Best NBA Player from every Power 5 School

Best NBA player who played for Arkansas Razorbacks — Sidney Moncrief

• 5X All-Star
• 5X All-NBA
• 2X Defensive Player of the Year

A five-time All-Star, Sidney Moncrief spent the first 10 years of his 11-year NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks. While there, he built a Hall of Fame-worthy resume, including the first two Defensive Player of the Year awards in league history in 1983 and 1984.

Moncrief built his reputation on the defensive end, where he battled some of the top guards in NBA history. He could hound Michael Jordan on the elbow, or dig into the opposing point guard up top. He was also gifted as a scorer, with four seasons averaging over 20 points per game.

Moncrief spent four years in college, where he elevated Arkansas to national relevance. He steadily increased his scoring average each season, pouring in 22 points per game as a senior. Arkansas made the Final Four in 1978, and at the time of his departure, Moncrief was the top scorer in program history.

Runner-up: Joe Johnson — Iso Joe made seven All-Star appearances, including six consecutively during his time with the Hawks. He was one of the NBA’s best individual scorers in his prime. 

Best NBA player who played for Auburn Tigers — Charles Barkley

• 1993 MVP
• 11X All-Star
• 11X All-NBA

The Round Mound of Rebound. Charles Barkely became infamous for his shortstack appearance, listed at 6-foot-6 and consistently overweight. Even so, he was one of the best players in SEC history, and later on, NBA history. Barkley’s athletic flourishes boggled the mind, and his efficiency outstriped even the best modern NBA bigs.

Barkley spent 16 years in the NBA between Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Houston. He made 11 consecutive All-Star appearances in his prime, using his wide frame to bowl through opponents at the rim. He led the NBA in two-point field goal percentage five times.

In three years at Auburn, Barkley earned three All-SEC selections and won conference player of the year in 1984. He went on the win SEC Tournament MVP that same year. Barkley still holds the Auburn record for the highest career field goal percentage and is easily their most notable NBA played to date.

Runner-up: Mike Mitchell — The 6-foot-7 Mitchell spent his career in Cleveland and San Antonio, averaging 19.8 points on 49.3 percent shooting and making one All-Star appearance.