with a $7,500 fine and forfeiture of his illegitimate profits ($326,159). Gray, as CEO of a Houston firm, had access to press releases and confidential information used to prepare releases for his clients prior to their issuance to the investing public.
Draymond Green	Michigan State	Leading rebounder for 2010 Final Four team after serving as freshman backup on NCAA finalist the previous year became one of the most ruthless players in the NBA (flagrant fouls galore, eye gouging, trying to lick and pull down shorts of opposing players, frequent kicking/stomping). He also inadvertently sent pecker pic on Snapchat, triggering $100,000 offer to be in porn production. Arrested for assault and battery at 2:30 a.m. in summer of 2016. Green was suspended for 12 games in 2023-24 season following an altercation with a Phoenix Suns player.
Keith Harris	Kansas	Member of the Jayhawks' 1988 NCAA playoff champion was charged in February 1989 with assault after choking and biting a female student in her apartment. In the spring of 1993, Harris was jailed on a warrant containing felony counts of selling marijuana and cocaine to an undercover informant and not affixing a state drug-tax stamp to illegal narcotics.
Dametri Hill	Florida	The Gators' second-leading rebounder for 1994 Final Four squad was arrested in fall of 2011 for failing to pay child support. He was also charged with violating probation for two previous charges of marijuana possession. Hill was suspended from the Gators' 1994-95 season opener for disciplinary reasons.
Baskerville Holmes	Memphis State	A starting forward who averaged 9.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg for the Tigers' 1985 Final Four team, he was arrested twice for domestic violence. Later, Holmes, an out-of-work truck driver, and his girlfriend were found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide in Memphis on March 18, 1997, when he was 32.
Ron Huery	Arkansas	Received a five-year prison sentence in mid-2008 for violating his probation and attempting to break into his ex-girlfriend's home. Arrested in mid-July 2005 on charges of rape, first-degree false imprisonment and third-degree domestic battery, plus a misdemeanor charge of obstructing governmental operations stemming from an incident involving an ex-girlfriend. In 1994, All-SWC first-team selection in 1987-88 was put on probation for eight years after a cocaine conviction in his hometown of Memphis, where he was also charged with drunken driving and driving on a revoked license. In 2002, Huery, who scored 1,550 points for the Razorbacks, sold his ring from the 1990 Final Four to help pay off fines and interest on 1991 traffic charges.
Anderson Hunt	UNLV	The second-leading scorer for the Rebels' 1990 NCAA champion pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in connection with marijuana found in his possession during a traffic stop in October, 1993. In September, 2002, Final Four Most Outstanding Player was sentenced to probation and fined more than $1,300 for attempted embezzlement after acknowledging he kept a Las Vegas rental car beyond its due date. In May 1991, the local newspaper published photos of him with teammates David Butler and Moses Scurry in a hot tub drinking beer with known sports fixer Richard Perry. Hunt never married and is the father of five.
Sam Jacobson	Minnesota	Second-leading scorer for 1997 Final Four squad pleaded guilty to residential mortgage fraud over $35,000 stemming from the "short sale" (worth less than what was owed forcing lender to eat loss) to his then-girlfriend and subsequent wife of his house in August 2011.
Courtney James	Minnesota	After helping the Gophers reach the Final Four earlier in the year, he was sentenced in mid-November 1997 to two years of probation and suspended for the entire 1997-98 campaign for a misdemeanor domestic-assault conviction for intending to cause fear by hitting his former girlfriend in the face with an address book.
Dontae' Jones	Mississippi State	The most serious charges were dismissed but he faced up to 14 years in prison if convicted on all charges stemming from a shooting where seven people were wounded in late April, 1999, outside a Nashville, Tenn., nightclub after an argument between a Memphis rap group and an entertainment promoter. Jones, the NJCAA player of the year in 1994-95 before helping lead the Bulldogs to the 1996 Final Four, was accused of simple assault with bodily injury, reckless endangerment and felony vandalism. Midway through the 1996-97 NBA season, he was suspended two games by the New York Knicks for repeated team violations even while on the injured list.
