Image: FOX Sports/Demon Deacon Digest via Youtube/TiswayProductions
About This Quiz
There is no doubt that college basketball is an important cog in the United States' basketball scene.Â
Sure, kids in high school show their talent, but by the time they hit college, everyone is of a similar level and to stand out here, you have to be super talented.Â
And those that do stand out are quickly courted by the teams in the NBA where becoming a draft pick can set up their basketball career for life. But despite the talent, it still takes time and dedication from each and every great player to not only stand out from the rest of the pack but to build a solid foundation for the rest of their careers.
Some college players go on to be among the highest points scoring players in NBA history. Others claim Olympic gold by playing for the 'Dream Team' while sadly, many fall by the wayside, either through constant injuries or in rare cases, substance abuse problems.Â
Now as a basketball fundi, would you be able to identify some of the greatest basketball players of all time in their college years? A single image is all you will see and four answers are all you can choose from.
Good luck shooting those hoops!
FOX Sports
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal spent his college years at Louisiana State University where he averaged 21.6 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. He also made 412 blocks during the 96 games in which he played. He became a two-time All-American as well as a celebrated NBA star where he scored more than 28,000 points.
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Stanford Graduate School of Business via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shaquille O'Neill
Magic Johnson
One of the greatest all-round basketball players ever to shoot hoops, Magic Johnson's college numbers are impressive. Not only did he average 17.1 points per game along with 7.6 rebounds, he also added 7.9 assists. He helped Michigan State win the National Championship in 1979 and went on to become an NBA legend.
Michael Jordan
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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CNN
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shaquille O'Neill
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
A member of the NCAA All-American First Team in his sophomore and junior year, Michael Jordan averaged 17.7 points and five rebounds per game. He went on to be even a bigger success in the NBA.
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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NBA
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shaquille O'Neill
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Perhaps better known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lew Alcindor played college basketball for the Bruins where he averaged 26.4 points and 15.5 rebounds per game. Of course, he went on to become the leading scorer in the NBA with more than 38,000 points.
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TNT
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson
Lionel Simmons
A 6'7" small forward, Simmons had an excellent college basketball career playing for La Salle University. During his four seasons there, Simmons averaged 24.9 points per game. Add to that 10.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks and it's easy to see why he won Naismith College Player of the Year amongst other awards. Simmons scored more than 3,000 points and claimed 1,100 rebounds during his career, the only player to ever do so. He played seven seasons in the NBA for the Sacremento Kings, scoring 5,833 points.
Michael Jordan
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TBS/TNT
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Lionel Simmons
Bryant Reeves
'Big Country' as he was called in basketball circles, Bryant Reeves had an excellent college basketball career. Playing for Oaklahoma State, Reeves averaged 17.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and made 1.4 blocks per game. He went onto play for the Vancouver Grizzlies for six seasons in the NBA.
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O'Neal
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Reel Media Group
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Bryant Reeves
Magic Johnson
Lionel Simmons
Joe Smith
Joe Smith played for the University of Maryland for two seasons. In his time at university, Smith won the Rupp Trophy, Naismith Award, was named the UPI Player of the Year and was a First Team All-American. In his two seasons, he averaged 20.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He went on to play in the NBA from 1995 to 2011.
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Positive Coaching Alliance via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Joe Smith
Magic Johnson
Keith van Horn
Keith Van Horn played college basketball for three years for the University of Utah. Averaging 20.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game during his college career, Van Horn was named Men's College Player of the Year in 1997. Van Horn went on to the NBA, where he played for a number of franchises, including five years with the New York Nets.
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ESNEWS
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Lamond Murray
Playing for the University of California in the early 1990's, Lamond Murray was a prolific scorer, averaging 24.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his junior season. Murray's senior playing career lasted until 2012, not only in the NBA but in other leagues around the world.
Keith van Horn
Shaquille O'Neal
Bryant Reeves
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ACC Digital Network
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Lamond Murray
Ralph Sampson
At 7'4", it was very difficult to miss Ralph Sampson. A three times Naismith Award winner, Sampson played for the University of Virginia and was a household name during his college years, even appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated numerous times. As a center, he averaged 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. He went on to have a fine NBA career but struggled with injury throughout.
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
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NBA
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Ralph Sampson
Lionel Simmons
Shaquille O'Neal
Xavier McDaniel
Power forward Xavier McDaniel turned out for Witchita State in the late '80s. During his college career, he averaged 22.3 points per game along with 14.1 rebounds. He was named a First-Team All-American in his senior year and played in the NBA from 1985 to 1998.
