Stormin in Norman
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Three Oklahoma basketball players make ESPN’s top 25 college players of past 25 years

By Chip Rouse

March 15, 2008; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Blake Griffin (23) drives against pressure from Texas Longhorns forward Alexis Wangmene (15) in the first half during the 2008 Big Twelve Mens Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
March 15, 2008; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Blake Griffin (23) drives against pressure from Texas Longhorns forward Alexis Wangmene (15) in the first half during the 2008 Big Twelve Mens Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma basketball is not known as your typical hot spot for attracting and producing college basketball superstars, but the Sooners aren’t completely void in that department either.

This week ESPN published a list of the top 25 collegiate basketball players of the past 25 years, and three former Sooners made the list. Trae Young (2017-18) leads the Sooner selections, coming in at No. 10.

Blake Griffin (2007-09) checks in at No. 18 and Buddy Hield (2012-16) is No. 19. When you consider the number uber-talented college players over the past quarter century, it is a high honor to have three former Sooners recognized on this list.

The Sooners are tied with UConn for the second-most players on the list. Duke led all schools with five selections.

The top five players on the list are No. 1 Kevin Durant (Texas, 2006-07), Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2011-12), Zion Williamson (Duke, 2018-19)), Jay Williams (Duke, 1999-2002) and Steph Curry (Davidson, 2006-09).

All three Oklahoma players were All-Americans and first-round NBA Draft picks. Griffin was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, and all three are still active in the league.

Hield played on the most successful Oklahoma team of the three. The 2015-16 Sooners (29-8) advanced to the NCAA Final Four before losing to eventual national champion Villanova. The 2008-09 Oklahoma team, led by Griffin, finished with a better overall record (30-6) but lost to North Carolina in the regional final. Young’s 2017-18 Sooner team (18-14) was the least talented team of the three, but in his one season at OU Young led the nation in scoring and assists, the first player to accomplish that feat.

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