NCAA Basketball: Top 10 One-and-Done Seasons

For better or for worse, this rule was implemented to take effect before the 2006 NBA Draft and onwards.

The following is a list of the best one-and-done seasons. These are NOT:
1). The most talented players
2). The most NBA ready players
3). The most successful NBA players

The countdown goes a little something like this...

No. 10: Derrick Rose, Memphis

Voted Rookie of the Year, Rose had an amazing, but short lived, college career.

Rose and the Tigers went 33-1 in the regular season, and if it were not for Mario's Miracle, then he would have won the National Championship.

If this were based off of NBA success, then undoubtedly Rose would be placed higher.
But it's not. So here he is.

No. 9: Tyrus Thomas, LSU

He almost wasn't a one-and-done, as he started the year as a redshirt.

I guess being named SEC Freshman of the Year shows that it was a good call to un-redshirt him.

He had a final four appearance, but lost to UCLA. Thomas had 12.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 3.1 bpg on 61 percent shooting.

He was the first one-and-done selected since the inception of the rule.

No. 8: Jerryd Bayless, Arizona

People say that had Bayless played for a better program than Arizona (no disrespect), then he would have been a much better player in college.
But still, 20 points and four assists a game is not too shabby.

They lost to West Virginia in the first round of the tournament.

Had there not been five freshmen selected in the 2008 draft before his name was called at No. 11, undoubtedly his name would mean a lot more. But being behind Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love, and Eric Gordon will make you seem very small.

No. 7: Eric Gordon, Indiana

Much like Bayless, Gordon has been overshadowed by the big four freshman chosen before him in the 2008 draft.

With 21 points, three boards, and two assists per game, Gordon was honored as the Big Ten Conference Rookie of the Year, along with a first-team all-Big Ten nod.

The Hoosiers lost to Arkansas in the first round of the tournament, when Gordon was playing with a wrist injury.

No. 6: Tyreke Evans, Memphis

Evans was the second point guard in John Calipari's one-and-done superstar point guard system. He seems to be the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award in the NBA this season.

He averaged 17 points, five rebounds and four assists per game. He was also a finalist for the Oscar Robertson award, the only freshman on the list.

As the Tiger's best player, he took them to the Sweet 16.

He was one of four one-and-dones taken in the first round of the 2009 draft.

No. 5: Greg Oden, Ohio State

Greg Oden was one of the most highly touted players to ever come out of high school.

His decision to play for Ohio State was because of his friend, Mike Conley Jr., and their agreement that they would play for the same school.

He averaged about 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks a game, shooting better than 60 percet from the field.

Along with Kevin Durant, Oden was selected to the All-American First Team. They were the third and fourth freshman to ever be chosen.

Oden lost to the Florida Gators in the NCAA Championship Game, but in a game that is hard to call a losing effort. He had 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

No. 4: O.J. Mayo, USC

O.J. Mayo's college career was short and impressive, but possibly his most watched game was his last. He played against Michael Beasley and Kansas State, as Mayo's No. 6 Trojans were upset in the first round of the tourney against Beasley's 11th-ranked Wildcats.

He averaged 21 points, 4.5 boards, and three assists a game. He also shot 40 percent from beyond the three-point line.

He was named to the All Pac-10 Tournament Team.

He was selected third overall in the 2008 draft.

NO. 3: Kevin Love, UCLA

Love averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

He accumulated many accolades throughout his short-lived college career. Among them are first-team All-American, and Pac-10 Freshman and Player of the Year.

He lost in the final four to the Memphis Tigers.

He was selected fifth overall in the 2008 draft.

No. 2: Michael Beasley, Kansas State

His single season stats are narrowly better than Durant's.

But the accolades Durant got keep Beasley here.

Now lets get to Beasley: 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.

His 28 double-doubles are a freshman record.

He won the Big 12 Player of the Year Award. He was a First-Team All-American. He was also the National Freshman of the Year.

His team lost to Wisconsin in the second round of the tournament.

He was picked second overall (after Rose) in the 2008 draft.

No. 1: Kevin Durant, Texas

Durant was the first freshman to win each of the National Player of the Year awards.

He averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game during the regular season, including 28.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per Big 12 game.

His accolades include: ESPN All-American, ESPN Player of the Year, NABC Division I Player of the Year, AP All-America First Team (unanimous), Oscar Robertson Trophy, Adolph Rupp Trophy, Naismith Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, AP National Player of the Year, and Espy Award College Athlete of the Year.

He lost in the second round of the tourney to USC.

At this point, the Oklahoma City Thunder are reveling in the fact that they picked him second, as the Blazers are still mourning the fact that they picked Oden.

Three Future One-And-Dones

1. John Wall, Kentucky: 17ppg/6.4apg/3.8rpg
John Wall claims to want to be the best point guard ever when it's all said and done. ESPN analysts have said that his lateral quickness and speed are what will make him successful in the next level. He has an uncanny ability to make defenders looks stupid, and to take games over.

2. DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky: 15.9ppg/10.2rpg/1.8bpg
Often overlooked by superstar teammate Wall, Cousins holds his own. He will likely be a lottery pick, and should have a great NBA career as a big man.

3. Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech: 11ppg/8.1rpg/2bpg
Favors was looked at as the second best player coming into college basketball this year behind Wall. He has taken a Georgia Tech team out of the cellar, and hopes to help them return to the big dance.