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The Oregonian/OregonLive Sports
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Xavier McDaniel
Magic Johnson
CJ McCollum
Playing four seasons for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, CJ McCollum was somewhat of a scoring sensation with an average of 21.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. In his senior year, he managed an even better average of 23.9 points per game. He currently plays in the NBA for the Portland Trailblazers.
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Gazzetta.gr via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shawn Respert
Although his NBA career wasn't stellar, Shawn Respert was an impressive college basketball player. Representing Michigan State, Respert averaged 21.3 points per game with his senior year seeing that average climb to more than 25 points per game. Respert now coaches in the NBA.
CJ McCollum
Keith Van Horn
Magic Johson
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May 3rd Films
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shawn Respert
Magic Johnson
Len Bias
The story of this All-American is tragic. Len Bias proved to be a star for the University of Maryland over four years and averaged 23.2 points and seven rebounds per game in his senior year. Set for the NBA, Bias died from a cocaine overdose. He was only 22.
Lionel Simmons
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The Rider News
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Donyell Marshall
Donyell Marshall played three seasons for the University of Connecticut. In his junior season, he averaged an outstanding 25.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. He went on to play 13 years in the NBA, scoring more than 13,000.
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Shaquille O'Neal
Len Bias
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NBC
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
CJ McCollum
Donyell Marshall
Allen Iverson
Playing two seasons for Georgetown, Allen Iverson averaged 25 points per game in his sophomore year. He went on to have a very succesful NBA career, making the All-Star team on 11 occasions and was named as the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2001.
Magic Johnson
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NBA
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shaquille O'Neal
Allen Iverson
Michael Jordan
Glen Rice
Playing for the University of Michigan for four years, Glen Rice shone in both his junior and senior seasons. During that time, he converted close to 50 percent of the three-pointers he threw while averaging 24 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA, primarily for the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets.
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EA SPORTS via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Glen Rice
Keith Van Horn
Lamond Murray
Tyler Hansbrough
Tyler Hansbrough spent four years at North Carolina and quickly made a name for himself. He is the only freshman ever to make the All-American First Team. During his time at North Carolina, he averaged 20.2 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game. He played in the NBA from 2009 to 2016.
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Fox Sports
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Doug McDermott
Doug McDermott played four seasons at Creighton from 2010 - 2014, quickly establishing himself as their best player. In 2014, he was named the National College Player of the Year. McDermott averaged 21.7 points and 7.5 rebounds during his college years. He has played in the NBA since 2014.
Tyler Hansbrough
Bryant Reeves
Donyell Marshall
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Fox Sports
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Shaquille O'Neal
Doug McDermott
Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner spent four years at Duke with his best year coming in 1992 where he averaged 21.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He went on to spend 13 years in the NBA.
Magic Johnson
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Demon Deacon Digest via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Christian Laettner
Danny Manning
Danny Manning spent four seasons with the Jayhawks. His final season was by far his best, during which he averaged 24.8 points and nine rebounds per games. His overall college record saw Manning average 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He was quickly snapped up by the Clippers when he left college and played for 15 seasons for various NBA franchises.
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Michael Jordan
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ESPN
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Len Bias
Danny Manning
J.J. Redick
With two College Player of the Year awards, J.J. Redick was a standout in college basketball. His overall numbers are impressive. He averaged 19.9 points over four seasons but his final season was phenomenal with an average of 26.8 points per game. He entered the NBA in 2006 with the Orlando Magic and still plays today.
Doug McDermott
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Big Ten Network via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
J.J. Redick
Christian Laettner
Magic Johnson
Glenn Robinson
Playing for the University of Purdue, Glenn Robinson took home just about every major college award in his sophomore year, including the Wooden Award, the Naismith Award and the Rupp Trophy. He went on to play in the NBA for 11 years.
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Bonafide 1 Entertainment
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Michael Jordan
Glenn Robinson
Danny Manning
Freeman Williams
Playing for Portland State University, Freeman Williams averaged an incredible 30.7 points during his college career with his junior year seeing him score a whopping 38.8 points per game. He was a two-time NCAA scoring leader before moving on to the NBA where he averaged 14.7 points per game over his career.
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Denver Nuggets via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
David Thompson
During his three seasons at North Carolina State, Thompson averaged 26.8 points per game as well as 8.1 rebounds. He was named ACC Player of the Year on three occasions. Injuries and substance abuse problems cut short his NBA career.
Freeman Williams
Magic Johnson
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NBC
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Hank Gathers
Hank Gathers played for both USC and Loyola Marymount during his college career. It was as a junior that Gathers showed his potential, shooting 32.7 points per game on average with 13.7 rebounds. He died at the age of 23, after suffering a heart attack from a related heart condition.
