NBA: Top 10 Active Players From Mid-Major Schools

NBA: Top 10 Active Players From Mid-Majors

Mar 30, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fight for a loose ball during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Golden State won in overtime 103-96. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 5, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) shoots in the second half over Detroit Piston’s center Andre Drummond (left) at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Duyos-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat

School: Marshall Thundering Herd (Conference USA)
Position: Center
Age: 28 (6/13/1989)
2015-16 Slash Line: .606/.000/.650
2015-16 Season Averages: 29.1 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.3 ORPG, 3.7 BPG
Accolades: All-Defensive Second Team, Blocks Leader (2016)

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside signed a four-year contract worth $98,419,538. It was a vindicating moment for a player who traveled a long and tedious path to his current star status in the NBA.

Whiteside’s college journey went directly through one of the most surprising schools on this list: Marshall University.

Hall of Fame shooting guard Hal Greer attended Marshall before embarking upon a legendary 15-year NBA career. After Greer, however, no Marshall player has played more than 259 games in the NBA.

Whiteside hasn’t quite reached that number just yet, but over the past two seasons, he’s earned his place as one of the best centers in the NBA.

Whiteside led the NBA in blocks per game in 2015-16 at a downright absurd 3.7 per contest. He also averaged 14.2 points and 11.8 rebounds on 60.6 percent shooting, and shot 68.1 percent from the field in the NBA Playoffs.

Whether or not Whiteside lives up to the price of his contract, he’s established himself as one of the best mid-major players in the NBA.

Next: Still Got It