34) BEN GORDON

34. Ben Gordon: Connecticut – (2001-04) Mount Vernon, NY

Three seasons: 16.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 44% 3FG, 79.5% FT

Blessed with a strong, fast, athletic body and a great outside stroke, the 6’2” combo guard was one of the more physically gifted guards to ever play in the Big East.

As a freshman, Gordon’s 12.6 ppg was second on the team, as were his 62 three pointers and 41.3% mark from three point range. As a sophomore, Gordon reached another level as he averaged 19.5 ppg, while shooting 41.9% from three and 80.8% from the line. He also led the team in assists. As a junior, Gordon was instrumental in leading the Huskies to the 2004 National Championship, as he led all scorers in the tournament with 127 points, an average of 22.2 ppg. In the same year, Gordon led the team in scoring with an average of 18.5 ppg, to go with 43.3% shooting from three point land and an excellent 82.9% from the free throw line. Showing he was more of a scorer he also averaged 4.7 rpg and 4.5 apg. Giving a preview of how well he would play in the postseason, he scored 81 total points in the Big East tournament, still a record, for an average of 27.0 ppg,.

For his career, Gordon’s three year total was 1,795 points, and his career average was 16.9 ppg. A great three point shooter, Gordon also is second in UConn history in three pointers and three point percentage, with a three year average of a superb 44.0%. He was the third overall pick in the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and has averaged 18.0 ppg over his first four years with them.

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