One and Done: The Top Drafted NCAA Freshman of the Past 5 Years
The term ‘One and Done’ has become commonplace in the world of basketball since the NBA’s most recent collective bargaining agreement. Referring to NCAA freshman entering the Draft after one season, it has become a yearly speculation as to who declares themselves eligible after March Madness is finished. Since the ‘19 year old age limit’ and ‘one year removed from high school’ requirement has been in effect, 34 true freshman players have been drafted. That said, Swishscout.com brings you the “The Top 34 Drafted NCAA ‘One and Dones’ to the NBA of the Past 5 Years.”
The rankings are based on a combination of player success in both the NCAA and NBA. You can click on the player’s name to take you to a more detailed profile and get a more extensive scouting report on the player.
34 Daniel Orton
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Daniel Orton (Kentucky)
2010: 1st round, 29th pick-Orlando Magic
Orton was a potential based pick because of his size and length, but has been sequestered to the D-League. Averaged 13.2 minutes per for Kentucky, producing roughly 3 points, 3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in limited action.
33 Tiny Gallon
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Tiny Gallon (Oklahoma)
2010: 2nd Round, 47th Pick-Milwaukee Bucks
Keith ‘Tiny’ Gallon had a decent freshman campaign averaging 10.3 points and 7.9 rebounds. However, the 6’9”, 300 lb. big was cut by the Bucks and Celtics, and now starring for the Maine Red Claws of the NBDL.
32 Byron Mullens
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Byron Mullens (Ohio State)
2009: 1st Round, 24th Pick-Dallas Mavericks
Formerly known as B.J. Mullens, the highly touted 7 foot, athletic recruit had a decent showing in Columbus. Has been a bench warmer for the Thunder, but his potential is great and they hope he can be a nice long-term investment.
31 Hassan Whiteside
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Hassan Whiteside (Marshall)
2010: 2nd Round, 33rd Pick-Sacramento Kings
The 7-foot Whiteside had an outstanding freshman season for the Thundering Herd, putting up 13.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 5.4 blocks a game. NBA Scouts loved his upside but questioned his attitude, and in all two minutes of play for the Kings, he has recorded two fouls.
30 Javaris Crittenton
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Javaris Crittenton (Georgia Tech)
2007: 1st round, 19th Pick-Los Angeles Lakers
The former Georgia Tech standout has already been on four NBA rosters in three seasons. The once athletic point guard with unlimited upside has had his career marred by injury and controversy with the Gilbert Arenas gun incident.
29 Avery Bradley
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Avery Bradley (Texas)
2010:1st Round, 19th Pick-Boston Celtics
A high-octane guard from Texas who had a defensive presence the Celtics couldn’t pass up. Limited minutes in his career so far, but should be a franchise fixture as the ‘Big Three’ continue to age.
28 Lance Stephenson
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Lance Stephenson (Cincinnati)
2010: 2nd Round, 40th Pick-Indiana Pacers
Being on the national radar for a few years as an elite recruit, ‘Born Ready’ has virtually dropped off the map in the basketball world. Was thought to be the next Pacer point guard before the acquisition of Darren Collison, but has an NBA game that could emerge when he gets playing time.
27 Kosta Koufos
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Kosta Koufos (Ohio State)
2008: 1st Round, 23rd Pick- Utah Jazz
Greek national team member that has struggled to find playing time in the league. Had a nice freshman year, and has to be mentioned among the better Ohio State post players to come through the school.
26 Xavier Henry
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Xavier Henry (Kansas)
2010: 1st Round, 12th Pick-Memphis Grizzlies
The skilled jump shooter is averaging five points in limited action at shooting guard alongside OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay in Memphis. Shooting a miserable 11.8% from three currently, but was the first ‘one and done’ player in Jayhawk history.
25 Shawne Williams
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Shawne Williams (Memphis)
2006: 1st Round, 17th Pick-Indiana Pacers
Officially the first ‘one and done’ of the modern NBA collective bargaining deal. Williams was a star for the Memphis Tigers in his lone NCAA season, but has failed to make a real impact yet in the league.