Terrence Jones	Kentucky	Only UK player other than All-American Anthony Davis to average more than 12 ppg and 7 rpg for 2012 NCAA titlist was arrested in late July 2013 for stomping on a homeless man's leg in Portland. Charges were dropped in civil compromise after agreement to pay $10,000 to a charity organization benefitting the homeless.
Chad Kinch	UNC Charlotte	Third-leading scorer for 1977 Final Four team as a freshman died at his parents' home in Cartaret, N.J., from complications of drug habit eventually leading to him contracting AIDS. He passed away on April 3, 1994, the day between the Final Four semifinals and final in Charlotte. The host school happened to be UNCC.
Jimmy King	Michigan	"Fab Five" member was arrested in Pontiac, Mich., in August 2011 on accusations he failed to pay $17,000 in child support and ignored repeated warnings to get back on schedule. Authorities had been working for three years to get King to get up to date with the payments.
Tom Kivisto	Kansas	Oilman in Tulsa, founder of the fifth-largest privately held company in the U.S. in 2007, promised to donate $12 million to renovate his alma mater's football stadium. He was fired as president and CEO in 2008 from SemGroup LP, the energy company based primarily on the delivery of crude oil he founded eight years previously. The firm filed for bankruptcy earlier that year because of $2.4 billion in debt stemming from bad gambles in the oil futures market. Former FBI director Louis J. Freeh was appointed by a bankruptcy court to sort out petition documents claiming Kivisto owed the company $290 million in trading losses through his personal trading company. Kivisto, a starting playmaker and All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection for the Jayhawks' 1974 national fourth-place team, agreed to pay $225,000 in fines and give up $1.2 million in stock to settle a SEC civil lawsuit alleging he misled investors while the energy company was collapsing financially. Kivisto, whose business-career roots began at Koch Industries before striking out on his own, does not admit wrongdoing.
Todd Leary	Indiana	Handed a two-year home detention sentence after pleading guilty in mid-July 2010 to charges stemming from an ex-business partner's multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme. Prosecutors say Leary, who was an analyst for IU's radio broadcasts when he was arrested, worked for a title insurance broker who pleaded guilty in a $2.7 million fraud case. Leary, who averaged 3.8 ppg for the Hoosiers' 1992 Final Four squad, also faced charges connected to the theft of high-end appliances from foreclosed homes and served one year in prison. Leary said he and his fellow IU seniors each raked in $56,000 cash for a 19-game, 21-day barnstorming tour filling gyms across the state.
Sidney Lowe Sr.	North Carolina State	Playmaker for 1983 NCAA championship team pleaded guilty after being arrested in mid-February 2013 and charged with failing to file his state income tax returns the last three years he coached his alma mater (2009 through 2011). Lowe, earning about $900,000 annually, was one of the state's highest-paid employees. In the summer of 2008, his son was sentenced to 15 months at a prison farm after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana and the drug Ecstasy, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and six counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping stemming from a home invasion.
Korie Lucious	Michigan State	Suspended a game for missing class during 2009-10 NCAA championship season before being charged with drunk driving in late summer 2010. Dismissed for violation of MSU team policy (smoking weed) midway through 2010-11 campaign before transferring to Iowa State.
Elmer Martin Jr.	Arkansas	Memphis product was backup forward for the Razorbacks' 1994 NCAA titlist and starter at the end of the next season before receiving a 15-year prison term in late July 2008 after pleading guilty to drug charges. A county deputy prosecutor said that delivery of a controlled substance charges involved cocaine, and that intent to deliver charges involved cocaine and Ecstasy. During two weeks earlier in the year, detectives made two controlled cocaine purchases from Martin.
Walter McCarty	Kentucky	Second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for 1996 champion was fired as Evansville's coach midway through 2019-20 season amidst a Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. McCarty, who previously participated in a training program about unacceptable behavior, reportedly attempted to improperly influence witnesses. A warrant was issued for his arrest in the fall of 2020 following defaulting on a $75,000 line of credit. A second bank indicated he defaulted on a $45,000 loan the previous month after signing a promissory note in 2018.
Mitch McGary	Michigan	Leading rebounder for NCAA Tournament runner-up as freshman in 2012-13 left UM before his junior year after testing positive for marijuana, avoiding a one-year ban by the NCAA. Failed a drug test before start of 2016-17 NBA season. He was slated to sit out first five games of year before suspension turned into 15 contests upon failing to live up to procedural guidelines. Missed the end of 2015-16 D-League campaign for undisclosed "personal reasons."
