The 12 Best College Basketball Players of All-Time, Ranked

• College: UCLA
• Years Active: 1966- 1969
• Average: 26.4 points, 15.5 rebounds
• Accolades: 3x NCAA Champion, 3x NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, 3x National College Player of the Year, 3x Consensus first-team All-American

There is no player who has won as much at every level of the game as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was so sought after in 1970 that the NBA and ABA began a bidding war to sway him to their league. The NBA won the bidding war and ultimately the battle to become the premier basketball league.

• College: LSU
• Years Active: 1967- 1970
• Average: 44.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists
• Accolades: 2x National College player of the year, 3x Consensus first-team All-American, 3x SEC Player of the Year, 3x NCAA Season Scoring Leader, All-Time NCAA Division I leading scorer

Pete Maravich is the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, and he claimed the incredible feat in just three years. Maravich averaged over 40-points-per-game throughout his time at LSU.

• College: San Francisco
• Years Active: 1953- 1956
• Average: 20.7 points, 20.3 rebounds
• Accolades: 2x NCAA Champion, 2x NCAA All-Tourney, 2x NCAA All-Region, NCAA Tourney Most Outstanding Player, 2x Consensus All-American

Bill Russell is the NBAs greatest winner, but he got his winning starting well before he played professional basketball. In his three years at San Francisco, Russell led his squad to two national championships all while averaging a 20/20 double-double.

• College: UCLA
• Years Active: 1971- 1974
• Average: 20.3 points, 15.7 rebounds
• Accolades: 2x NCAA Champion, 3x NCAA All-Tourney, 3x NCAA All-Region, 2x NCAA Most Outstanding Player, 2x Player of the Year, 3x Naismith Award, 3x Consensus All-American

Bill Walton is one of the best people to ever come out of basketball, and he wasn't bad on the court either. He was one of the most hyped prospects coming out of college after an outstanding career at UCLA. Injuries would derail his NBA career, but he remains a fan-favorite amongst hoop heads.

• College: Cincinnati
• Years Active: 1957- 1960
• Average: 33.8 points, 15.2 rebounds
• Accolades: 2x NCAA All-Tourney, 3x NCAA All-Region, 3x Consensus All-American

Oscar Robertson is one of only two NBA players to average a triple-double across a season, but it's at Cincinnati where he started to carve out his legacy. Robertson was unstoppable in college, averaging an astonishing 33.8 points.

• College: NC State
• Years Active: 1972- 1975
• Average: 26.8 points, 8.1 rebounds
• Accolades: NCAA Champion, NCAA All-Tourney, NCAA All-Region, NCAA Tourney Most Outstanding Player, 2x Player of the Year, 3x Consensus All American, Naismith Award, 3x ACC Player of the Year

Before there was Michael Jordan, there was David Thompson. The NC State legend is who the GOAT modeled his game after, as he saw Thompson defying gravity and dominating opponents. Thompson may not be remembered as much in the annals of hoop history, but one thing remains, there is no MJ without David Thompson.

• College: Ohio State
• Years Active: 1959- 1962
• Average: 24.3 points, 17.2 rebounds
• Accolades: NCAA Champion, 3x NCAA All-Tourney, 3x NCAA All-Region, 2x NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 2x Player of the Year, 3x Consensus All American, 3x All-Big Ten

One of the NBA's first great big-men, Jerry Lucas began his basketball career at Ohio State University. He helped lead the Buckeyes to a national title as well as earning himself several player of the year nods.

• College: Indiana State
• Years Active: 1976- 1979
• Average: 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists
• Accolades: NCAA All-Tourney, NCAA All-Region, Player of the Year, 2x Consensus All American, Naismith Award, Wooden Award, 2x MVC Player of the Year

Larry Bird is one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, and his journey began at Indiana State. It actually started at Indiana University, but the school was too large and became overwhelming to Larry. He was about to quit basketball entirely before the Indiana State coach convinced him to play, leading them to an undefeated season and just one win from a national championship.

• College: Michigan State
• Years Active: 1977- 1979
• Average: 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.9 assists
• Accolades: NCAA Champion, NCAA All-Tourney, 2x NCAA All-Region, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Consensus All American, 2x All-Big Ten

The greatest rivalry in basketball, and arguably sports, was that of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The two first played with each other in high school on the USA National squad, but faced off in the 1979 NCAA Championship. Magic Johnson–with a much better roster–bested Larry and claimed the national title.

• College: Houston
• Years Active: 1965- 1968
• Average: 31 points, 17.2 rebounds
• Accolades: NCAA All-Tourney, 3x NCAA All-Region, Player of the Year, 2x Consensus All American

Elvin Hayes, also known as 'The Big E' is one of the NBAs early superstars. He started his hoops career at Houston where he dominated nightly. Hayes averaged a remarkable 31 points and 17 rebounds per game, earning him multiple all-region nods.

• College: West Virginia
• Years Active: 1957- 1960
• Average: 24.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists
• Accolades: NCAA All-Tournament, 2x NCAA All-Region, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 2x Consensus All American, 2x Southern Player of the Year

Jerry West is one of the greatest basketball minds to ever exist, whether it be playing the guard position or manning a front office. He played college ball at West Virginia where he was quickly recognized as one of the games best. He wasn't able to claim a national title but he surely carved out an epic legacy with the Moutaineers.

• College: North Carolina
• Years Active: 1982- 1984
• Average: 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Accolades: NCAA Champion, NCAA All-Tournament

Before Michael Jordan was torching opposing defenses and winning NBA championships, he was learning to play in the system of Dean Smith. Although Jordan's full potential wasn't unlocked in college, we got glimpses of the greatness that were to come,,, and that is enough to earn him a spot on this list.