As a current or future college basketball player, It is easy to sit on your couch watching the NBA Finals and think about how hard it would be for you to make it to the NBA. However, you have to remember that each of those players was your age once and many of them were in college too. Some of them only played college basketball for one or two years and then went straight to the NBA, but there are a few players out on that court who were not as gifted in their early years. Some players on this list went to a junior college, played for a Division II school, or didn't play until they were an upperclassman. Let those players be an inspiration to you!
Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray: University of Kentucky
Jamal Murray attended one year at the University of Kentucky. As a freshman, Murray was named third-team All-American and All-SEC First-Team. He averaged 20 points per game (the highest freshman average in program history). In high school, Murray was a five-star recruit and was rated as a top-15 prospect. Murray was the 7th NBA draft pick in 2016 by the Denver Nuggets.
Michael Porter Jr.: University of Missouri
Michael Porter Jr. played one year in college at the University of Missouri during the 2017-18 season. He only appeared in three games and his time in games was limited. He averaged 10 points per game, while only averaging 17.7 minutes of game time in the whole season. As a high schooler, Porter Jr. was the nation's No. 1 overall recruit as a high school senior. In 2018, Porter Jr. was drafted into the NBA by the Denver Nuggets.
Related: How to Get Recruited for College Basketball: An In-Depth Guide for High School Players
Aaron Gordon: University of Arizona
Aaron Gordon is another player who only played one year of college basketball. As a freshman at the University of Arizona, Gordon was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year. Gordon averaged 12.4 points per game and started every game. Aaron Gordon was drafted into the NBA in 2014 as the fourth overall pick by the Orlando Magic.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: University of Georgia
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played for two years at the University of Georgia. He averaged 15.8 points per game in his two seasons. As a freshman, Caldwell-Pope was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team. As a sophomore, he had a stellar season, being named SEC Player of the Year. Caldwell-Pope entered the NBA draft in 2013 and was the 8th overall pick by the Detroit Pistons.
Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler: Tyler Junior College/Marquette
Jimmy Butler played one year at Tyler Junior College where he was named NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America and averaged 18.8 points per game. In 2008, Butler transferred to Marquette University. Butler played 3 seasons at Marquette; in his sophomore year, he was a substitute and averaged 5.6 points per game. His junior year was his first starting season and he averaged 14.7 points per game. In his senior season, he earned All-Big East Honorable Mention honors. Butler was the 30th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.
Related: Transfer Portal News: The Top 5 Men's Basketball Graduate Transfers of 2022-23
Bam Adebayo: University of Kentucky
Bam Adebayo played one season at the University of Kentucky. He started all 38 games and averaged 13 points per game. He led the team in rebound average (8) and blocks (1.5). In his freshman season, Adebayo was named to the All-Southeastern Conference Second Team, the coaches' SEC All-Freshman Team, and the SEC All-Tournament Team. In high school, Adebayo was a McDonald's All-American, averaged almost 20 points per game, and was a top-15 prospect in the 2016 recruiting class. Bam Adebayo was the 14th pick in the 2017 draft by the Miami Heat.
Max Strus: Lewis University/DePaul University
Max Strus played for two years at Division II Lewis University. He averaged 16.8 points in the two seasons. Strus racked up the awards at Lewis; he was named GLVC Freshman of the Year, NABC All-American, NABC All-Midwest District First Team, D2CCA All-Midwest Region First Team, and All-GLVC First Team. At DePaul, Strus averaged 16.8 points as a junior and 20.1 points per game his senior year and was named to the Second Team All-Big East. In 2019, Strus was not selected for the NBA draft but was signed by the Celtics that summer.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
Kevin Love: UCLA
Kevin Love played one year at UCLA. In this one year, he led the team in scoring with 17.5 points per game and was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American. Love was nothing short of dominant in high school. He was a three-time Oregon Player of the Year and broke Oregon's 50-year-old scoring record with 2,628 points. In 2008, Kevin Love was the 5th overall NBA draft pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Image Credit: Courier Journal/Denver Sports/Dallas Morning News/Stephanie Stone/FiveThirtyEight/Generational Hoops/Yahoo Sports/DePaul Athletics/Jesuit Chronicle
* Originally published on June 12, 2023, by Bella Nevin