Gary McLain	Villanova	Assists leader for 1985 NCAA titlist confessed in a 1987 first-person SI article that he used cocaine throughout his college career including before national semifinal victory against Memphis State. "I lost my way," he said of mistakes leaving him briefly homeless and needing stint in a PA treatment center dealing with addiction. McLain wrote that he snorted coke with teammates although none ever acknowledged using drugs.
Makhtar N'Diaye	North Carolina	Tar Heels captain was found guilty of simple assault and communicating a threat during an argument. He was sentenced to 12 months unsupervised probation, a $200 fine and mandatory anger management classes. Several months earlier, he attracted national attention at 1998 Final Four, where he fouled out after only 14 minutes against Utah and eventually retracted accusation that a Utes player directed a racial slur at him.
Major Parker	Florida	Staff assistant under Billy Donovan after averaging 4.6 ppg and 2.6 rpg from 1997-98 through 2000-01 (including 2000 Final Four club) was arrested for selling half a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover officer in December 2004. Pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Completed a six-month sentence under house arrest and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation and more than 200 hours of community service.
Frank Peters	Oregon State	Third-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer for fourth-place team in 1963 NCAA playoffs served 2 1/2 years in prison of a 10-year sentence following a 1989 conviction for statutory rape and drug offenses (busted for possession of 800 marijuana plants worth a reported $1 million). Affiliated for more than 20 years with a bar/dancehall in Southeast Portland, where he served everything from reindeer to rodent while presiding over events such as strip karaoke and lesbian dance party. He played a supporting role in a Netflix film The Battered Bastards of Baseball, which is purportedly about a minor-league baseball franchise that thrived in the 1970s during a time when it was the nation's only professional club not owned by a MLB team. While managing the Mavericks, Peters was also the maestro of several of Portland's most notorious nightspots, including Satan's Disco.
Brandon Powell	Florida	Freshman member of school's second straight NCAA titlist was arrested in mid-June 2007 with UF's kick return specialist as part of a reverse sting drug operation. Disciplined internally during season after videotape showed Memphis product sucker punched a Vanderbilt fan when Commodore fans stormed the court following an upset of the top-ranked Gators. Transferred to Marshall, where he was dismissed from Thundering Herd squad early in 2008-09 campaign.
Zach Price	Louisville	Backup frontcourter who appeared in tourney opener for 2013 NCAA titlist was dismissed from Missouri's team following an arrest in early April 2014 in the wee hours of the morning on suspicion of assaulting his Adonis-looking Tigers roommate (Earnest Ross) and a female friend. Unbelievably, Price was arrested and booked again later the same day for allegedly ramming his vehicle into a car containing the same two people. Ross filed a restraining order petition against Price the day before the twin incidents, alleging he stalked them in his vehicle and tried to drive their auto off the road. Price received two years of probation along with 80 hours of community service upon pleading guilty to one count of misdemeanor careless driving and two counts of misdemeanor disturbing the peace. Was assistant coach Tim Fuller, who joined Mizzou's staff from Louisville, totally in the dark about Price's volatility before Price was charged with first-degree tampering?
Zach Randolph	Michigan State	Starting center for 2001 Final Four team was implicated in the spring of 2010 after Indianapolis police found a cooler filled with marijuana in a Cadillac Escalade registered to him plus gun ammunition stowed inside a hidden compartment. Cops raided storage space rented by Randolph, where weed and "(four) cars with secret compartments" were found. Randolph's previous problems when he was a member of the Portland "Jail" Blazers included underage drinking, sucker-punching a teammate in practice, reportedly being spotted at a strip club while on bereavement leave and getting sued by an exotic dancer for sexual assault although police never filed criminal charges. Randolph, who chose "I'm 'n Luv (Wit a Stripper)" as his pregame warm-up song in Portland, was questioned but not charged in an August 2004 nightclub dance-floor shooting in Indiana leaving three people wounded. His brother, Roger, was sentenced to three years in prison in a plea deal. Zach was convicted of battery in 1997, and spent time in a juvenile detention center in 1999 for receiving stolen guns. He also had a DUI in Los Angeles in 2009 and police claimed Randolph invited a drug dealer to his party gone awry at his Oregon home in August 2011. Following a chartered cruise, the expectation was that the invitee would sell marijuana to the guests but his asking price apparently was too high and he was beat with pool cues by multiple individuals. In the fall of 2017, he had a felony marijuana-distribution charge in Sacramento reduced to a misdemeanor (resisting arrest). In summer of 2018, his brother was shot and killed outside a bar in their hometown around 5 a.m.
