3. Allen Iverson: Georgetown - (1994-96) Hampton, VA

Two years: 23.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 3.2 spg, 31.4% 3FG, 68.3% FT.

Rookie of the Year (1995)

Defensive Player of the Year (1995)

Defensive Player of the Year (1996)

First Team Consensus All-American (1996)

Maybe the most controversial ranking on the list because he may be the most controversial player on the list, but Iverson’s greatness cannot be denied. Detractors will talk about his wild ways on and off the court, plus the fact that he only played two years in the league, but when you look at what he did in those two years, you have to be impressed, to say the least.

Iverson was controversial before even entering the program, but it didn’t stop him from a sometimes dominating freshman season. During that season, Iverson averaged 20.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, and 3.0 spg. He also was named the conferences Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. In his sophomore season, Iverson exploded with 25.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.7 apg, and 3.4 spg. His 3.7 spg in conference games is still a Big East high. The season ended with him again being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, but even more impressively, it also ended in the 6’1” guard being only the third Big East sophomore in history, along with Patrick Ewing and Troy Murphy, to be named a consensus First Team All-American.

Since he was only in the conference for two years, it’s tough to put him above great players who has done it for four years, but when you look at how dominating Iverson was in those two seasons, it doesn’t take much imagination to think that the domination would continue. In fact, with 1,539 points in just two seasons, Iverson was on pace to shatter the four year mark of Troy Bell, who scored 2,632 points in all games. He was also one of only four players, along with Terry Dehere, Troy Bell, and Mike Sweetney, that scored 35 or more points three times in conference play, but unlike the other three, he did it in only two seasons. His 213 steals were also on pace to break the conference’s all-time steals record. Even his shooting and turnovers, two liabilities during his freshman season, were markedly better during his sophomore season, and there’s no reason to think that wouldn’t continue. Iverson is also 10th all-time in NCAA history for steals, despite being the only player in the top 25 who played less than four years, his 357 points as a freshman is an all-time high for conference games, and he also holds conference freshman records for made field goals and attempted field goals. His conference average of 22.6 ppg is 2nd all-time. Throw in the fact that he is one of the best natural athletes ever and is second to none when it comes to effort on the court, and Iverson’s legacy is assured.

“I was at Iverson’s first game, when the Hoyas played against Arkansas in Memphis, and it was like seeing the first shot fired in a revolution,” longtime basketball writer Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News tells NBE. “I’ve never seen anyone like him before, and haven’t since. I believe Iverson is the greatest athlete to ever play the game of basketball.”

DeCourcy does not see any downside to Iverson’s style of play either.

“I don’t think conventional attitudes toward the game have ever fully valued what his ability to attack and penetrate defenses have done for his team,” continues DeCourcy. “People look at his shooting percentages and think they hurt his team, but they don’t look at how many times one of his missed layups were grabbed off the rim and flushed by somebody like Jerome Williams waiting on the weak side.”

Taken with the 1st overall pick in the NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson has played in the league for twelve years, the last two with Denver. He has the league’s MVP after the 2001 season and has been an eight time All-Star. His 27.8 ppg average is third all-time behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.