24 Daequan Cook
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Daequan Cook (Ohio State)
2007: 1st Round, 21st Pick-Philadelphia 76ers
Cook lit up the NCAA with his 41.5% 3-point percentage on the Buckeyes run to the Championship Game. Had one nice season with the Heat, averaging 9.2 points per game, but has been unheard of since while playing with the Thunder.
23 Brandan Wright
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Brandan Wright (North Carolina)
2007: 1st Round, 8th pick-Charlotte Bobcats
Another very highly renowned recruit because of his size and length at 6’10”. Wright has been stricken by the injury bug so far in his NBA career, but still has a lot of potential left to tap into when healthy.
22 Donte Greene
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Donte Greene (Syracuse)
2008: 1st Round, 28th Pick-Detroit Pistons
Talented scorer who left Jim Boeheim prematurely for a chance to light up NBA defenses with his shooting. Has been a bit of gunner and looked selfish in his first few years, but still has a lot of room for improvement.
21 DeAndre Jordan
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DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M)
2008: 2nd Round, 35th Pick-Los Angeles Clippers
Jordan is emerging as a solid option off the bench to reinforce the post. Never put up big numbers in the NCAA, but a 6’11” big with his athleticism is hard to ignore and starting to pay dividends for the Clippers.
20 Anthony Randolph
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Anthony Randolph (LSU)
2008: 1st Round, 14 Pick-Golden State Warriors
Versatile power forward who averaged a dynamic 15.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and a steal at LSU. Was productive when he saw minutes for the Warriors, but has seen limited action so far in the ‘Big Apple.’
19 Spencer Hawes
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Spencer Hawes (Washington)
2007: 1st Round, 10th Pick-Sacramento Kings
Never really impressed anyone in the NCAA or NBA with his play, but overall a rock solid talent in terms of production and upside. The 7’1” center is still refining his post game and adjusting to a change of scenery in Philadelphia under Doug Collins.
18 JJ Hickson
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JJ Hickson (NC State)
2008: 1st Round, 19th Pick-Cleveland Cavaliers
A prized recruit of Sidney Lowe at NC State, Hickson is an athletic forward who has steadily improved year to year. An ‘up and comer’ for the Cavaliers, the Cleveland franchise is banking on his potential and progression to anchor the post down the road.
17 Eric Bledsoe
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Eric Bledsoe (Kentucky)
2010: 1st Round, 18th Pick-Oklahoma City Thunder
Quick and explosive guard who was largely a shooter/scorer for Kentucky playing alongside John Wall. Looks to be the PG of the future for the Clippers, as he is putting up 8 points and 4.7 assists in 22 starts this season.
16 Derrick Favors
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Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech)
2010: 1st Round, 3rd Pick-New Jersey Nets
Favors has as much upside as anyone in the NBA, putting up 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in under 19 minutes a game for the Nets. Alongside Brooke Lopez, the 6’10” lanky forward has the opportunity to develop into a dominant post presence alongside one for the better young centers in the NBA.
15 Jerryd Bayless
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Jerryd Bayless (Arizona)
2008: 1st Round, 11th Pick-Indiana Pacers
There has never been any doubt as to Jerryd’s ability to score, but rather questions of his capacity to be a true point guard and distributor. Has a score first mentality, yet still managing 4.1 assists in addition to 11.9 points per game in Toronto this year.
14 Jrue Holiday
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Jrue Holiday (UCLA)
2009: 1st Round, 17th Pick-Philadelphia 76ers
Holiday has always been known as more of perimeter defensive specialist than all-around player, and he was never that special at UCLA. In his second season, Holiday has earned the 76er’s starting PG spot and been impressive, averaging 13.3 points and 6.6 assists.
13 DeMar DeRozan
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DeMar DeRozan (USC)
2009: 1st Round, 9th Pick-Toronto Raptors
DeMar had a relatively quiet, yet solid, freshman year in LA, coming on strong later in the season and averaging 13.7 points for the Trojans. Explosive dunker who has already put a few defenders on a poster this year, and is putting up 12.8 points per contest for the Raptors.
