15. Brandon Rush
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesBrandon Rush emerged as a standout performer for the Kansas Jayhawks, earning accolades as a two-time All-Big 12 selection. His pivotal role was instrumental in securing the 2008 national championship for KU. Throughout his illustrious three-year tenure with the team, Rush showcased his skill by averaging an impressive 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
His standout performances caught the attention of NBA scouts, leading to his selection in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. However, shortly after being drafted, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers on draft day.
14. Mario Chalmers
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesChalmers will always be held in high regard within the NCAA & Rock Chalk faithful. During the 2008 NCAA Championship, Chalmers made several clutch plays — including a pivotal three-pointer against Memphis to force overtime. This critical shot contributed to the Jayhawks’ victory in the Championship, earning Chalmers recognition as the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Following his successful college career, Chalmers declared for the NBA draft and was selected in the first round by the Miami Heat. He achieved notable success in the NBA, including winning two championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013.
13. Andrew Wiggins
Ed Zurga/Getty ImagesAlthough “Maple Jordan” never quite reached his huge hype potential at Kansas, he emerged as a standout player, earning accolades such as Consensus All-American and Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2014. He averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during his lone season with the Jayhawks. Following his college career, Wiggins declared for the NBA Draft and was selected as the first overall pick in 2014. In the NBA, Wiggins has continued to make strides — particularly with his current team, the Golden State Warriors.
12. Wayne Simien
Brian Bahr/Getty Images for STM SportsThis man was a force for Kansas. He earned recognition as a two-time All-American and a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year. Throughout his four-year tenure with the Jayhawks, Simien impressed with his scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Simien concluded his collegiate journey with a tally of 110 victories and an impressive 12–4 record in the NCAA Tournament.
He entered the NBA Draft and was selected in the second round of the 2005 draft by the Miami Heat, where he won one championship. His career then became derailed by injuries — forcing him to retire in 2009. Today he has taken up a position with the University of Kansas Athletics Department.
11. Xavier Henry
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesXavier Henry had probably one of the better freshman seasons in KU history. He maintained averages of 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, along with 1.5 steals, with shooting percentages of 49% from the field, 42% from beyond the arc, and 78% from the free-throw line.
Henry earned recognition as a Big 12 All-Rookie Team selection and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 Big 12 Tournament. His impressive performance led to him being selected as a first-round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Following his college career, Henry embarked on playing in the NBA for several seasons before transitioning to international leagues.
10. Jacque Vaughn
Elsa/Getty ImagesJacque Vaughn played for the Jayhawks under Roy Williams from 1993-97, and in that time he racked up accolade after accolade — both academically and on the court. He earned Big Eight Conference Freshman of the Year honors and was a two-time All-Big Eight selection. He helped lead the Jayhawks to consecutive Big Eight Conference regular-season titles in 1995 and 1996. Vaughn also played a key role in guiding Kansas to the 1996 NCAA Tournament Final Four. Later on, he eventually found his way to being promoted to head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. However, Vaughn was relieved of his duties in February of 2024.
9. Nick Collison
Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport/Getty ImagesA total workhorse. Collison formed an exceptional partnership with Kirk Heinrich, who propelled KU to consecutive Final Four appearances in 2002 and 2003. His collegiate journey culminated with him emerging as the leading scorer in the history of the Big 12 Conference, a feat since surpassed by Andre Emmett. Despite the heartbreak of falling to the Carmelo Anthony-led Syracuse University Orangemen in the 2003 National Championship game, Collison’s impact on the court extended beyond collegiate borders, as he represented the US national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
8. Frank Mason III
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesMason is perhaps the most decorated player in Jayhawks basketball history. In 2017, he achieved unanimous recognition as the National Player of the Year, garnering accolades from 10 different entities including Wooden, Naismith, NABC, Associated Press, and more. Mason made history as the first Jayhawk to be named Associated Press Player of the Year and to win the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. After a relatively unsuccessful stint in the NBA, Mason is now playing professional basketball overseas.