Reggie Redding	Villanova	Runner-up in assists for 2009 Final Four team was arrested in late summer that year for possession of marijuana. He was stripped of team captaincy and suspended 10 games at start of senior season.
Andre Riddick	Kentucky	In early August 2018, the Wildcats' leader in blocked shots for 1993 Final Four team faced charges of alcohol intoxication in a public place, fourth-degree assault, disorderly conduct in the second degree and resisting arrest. After leaving a bar, Riddick allegedly picked up his girlfriend and pushed or tossed her down stairs before punching her in the chest.
Cody Riley	UCLA	Principal big man for the Bruins' First Four to Final Four run in 2021 was arrested with two freshman teammates for shoplifting in early November 2017 during a team trip to China after they pilfered designer and throwaway sunglasses in addition to cheap beaded bracelets from three stores. "I don't wave the Bible around, but somebody knows the truth about all of us," Coach Mick Cronin said. " I don't think any of us walk the earth without making a mistake; theirs just happened to be really bad timing and really public."
Chianti Roberts	Oklahoma State	Sixth man for 1995 Final Four squad was arrested in mid-June 2003 about 2:45 a.m. on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.
Delco Rowley	Michigan State	Member of 2005 Final Four squad was arrested in late October 2007 as a YMCA behavior specialist on charges of sending nude pictures of himself to a 15-year-old girl.
Randy Rutherford	Oklahoma State	Still in spring of 1995 after reaching Final Four as the Cowboys' second-leading scorer and rebounder, he was accused of threatening to blow up a city block after becoming upset his electricity had been disconnected.
Casey Sanders	Duke	Starting center for 2001 national champion was arrested and charged with assaulting his girlfriend in spring of 2002, grabbing her arm and pushing her into a wall during a breakfast dispute. Arrested in Tampa in early 2012 and charged with DUI.
Melvin Scott	North Carolina	Point guard who averaged 6.8 ppg from 2001-02 through 2004-05 had rape charges dropped after an arrest in fall of 2014 involving a female acquaintance who according to police was "mentally incapacitated and physically helpless." Previously, Scott was arrested in spring of 2002 and charged with assaulting a female student at 1:30 a.m. at a local night club. Member of 2005 NCAA champion was apprehended again in 2010 for assault on a law enforcement officer after being approached for being drunk and disorderly. Before he was a teen, Scott reportedly was arrested for burglary and carrying drugs and expelled from multiple Baltimore-area schools.
Moses Scurry	UNLV	A key backup player on the Runnin' Rebels' 1990 NCAA champion was sentenced to two years in prison in December 1994 for his role in a carjacking that left the driver shot in the thigh in the parking lot of a Las Vegas lounge. In May 1991, the local newspaper published photos of him with teammates David Butler and Anderson Hunt drinking beer in a hot tub with known sports fixer Richard Perry.
Lazarus Sims	Syracuse	Big East Conference leader in assists for NCAA tourney runner-up in 1996 resigned as Syracuse parks commissioner in spring of 2018 before pleading guilty to stealing $5,400 from city taxpayers (pocketed cash payments from park rentals and city fees).
Ervin Small	Illinois	Member of 1989 Final Four team faced a 51-month prison sentence after pleading guilty in June, 1999, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. His term was reduced after high school and college teammate of Nick Anderson and Deon Thomas assisted authorities in prosecuting other drug traffickers. Small, who worked as a correctional officer, reportedly had prior convictions for battery and theft.
"Sudden" Sam Smith	UNLV	J.C. recruit, the Rebels' second-leading scorer for 1977 Final Four team, was arrested and charged with two counts of selling crack cocaine in mid-February 1997.
