Laker-Madness: Which LA Player Had the Best NCAA Career?

Written By Malcolm Xavier of The Lakers Room

The Lakers two most iconic players in Luka Doncic and LeBron James did not attend college as they were both not born of man - joking, maybe. True answer might be JJ Redick if he was a current player. The Lakers current head coach was a rock star in college to say the least. March Madness has me thinking though, how did the current iteration of the Lakeshow's roster fare in the NCAA? Deandre Ayton was the #1 pick so his case will be strong however Dalton Knecht may have a say in the debate after his run at Tennessee in 2024 (Drew Timme and Marcus Smart also for that matter). Let's dive into it, and since we're being so honest. I didn't go to college either - and I was born of man, I just barely know him. Hood journalism is still journalism, anyways here are our candidates.

Dalton Knecht - Tennessee Volunteers (Transferred from Northern Colorado University)

Knecht averaged 21.7 ppg & 4.9 rpg in 2024 as a Volunteer, the team made a run in the NCAA tournament before losing in the Elite 8 before losing to Purdue. Dalton went out with a bang with 37 points in the eventual loss.

Adou Thiero - Arkansas Razorbacks (Transferred from Kentucky)

Thiero averaged 15.1 ppg 4.0 rpg and 1.6 steals on 54.5 percent shooting. He was absolutely the most athletic Laker in the NCAA. Arkansas made a run to the sweet 16 before losing an OT thriller to Texas Tech capping his collegiate career.

Deandre Ayton - Arizona Wildcats

Ayton (on his way to being the top pick in the league) averaged 20.1 ppg 11.6 rpg and 1.6 bpg on 62 pct shooting from the field. DOMIN-AYTON down in Tucson, AZ. The Wildcats were however upset in Round 1 of the 2018 tourney to Buffalo 89-68.

Kobe Bufkin - Michigan Wolverine

Bufkin played two seasons in Ann Arbor, his sophmore year he averaged 14.0 ppg 4.5 rpg 2.8 apg and 1.3 spg in 33 games for Michigan on 48% shooting. Michigan failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament in 2023. (They did make the Sweet 16 his freshman year but he played sparingly).

Bronny James - USC Trojans

Bronny missed alot of his freshman year with the cardiovascular issue and only started 6 games for the Trojans in his lone year at USC. He averaged 4.8 ppg 2.8 rpg and 2.1 apg on 36.6 pct shooting in the NCAA.

Rui Hachimura - Gonzaga

Rui played 3 seasons at Gonzaga averaging 12.1 ppg in his career. His Junior year he brokeout with a campaign of 19.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg on 59 percent shooting and 41 percent from 3. He made the Tournament all three years including the NCAA championship his freshman year where he logged a DNP. He also was on teams that made runs to the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen. His hair looked crazy though.

Austin Reaves - Oklahoma Sooners (Transferred from Witchita State)

Reaves averaged 18.3 ppg 5.5 rpg and 4.6 apg on 44 percent shooting his Senior year at Oklahoma. The Sooners lost to Gonzaga in the 2nd round of the 2021 NCAA tournament. He averaged 10.8 ppg over his entire 4 year NCAA career and had a 41 point outburst before the 2020 season was cut short.

Jaxson Hayes - Texas Longhorns

Hayes was an interior defensive menace and lob threat for the Texas Longhorns in his lone season in Austin. He averaged 10.0 ppg 5.0 rpg and 2.2 bpg for Texas who failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament but won the NIT in 2019.

Luke Kennard - Duke Blue Devils

Kennard was left handed JJ Redick at Duke. He played two seasons for the Blue Devils averaging 15.7 for his career on 46 percent shooting. His sophmore year he ripped the nets averaging 19.1 ppg 5.1 rpg and 2.5 apg while also shooting 44 percent from deep. Duke made it to the Sweet 16 his freshman year in 2016 before losing to the Oregon Ducks, his second year they lost in the 2nd round to South Carolina.

Jared Vanderbilt - Kentucky Wildcats

Vando had an injury riddled one and done NCAA career at Kentucky. Only playing in 14 games in 2018 averaging 5.9 ppg and 7.9 rpg. On a team with future NBA players SGA, Kevin Knox, and PJ Washington Vando made his impact when and where he could before declaring for the NBA Draft.

Jake LaRavia - Wake Forest (Transferred from Indiana State)

After two solid seasons as an Indiana State Sycamore, LaRavia averaged 14.6 ppg 6.6 rpg 3.7 apg 1.7 bpg and 1.0 spg on 55 percent shooting (38 from deep) in a stellar Junior year at Wake Forest making his case for the NBA. Wake Forest failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament in 2022.

Marcus Smart - Oklahoma State

Mostly remembered for the viral crowd shove, which is a travesty because Smart was a DOG at Oklahoma State in his two year career for the Cowboys Smart averaged 16.6 ppg 5.9 rpg 4.5 apg and 2.9 spg OVER TWO FULL SEASONS. Oklahoma State lost however in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014 to Oregon and Gonzaga.

Drew Timme - Gonzaga

Timme's senior season at Gonzaga was off the charts he led the team with averages of 21.2 ppg 7.5 rpg and 3.2 apg on 61 percent shooting. He helped engineer a run to the Elite 8 before they lost to Uconn in 2023. For his NCAA career (4 years) he averaged 17.2 ppg and 6.7 rpg. Timme also made the Sweet 16 junior year, and National Championship sophmore year where they lost to Baylor, Timme then a sophmore scored 25 in the Final four game to lead Gonzaga to the championship.