7. Drew Gooden
Brian Bahr/Getty Images14-year NBA veteran Drew “The Truth” Gooden was phenomenal for the Jayhawks. He helped guide them to the 2002 Final Four and secured consensus first-team All-American honors during that remarkable season (in addition to being the Big 12 POY). He was known for his versatility, with the capability to dominate both offensively and defensively.
Despite being drafted fourth overall in his class, Gooden went on to have a successful NBA career. He initially played alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers, forming a formidable duo early in their careers. Today, he is a pundit for NBC Sports.
6. Kirk Hinrich
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesKirk Hinrich is a legend for the Kansas Jayhawks. Known for his tenacity on defense, intense work ethic, and sharpshooting ability, he played a pivotal role in leading the Jayhawks to two consecutive Final Four appearances in 2002 and 2003. He averaged 15.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game during his senior year. Hinrich’s impressive performances caught the attention of NBA scouts, leading to his selection by the Chicago Bulls as the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. In his NBA career, Hinrich continued to display his defensive prowess and leadership on the court, averaging 10.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game over his 13-year career.
5. Clyde Lovellette
Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images Photos via Getty ImagesA dominant center, Lovellette led the Jayhawks to the 1952 NCAA Championship, earning Most Outstanding Player honors for his stellar performance. He averaged 28.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game during his senior season. His exceptional play led to him being the ninth overall pick in the 1952 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers. Throughout his NBA career, Lovellette continued to thrive, earning four NBA All-Star selections and winning three NBA Championships with the Lakers and Boston Celtics.
4. Jo Jo White
Rachel Ritchie/The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesKnown as one of the most exciting players of his era, “Mr. Clutch” Jo Jo White led KU to the Final Four in 1967. He averaged 18.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game during his three-year career at KU, and his play earned him All-Big Eight honors and recognition as one of the top guards in the nation. White went on to have a successful NBA career with the Boston Celtics and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
3. Danny Manning
Bettman/Getty ImagesDanny Manning was one of the greatest hoopers in Jayhawks basketball history. He left KU as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Perhaps his crowning achievement was his epic performance in the 1988 NCAA Championship game, where he recorded 31 points, 18 rebounds, 5 steals, and 2 blocked shots. This earned him the title of Most Outstanding Player in the tournament and led to the nickname “Danny and the Miracles” for the underdog Jayhawks. Additionally, he was a two-time All-American, was named the Big Eight Player of the Decade, and had his jersey number 25 retired by Kansas. Not a bad resume at all.
2. Paul Pierce
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty ImagePaul Pierce made a quick impact during his 3-year stint at KU. As a freshman, Pierce received honorable mention All-Big Eight honors and was recognized as second team Freshman All-American by Basketball Weekly. He shared the title of Big Eight Co-Freshman of the Year with Chauncey Billups of Colorado, showcasing his early promise. Pierce’s sophomore year saw him excel further, earning the Big 12 Conference tournament Most Valuable Player award and leading Kansas to the inaugural tournament championship with an impressive scoring average of 21.7 points.
His junior season was even more illustrious, as he claimed MVP honors in both the Preseason NIT and the Big 12 Conference tournament. Pierce’s outstanding performance earned him First Team All-Big 12 Conference recognition by both the AP and Coaches, along with prestigious All-American honors. His departure from Kansas after his junior season marked the beginning of a storied NBA career. Despite being passed over by many teams in the NBA draft, Pierce’s selection by the Boston Celtics turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He went on to become one of the greatest Celtics players of all time and achieved immense success, including winning an NBA championship.
1. Wilt Chamberlain
Bettman/Getty ImagesThe legend himself. His numbers were astonishing. During his two seasons with the Jayhawks from 1955 to 1957, he averaged 29.9 points and 18.3 rebounds per game. He led the team to the NCAA Tournament both years and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament in 1957. Beyond basketball, Chamberlain demonstrated how much of an athlete he was, excelling in various track and field events and earning accolades in the Big Eight Conference track-and-field championships. His arrival at KU heralded a new era of basketball excellence, with Chamberlain’s debut game as a center for the Jayhawks seeing him break all-time Kansas records with 52 points and 31 rebounds.