Elmore Spencer	UNLV	Backup center on 1991 Final Four team was hospitalized for 36 days in 1987 for symptoms of manic depression. Married to a woman 10 years his senior while in college, he was picked up in late summer 1987 for pre-dawn reckless driving. During 1988-89 at Georgia before transferring, he got into a fight with a student in dormitory and drew probation for an incident in which he bullied the same student out of his groceries.
Dave Taynor	Kansas	Hoopszone.net claims captain of 1974 Final Four team pleaded guilty to money laundering in February 1996 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined following indictment in summer of 1994 for his part in the operation of a fraudulent insurance program.
Sean Tunstall	Kansas	Reserve guard for the Jayhawks' 1991 NCAA Tournament runner-up was shot and killed at age 28 in the parking lot of a recreation center in his native St. Louis on October 16, 1997, in a drug deal gone bad. He had received a prison sentence in 1993 after pleading guilty to one count of selling cocaine. "He was one of the few kids I never thought I completely reached," coach Roy Williams said.
Wayne Turner	Kentucky	Starting playmaker for 1998 NCAA titlist was arrested in summer of 2003 in hometown Boston after police found a Glock 9mm handgun loaded with 12 rounds in his rental car (pleaded innocent to charges of illegal possession of firearm and weapon with high-capacity magazine). His brother, Tiny, was arrested for armed robbery and spent time in and out of prison for a decade. Their parents were absent from their lives, leaving the two boys to mostly fend for themselves in a toxic environment.
Robbie Valentine	Louisville	Backup senior forward for 1986 titlist and 1983 Final Four participant as freshman was charged in February 2023 with strangulation of his girlfriend at their home (reportedly because she sought to move out).
Lagerald Vick	Kansas	Although never charged with criminal conduct, a KU probe resulted in recommendation of two years probation after determining Memphis product likely committed domestic violence in late 2015. At the time, coach Bill Self selflessly said Vick was sidelined two games due to "illness." There was no description for ailment the season after reaching 2018 Final Four when Vick took a leave of absence midway through the 2018-19 campaign to return to his hometown "to help out with family issues."
Jay Vincent	Michigan State	Third-leading scorer and rebounder for 1979 NCAA champion was indicted in mid-August 2010 for an internet employment scam bilking more than 10,000 job-seekers out of nearly $2 million. He faced charges of mail fraud and an income tax violation. According to the U.S. Attorney's office in Detroit, he and an associate concocted a scheme to defraud people seeking work through their Foreclosure Bank Inspection Company. The company claimed to test, certify and employ people to inspect bank foreclosed homes, and advertised that the company had contracts and received large checks from major banks to do the work. In reality, the copies of contracts and checks used in the ads were altered or counterfeit. The company also did not hire contractors to perform inspections. What it did do was charge $149 to provide liability insurance for each job applicant and $89 for background checks. False insurance policies were prepared in the company's offices and no background checks were made. Tests, completed and returned by applicants, were stored in boxes without reviews. Vincent was ordered to pay the government $110,000. In the income tax charge, Vincent was accused of reporting a business income of $62,438 on his 2008 tax return. Authorities said the actual amount he earned was $330,269. Sent to jail in late July 2011 five weeks before he was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison in the federal case after he was accused of writing, or causing others to write, bad checks in a different scheme.
Mark Wade	UNLV	All-PCAA first-team selection, who dished out an NCAA playoff record 18 assists in 1987 national semifinals, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15,000 during 2006-07 in his former job as an assistant coach with UC Riverside. He was accused of depositing into his personal bank account the proceeds from two university checks and one electronic fund transfer. Some of the money was supposed to cover team expenses during road games over the Christmas break.
Antoine Walker	Kentucky	Leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for 1996 NCAA Tournament champion was arrested in mid-July 2009 at a Harrah's cabaret bar on Lake Tahoe's south shore on criminal charges stemming from $822,500 in gambling debts in Las Vegas. Walker pleaded guilty to one count of passing a bad check. If his massive gambling debt wasn't enough, he had to deal with the city of Chicago calling him a slumlord. Walker's hometown levied fines totaling nearly $1 million against his two real estate investment companies and residents of those properties were filing lawsuits for a number of problems existing in the buildings. In early January 2009, Walker was arrested for DUI in Miami Beach. His combined career salary of approximately $110 million was depleted when he resorted to playing in the D-League with the Idaho Stampede before retiring in early April 2012. Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in spring of 2010, a distant memory were his extravagant "wiggle" days with the Boston Celtics when his condominium complex was a virtual luxury car lot - two Bentleys, a Cadillac Escalade, a bright red Hummer, two Mercedes and a Range Rover.