12 Thaddeus Young
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Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech)
2007: 1st Round, 12th Pick-Philadelphia 76ers
Young is another ‘up and comer’ for the Philadelphia 76ers and one of the most talented players on their roster this season. His career high in the league is 15.3 points, but his numbers and playing time have taken a dip in recent years.
11 DeMarcus Cousins
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DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky)
2010: 1st Round, 5th Pick-Sacramento Kings
Cousins was dominant in the paint last year in Lexington, averaging 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and a steal. The Kings have to deal with his notorious attitude problems, but despite playing only 24 minutes per game, Cousins is flashing potential by averaging 12 points and 7.2 rebounds.
10 Greg Oden
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Greg Oden (Ohio State)
2007:1st Round, 1st Pick-Portland Trailblazers
The dominant college center led the way for Ohio State to the NCAA title game, putting up 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. Despite being eternally recovering from injury, the 7-foot Oden has been very productive in the NBA when healthy.
9 OJ Mayo
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OJ Mayo (USC)
2008: 1st Round, 3rd Pick-Minnesota Timberwolves
Ovinton J’Anthony (OJ) has become a solid compliment to the star of Rudy Gay in Memphis. His ineligible season at USC has been whipped off the books, but the memory of him averaging nearly 20 points in a ‘then’ tough Pac-10 hasn’t.
8 Mike Conley
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Mike Conley (Ohio State)
2007: 1st Round, 4th Pick-Memphis Grizzlies
Many will probably be surprised to see Conley this high up on the list, but his improvement and numbers don’t lie. The speedy point guard is having a career season in his 4th year, averaging 14.4 points, 7 assists, and 2.1 steals.
7 Eric Gordon
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Eric Gordon (Indiana)
2008: 1st Round, 7th Pick-Los Angeles Clippers
Gordon thrilled Bloomington with his 20.9 points per game and emerged as an elite NCAA scorer as a freshman. He is proving much the same for the Clippers while expanding his all-around game, and this season is averaging 23.4 points.
6 John Wall
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John Wall (Kentucky)
2010: 1st Round, 1st Pick-Washington Wizards
The 6’4” point only knows how to play one way: at Full Throttle. Wall is immediately building on his stellar freshman campaign with the Wizards, and is dazzling the NBA with some of the most exciting 16.7 points, 8.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the league.
5 Tyreke Evans
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Tyreke Evans (Memphis)
2009: 1st Pick, 4th Pick-Sacramento Kings
Evans was built for the NBA and backed it up by being the 2010 NBA Rookie of the year. He has silenced his critics with the ability to play point guard and distribute, getting his 20.1 points per game while dishing out 5.8 assists last season.
4 Michael Beasley
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Michael Beasley (Kansas State)
2008: 1st Round, 2nd Pick-Miami Heat
Beasley is one of the most naturally talented players in the NBA, and makes it look effortless. He’s quietly becoming a star in Minnesota with 21.3 points this year, but everyone remembers his outstanding NCAA season at Kansas State, where he led the Cats with 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals.
3 Kevin Love
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Kevin Love (UCLA)
2008: 1st Round, 5th Pick-Memphis Grizzlies
The Pac-10 Player of the Year and first team All-American could have been one of the best players in NCAA history had he stayed all four years. In only his third year in Minnesota, Love leads the NBA in rebounding with an unprecedented 15.6 rebounds per game, and had the first 30 point-30 rebounds game since 1982.
2 Derrick Rose
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Derrick Rose (Memphis)
2008: 1st Round, 1st Pick-Chicago Bulls
The most exciting and explosive player on the list, Rose has always been a star and known how to win regardless of where he plays. The NBA All-Star is having a great third season in hometown Chicago with 24.3 points and 8.4 assists.
1 Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant (Texas)
2007: 1st Round, 2nd Pick-Oklahoma City Thunder
Naismith Player of the Year as freshman while averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds in Texas. Last years NBA scoring champ averaged 30 points per game and is one of the elite stars in the league today.
