Legends were born on the college floor, while many of those same heroes stars have faded, a lot of others have moved on to flourish at the highest level and some even becoming NBA superstars.
So, we thought if every current player in the NBA decided to go back to their alma mater for one tournament who would form the best starting 5 that could win it all? So today here’s our Top 10 Current NCAA Alumni Teams in NBA 2K17
10. Washington Huskies
Starting 5: Isaiah Thomas, Justin Holiday, Terrence Ross, Marquese Chriss, Spencer Hawes
Led by baby Iverson, Isaiah Thomas, I was surprised by the roster the Huskies could put together. You got the aforementioned 2nd leading scorer in the league, Isaiah Thomas.
Justin Holiday who’s a 36% shooter from 3 this season, Terrence Ross whose been a 2K superstar since he was drafted. The young athletic Chriss at the 4, doing, well, young athletic things, and Spencer Hawes who can hit the occasional 3. In the end the Huskies will go as far as Thomas and Ross lead them.
- Ohio State Buckeyes
Starting 5: Mike Conley, D’Angelo Russell, Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger, Kostas Koufus
This Buckeye roster, has 3 players who were picked in the Top 5 and 2 at Number 2 in the draft. Starting with the leader Mike Conley whose was a part of the Ohio State team that fell to an upcoming team on the list in the championship game.
D’ Angelo Russell, who was a First Team All-American at Ohio State and “the villain” Evan Turner who let’s just say his NBA career hasn’t mimicked the success he had at Ohio State.
Finishing it off with 2 other former first round picks in Jared Sullinger and Kosta Koufus cleaning the glass, who could get a quick 10 points each on you if you’re not looking. The Buckeyes have 3 scorers to rely on making them a tough out.
- Florida Gators
Starting 5: Bradley Beal, Corey Brewer, Chandler Parsons, Al Horford, Joakim Noah
The Gators won back to back titles in 06’ and 07’ off the backs of 3 of the guys on this list and the fact Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Joakim Noah became great pros should tell you how unfair those teams and the defenses were.
Then you add in Chandler Parsons at the 3 and Bradley Beal finally getting from under John Wall’s shadow and being the guy, the question is can he do it?
- USC Trojans
Starting 5: O.J. Mayo, DeMar DeRozan, Nick Young, Taj Gibson, Nik Vucevic
DeMar DeRozan gets the keys to the castle as he leads this cast of defensively challenged players, in OJ Mayo, Nick Young, and Nik Vucevic.
If this Trojans squad get hot on offense they could contend with anybody, but their defense will be their achilles heal.
- Kansas Jayhawks
Starting 5: Mario Chalmers, Andrew Wiggins, Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris, Joel Embiid
I mean really Kansas? you guys had nobody better for me to put at point guard? Well, he did hit that shot vs Memphis so I guess he earned it, but still……besides Chalmers this is where Kansas earns their ranking with 4 NBA starters and 2 possible future superstars ..maybe?
In the Morris twins manning the 3 and the 4 and Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid hoping to form the 1-2 punch that we sadly weren’t able to witness in the tourney in their 1 year together.
- Marquette Golden Eagles
Starting 5: Dwayne Wade, Jimmy Butler, Wesley Matthews, Jae Crowder, Henry Ellenson
They’re one of those teams we’re you go huh at first, but then you look and your like o wow they have some players. Of course, led by Dwanye Wade at the point, his Bulls teammate Jimmy Butler at the 2, two of the ultimate glue guys in Wesley Matthews and Jae Crowder at the 3 and the 4 and some dude named Ellenson at center.
Marquette playing small ball and having Ellenson as their only big will leave them exposed on the boards and downlow to quite a few teams on the list, but their strength of being able to sport 4 above average starters led by Wade and Butler gives them a chance every night out.
- Duke Blue Devils
Starting 5: Kyrie Irving, J.J. Redick, Justice Winslow, Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor
Kyrie Irving gets another chance to make things right in his Duke career, coming in with the #4 seeded team on the list. His running mate in the backcourt must have been the most hated man since Christian Laettner in J.J.
Redick and rounding out the squad is the rest of the one and done crew Justice Winslow, Jabari Parker and Jahlil Okafor (who still can’t play defense). The offensive firepower of Irving, Redick, Parker and Okafor(on a good day) puts them a step above even a Marquette and to add the defensive presence of Winslow, this Duke squad could steamroll you if you’re not focused.
- Texas Longhorns
Starting 5: Corey Joseph, Avery Bradley, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tristan Thompson
Led by a top 5 player in Kevin Durant, the Longhorns also sport arguably the best perimeter defender in the league in Avery Bradley, offensive rebound machine Tristan Thompson and nightly 20/10 threat LaMarcus Aldridge at the four.
The Longhorns are pretty balanced, and if K.D. is on and with Bradley bothering the opponent’s best perimeter player, Texas will be in every game.
- UCLA Bruins
Starting 5: Russell Westbrook, Jrue Holiday, Zach LaVine, Trevor Ariza, Kevin Love
Spread them out, penetrate, dunk on them or kick out for 3. The team UCLA can roll out gives you the ability to run that strategy over and over. You got Westbrook doing Westbrook things, Jrue Holiday whose an above average point guard who has the height to slide over to the 2, lightskin Terrence Ross in Zach Lavine, and then the Bruins can roll with the small ball lineup bigs of Trevor Ariza at power forward and Kevin Love at center and still be fine.
This Bruins squad has 4 guys who could drop 20 on you in the blink of an eye and 2 of the upper echelon players in the league in former UCLA teammates Westbrook and Love leading them.
- Kentucky Wildcats
Starting 5: John Wall, Devin Booker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins
When the guys who didn’t make the list for Kentucky could still form a Top 5 team for them, that should tell you how loaded this squad is. I mean their starting 5 has two number 1 picks, Cousins who was picked 5th, Gilchrist was selected number 2 somehow and Booker was a lottery. And the amazing this is they all have become NBA starters and for Wall, Davis and Cousins NBA Superstars.
They’ll kill you in the half court, on the fast break, on defense, there’s really no weakness this team possesses and for the others to have a chance they would need to bring you’re A++ game to defeat them.
I mean when the worst player in your starting 5 has lockdown defender potential and is a beast on the fast break, it makes sense why the Kentucky Wildcats sit atop Sports Gamers Online top 10 Current Alumni Teams In NBA 2K17.
So Sports Gamers do you agree with the list? And if not what team do you think should have made their way in instead. Also who do you think has what it takes to knock off the loaded Kentucky Wildcats leave it in the comments down below.