David Thompson
Shaquille O'Neal
Magic Johnson
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UNC Asheville Bulldogs via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Freeman Williams
Hank Gathers
Len Bias
Bill Walton
A three-year college career at UCLA in the 1970's saw Bill Walton average not only 20.3 points per game but an astonishing 15.7 rebounds. This led to many awards, including the Naismith Award on three occasions. Walton went onto score more than 6,000 points during his NBA career.
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Mendelson Entertainment Group
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Tyler Hansbrough
Bill Walton
Pete Maravich
Playing for the LSU Tigers in the 1960s, Maravich made a name for himself that would be remembered for generations to come. This is largely thanks to his incredible shooting skill which saw him average a mind-blowing 44.2 points per game over three seasons! Maravich went on to score almost 16,000 points during his NBA career.
Magic Johnson
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Olympiacos B.C. via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Pete Maravich
Joe Smith
Walter Berry
Walter Berry played for both San Jacinto Junior College and St. John’s University in the mid-1980s. An unorthodox basketball player, Berry averaged 23 points per game along with 11.1 rebounds in 1986. Although he went to the NBA, he only spent three seasons there before jetting around the world, playing in various leagues.
Glen Rice
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ABC
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Walter Berry
Austin Carr
Playing for Notre Dame, Austin Carr shot more than 2,500 points in his three seasons in college basketball. This was an average of 34.5 points per game. Incredible! He went on to play 10 seasons in the NBA from 1971 to 1981.
Joe Smith
J.J. Redick
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Ole Miss Rebels
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Alan Carr
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O'Neal
Johnny Neumann
Playing for the University of Mississippi from 1969 to 1971, Johnny Neumann was prolific and averaged 40.1 points per game during his sophomore year, surpassing 60 points on two occasions.
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NBA
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Johnny Neumann
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Frank Selvy
Frank Selvy played college ball a long time ago! He is remembered, however, for shooting a 100-point game in 1954 for Furman University, making him the only NCAA Division 1 player to ever achieve this feat.
Magic Johnson
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tn0nguyen21 via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Frank Selvy
Magic Johnson
Steve Alford
Steve Alford played college basketball for the University of Indiana. In his final year, he led the team to a national championship, contributing 23 points in the final game.
Michael Jordon
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Tisway Productions
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Johnny Neumann
Steve Alford
Frank Selvey
Wayman Tisdale
Wayman Tisdale played for the University of Oklahoma during his college years and was named on the All-American team in all four years in college, making him the first player to achieve this. He was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Basketball team that won gold at the Olympics.
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CBS
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Magic Johnson
Wayman Tisdale
Shaquille 'O Neal
Khalid El-Amin
Although his NBA career only lasted a couple of seasons, Khalid El-Amin was a solid college basketball player who played on the Connecticut NCAA winning team of 1999. As a junior in 2000, he led the team in points (16.0), assists (4.4) and steals (1.7) per game.
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TNT
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Joe Smith
Khalid El-Amin
Mookie Blaylock
One of the best defensive players in college basketball, Daron Oshay "Mookie" Blaylock claimed 200 steals in a season on five occasions during his college career at the University of Oklahoma. He also had and eye for the basket. He went on to have a very successful NBA career.
Michael Jordan
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ethisphere via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Steve Alford
Mookie Blaylock
Frank Selvy
Bill Bradley
While at Princeton in the mid-'60s, Bill Bradley led the college to three NCAA tournaments, making the Final Four in 1965 where he averaged 33.7 points per game. He also scored 58 points against Wichita in the third-place play-off match. He went on to play in the NBA for the New York Knicks for five years.
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K- Rob via Youtube
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Magic Johnson
Bill Bradley
Bernard King
Bernard King played 76 games for Tennessee where he averaged 25.8 points per game and 13.2 rebounds. He made the All-American team on three occasions, before embarking on an NBA career where he scored more than 19,000 points.
Shaquille O'Neal
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Wild West Productions
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
David Robinson
Playing for Navy, David Robinson quickly showed what an excellent basketball player he was. He played more than 120 games, made 516 blocks, scoring an average of 21 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Robinson went on to play 13 years for the San Antonio Spurs, scoring more than 20,000 points in the NBA.
Bernard King
Joe Smith
Mooky Baylock
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Michael Paras Photography, LLC
What NCAA basketball star is shown in this image?
Mooky Baylock
David Robinson
Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Adrian Dantley
At only 6'5", Adrian Dantley was shorter than many college basketball players but he certainly did not let that hold him back. During his 86 college games, Dantley averaged 25.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He finished his college career with 2,223 points. He went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA.
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FOX Sports/Demon Deacon Digest via Youtube/TiswayProductions