This is for fun. My list isn't the right list, it's only my list and lets see yours. This isn't based on 5 stars, class rankings or any numeric metric. Based on the specialness of the player to KU fans, postseason accomplishments. When they came around as far as what KU needed at the time. ect
21-18 the worst.
17 - 14, The okay
13-12 the unknowns
11-8 the great
7-1 the best
The worst
#21. 2020 Bryce Thompson, Latrell Jossell, Gethro Muscadin, Tyon Grant Foster
No class provided as little. All 4 transferred before any real contribution
#20. 2002 Moulaye Niang, Jeff Graves
Graves started 2 years and was servicable.
#.19 2010 Josh Selby , Royce Woolridge
We all feel bad for Josh. Due to injury and suspension these two offered nothing.
#18. 2015 LeGerald Vick, Cheick Diallo, Carlton Bragg
This may be the most disappointing class. Cheick didn't do much. Carlton had so many issues and Vick played a good part in the 2018 FF. But attitude issues plagued him.
(These next 4 are super interchangeable)
The Ooooookay
#17. 2011 Ben McLemore, Jamari Traylor, Merv Lindsay, Nadiir Tharpe, Braeden Anderson
Ben was our best player in a S16 run. Traylor a good glue guy. Nadiir left and the other 2 did nothing.
#16. 2003 Roderick Stewart, Jeremy Case, Omar Wilkes, David Padgett , JR Giddens
David was good but underwhelming, JR caused chemistry issues but started 2 years. Case is a good assistant now and Rod was an 8th man in 08
#15. 2017 Marcus Garrett, Billy Preston , Silvio DeSousa
Marcus was our Defensive stopper for multiple years. Most want to forget Preston and Silvio helped during injury times in 2018
#14. 2012 Perry Ellis, Landen Lucas, Andrew White, Zach Peters, Milton Doyle, Anrio Adams
Everyone loves Perry , we do and know what he gave us. But he has 2 2nd round exits, No showed in the EE. A poor mans Marcus Morris. Lucas was a taller christian moody and everyone else did nothing,
The Unknowns
#13. 2021 Zach Clemence, KJ Adams, Bobby Pettiford, Kyle Cuffe
Part of the rankings is how important guys are when they come to KU. Well 2022 KU will needs these men to win the B12 and have a shot at defending the title. All we have seen is glimpses.
I expect Zach to start, Bobby to be the first guard off the bench and KJ to be in the top 8 rotation
#12. 2022 Gradey Dick, MJ Rice, Ernest Udeh Jr, Zuby Ejiofer
3 McDonalds all americans and they will all get a chance to start, if not 2 of them could. We haven't seen them play a game yet.
The Great
#11. 2014 Devonte Graham, Kelly Oubre , Cliff Alexander
Devonte is the only reason 2014 is under great. A huge contributor to 2 EE's and our captain for a FF.
#10. 2016 Josh Jackson, Udoka Azubuike, Mitch Lightfoot
Jackson was huge for KU recruiting, we were a #1 seed and he made a great duo with Frank. Dok would have been an all time great if not for injuries. Mitch may be KU's best glue guy ever.
#9. 2009 Xavier Henry, Thomas Robinson, Elijah Johnson
Trob is one of the best KU players ever and one of the most beloved. EJ was a huge factor in 2012 title game run. Xavier had a good one and done campaign avg 13.3 ppg.
#8. 2019 Jalen Wilson, Christian Braun, Dejuan Harris
3 starters on the 2022 National Title team. That says it all. None of them are the flashiest. We all ragged on them at some point in the season. But for importance in KU history these 3 are up there.
The Best
#7. 2013 Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Frank Mason, Wayne Selden , Brannen Greene , Connor Frankamp
Frank and wayne led KU to back to back elite eights. Wiggins and Embiid are 2 of the best players in the NBA. Part of this list is based on the post season and how big they were for KU at the time. KU just got done with another title game appearance. Thinking now they may need to be higher. This is the controversial one.
#6. 2018 Devon Dotson, Quentin Grimes, Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack
Quentin left but improved to a NBA player. Devon led the best team in 2020 and Och and Big Dave delivered KU a 2nd title under HCBS.
#5. 2008 Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus and Markieff Morris, Travis Releford, Mario Little, Ty Appleton, Quentrell Thomas
This was a big class, not just because there were 7, but they came on after the 2008 title with tons of expectations. Tyshawn was a 4 year starter. These guys produces 4 B12 titles. Ty and Travis started and helped take KU to the 2012 title game.
#4. 2006 Darrell Arthur, Sherron Collins, Brady Morningstar
I wanted to put others higher to not over do the 2008 title. But that team was stacked on stacked. Sherron keep the B12 streak alive in 08-09. Shady was the man among men in 08. And Brady left a huge mark for seasons after them.
#.3. 2004 Russell Robinson, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson, CJ Giles, Alex Galindo
CJ could have been a great. Alex didn't stay long. But the core here is Russ, Kaun and Dblock. They really played the key role in the 08 title. We have 8 guys who all played a part in that title and these were the glue guys. Russ and Kaun were 5 stars , they could have been the man elsewhere.
#2. 2001 Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles, Keith Langford, Michael Lee.
I can't remind if anyone else was in that class. But this is by far the core. They went to 2 final fours and 1 elite eight. They gave Bill Self a great start to his KU career.
#1. 2005 Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Julian Wright Micah downs.