Travis Walton	Michigan State	Big Ten Conference defensive player of the year in 2008-09 was allowed to continue duties as student-assistant coach after criminally charged for punching a female student at a bar in January 2010. The victim said she was knocked unconscious by the blow and that bouncers removed Walton from the bar. Walton pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and his assault and battery charges were dropped. He pleaded guilty to a civil infraction for littering. Accused of sexually assaulting a different female with two other MSU players in a separate incident three months later after the Spartans reached the 2010 Final Four. In the spring of 2018, school officials provided more information ab out how the university dealt with the sordid situation, telling ESPN's Outside the Lines that administrators would "handle it differently" if such an allegation were made today.
Ed Warner	CCNY	Second-leading scorer for team winning NIT and NCAA tourney titles in 1950 had his career shattered by a six-month sentence stemming from point-shaving scandal engulfing the sport. In the 1960s, Warner was imprisoned after pleading guilty to attempting to sell heroin. "I had a problem," he said. "I was trying to play Superfly."
Kenyan Weaks	Florida	Swingman averaging 10 ppg for the Gators' 2000 NCAA Tournament runner-up and eventual Chowan College/Florida Southern/Marshall assistant coach was charged in spring of 2017 with series of disturbing felonies as a North Carolina high school coach (felony breaking and entering to terrorize or injure, misdemeanor stalking and simple assault). In summer of 1998, he was placed on conduct probation following a dormitory altercation with a woman after previously being suspended for the first three regular-season games for violating unspecified team rules.
Rob Williams	Houston	Leading scorer for 1982 Final Four team died of congestive heart failure at the age of 52 in March 2014 after suffering a stroke 15 years earlier leaving him blind in his left eye and partially paralyzed on his left side. Williams denied rumors he was too high to play against North Carolina in the national semifinals (0-for-8 field-goal shooting). But Williams admitted he used drugs. "Cocaine came later but I started out smoking weed (in junior high)," Williams said. "I was always a curious type of fellow, so I wanted to see what cocaine was about. So I tried it. And to tell you the truth, I liked it."
Othell Wilson	Virginia	All-ACC first-team selection as a sophomore in 1981-82 and leading scorer for 1984 Final Four squad was indicted by a grand jury in November 1999 on charges of kidnapping and raping his 20-year-old ex-girlfriend. He had just been appointed coach at St. Mary's College (Md.).
Rick Wilson	Louisville	In August, 1993, the All-Metro Conference first-team selection in 1977-78 was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violations of the terms of his probation. Wilson, who had joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department in 1986, was convicted in July 1990 of cocaine trafficking and possession, but was put on probation for five years after serving a month in a work-release center. In 1991, member of 1975 national third-place club was allowed to remain on probation and undergo addiction treatment despite five urine tests finding evidence of cocaine use.
Jeff Withey	Kansas	L.A. District Attorney's Office chose not to move forward with case after 2014 Playboy Playmate of the Year accused her ex-fiancee of domestic violence, stemming from a physical altercation between them in 2016. The blonde bombshell reportedly broke things off with Withey the previous fall after learning leader in rebounding and blocked shots for 2012 NCAA runner-up may have cheated with another woman while couple was engaged.
Orlando Woolridge	Notre Dame	Irish's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer in 1980-81 when he finished third in the nation in field-goal shooting (65%) was arrested for theft of aluminum lines (valued at $2,000 and sold for scrap) used to transfer water to natural gas drilling sites in DeSoto Parish (LA) only three months before his death at the age of 52 in late May 2012 because of a chronic heart condition. Member of 1978 Final Four squad as freshman in UND's regular rotation entered an NBA drug treatment program for cocaine use in the middle of the 1987-88 season while playing for the New Jersey Nets.