Clearly the best class of the last 20 years. The duo of Chalmers and Rush produced the first title since 88. This class won the B12 4 years.
21-18 the worst.
17 - 14, The okay
13-12 the unknowns
11-8 the great
7-1 the best
The worst
#21. 2020 Bryce Thompson, Latrell Jossell, Gethro Muscadin, Tyon Grant Foster
No class provided as little. All 4 transferred before any real contribution
#20. 2002 Moulaye Niang, Jeff Graves
Graves started 2 years and was servicable.
#.19 2010 Josh Selby , Royce Woolridge
We all feel bad for Josh. Due to injury and suspension these two offered nothing.
#18. 2015 LeGerald Vick, Cheick Diallo, Carlton Bragg
This may be the most disappointing class. Cheick didn't do much. Carlton had so many issues and Vick played a good part in the 2018 FF. But attitude issues plagued him.
(These next 4 are super interchangeable)
The Ooooookay
#17. 2011 Ben McLemore, Jamari Traylor, Merv Lindsay, Nadiir Tharpe, Braeden Anderson
Ben was our best player in a S16 run. Traylor a good glue guy. Nadiir left and the other 2 did nothing.
#16. 2003 Roderick Stewart, Jeremy Case, Omar Wilkes, David Padgett , JR Giddens
David was good but underwhelming, JR caused chemistry issues but started 2 years. Case is a good assistant now and Rod was an 8th man in 08
#15. 2017 Marcus Garrett, Billy Preston , Silvio DeSousa
Marcus was our Defensive stopper for multiple years. Most want to forget Preston and Silvio helped during injury times in 2018
#14. 2012 Perry Ellis, Landen Lucas, Andrew White, Zach Peters, Milton Doyle, Anrio Adams
Everyone loves Perry , we do and know what he gave us. But he has 2 2nd round exits, No showed in the EE. A poor mans Marcus Morris. Lucas was a taller christian moody and everyone else did nothing,
The Unknowns
#13. 2021 Zach Clemence, KJ Adams, Bobby Pettiford, Kyle Cuffe
Part of the rankings is how important guys are when they come to KU. Well 2022 KU will needs these men to win the B12 and have a shot at defending the title. All we have seen is glimpses.
I expect Zach to start, Bobby to be the first guard off the bench and KJ to be in the top 8 rotation
#12. 2022 Gradey Dick, MJ Rice, Ernest Udeh Jr, Zuby Ejiofer
3 McDonalds all americans and they will all get a chance to start, if not 2 of them could. We haven't seen them play a game yet.
The Great
#11. 2014 Devonte Graham, Kelly Oubre , Cliff Alexander
Devonte is the only reason 2014 is under great. A huge contributor to 2 EE's and our captain for a FF.
#10. 2016 Josh Jackson, Udoka Azubuike, Mitch Lightfoot
Jackson was huge for KU recruiting, we were a #1 seed and he made a great duo with Frank. Dok would have been an all time great if not for injuries. Mitch may be KU's best glue guy ever.
#9. 2009 Xavier Henry, Thomas Robinson, Elijah Johnson
Trob is one of the best KU players ever and one of the most beloved. EJ was a huge factor in 2012 title game run. Xavier had a good one and done campaign avg 13.3 ppg.
#8. 2019 Jalen Wilson, Christian Braun, Dejuan Harris
3 starters on the 2022 National Title team. That says it all. None of them are the flashiest. We all ragged on them at some point in the season. But for importance in KU history these 3 are up there.
The Best
#7. 2013 Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Frank Mason, Wayne Selden , Brannen Greene , Connor Frankamp
Frank and wayne led KU to back to back elite eights. Wiggins and Embiid are 2 of the best players in the NBA. Part of this list is based on the post season and how big they were for KU at the time. KU just got done with another title game appearance. Thinking now they may need to be higher. This is the controversial one.
#6. 2018 Devon Dotson, Quentin Grimes, Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack
Quentin left but improved to a NBA player. Devon led the best team in 2020 and Och and Big Dave delivered KU a 2nd title under HCBS.
#5. 2008 Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus and Markieff Morris, Travis Releford, Mario Little, Ty Appleton, Quentrell Thomas
This was a big class, not just because there were 7, but they came on after the 2008 title with tons of expectations. Tyshawn was a 4 year starter. These guys produces 4 B12 titles. Ty and Travis started and helped take KU to the 2012 title game.
#4. 2006 Darrell Arthur, Sherron Collins, Brady Morningstar
I wanted to put others higher to not over do the 2008 title. But that team was stacked on stacked. Sherron keep the B12 streak alive in 08-09. Shady was the man among men in 08. And Brady left a huge mark for seasons after them.
#.3. 2004 Russell Robinson, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson, CJ Giles, Alex Galindo
CJ could have been a great. Alex didn't stay long. But the core here is Russ, Kaun and Dblock. They really played the key role in the 08 title. We have 8 guys who all played a part in that title and these were the glue guys. Russ and Kaun were 5 stars , they could have been the man elsewhere.
#2. 2001 Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles, Keith Langford, Michael Lee.
I can't remind if anyone else was in that class. But this is by far the core. They went to 2 final fours and 1 elite eight. They gave Bill Self a great start to his KU career.
#1. 2005 Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Julian Wright Micah downs.
Clearly the best class of the last 20 years. The duo of Chalmers and Rush produced the first title since 88. This class won the B12 4 years.
