Best NBA Player from every Power 5 School

Best NBA player who played for Baylor Bears — Vinnie Johnson

• 2X NBA Champion

An underrated part of the Detroit Pistons’ 1989 and 1990 championship teams, Vinnie Johnson was aptly nicknamed ‘The Microwave’ for his ability to heat up the Detroit in the second unit. He backed up Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, yet still managed to carve out his own place in Pistons lore.

A diminutive 6-foot-2 shot-maker, Johnson hit the game-winning shot in Game 5 of the 1990 NBA Finals, which made Detroit back-to-back winners. He spent 10 of his 14 NBA seasons with the Pistons, and had his number retired in 1994.

Johnson spent his first two college seasons in JUCO before jumping to Baylor for his junior and senior years. Once at Baylor, he did what he did best — score the ball. He averaged 22.8 points per game with the Bears, earning All-SWC conference honors both seasons. He also dropped a program-record 50 points against TCU in 1979.

Runner-up: Michael Williams — Williams won a championship with Detroit as a rookie before spending the best years of his career in Indiana and Minnesota. 

Best NBA player who played for Boston College Eagles — Michael Adams

• 1X All-Star

A precursor to the NBA’s 3-point revolution, Michael Adams and his silky jumper tore through the NBA from 1986 to 1996. He only made one All-Star appearance, but the 5-foot-10 point guard put together several impressive campaigns — including 26.5-point, 10.5-assist averages with Denver in 1990-91.

From 1988 to 1989, Adams set the NBA record for most consecutive games with a made 3-pointer, registering 79 in a row. That record stood until Stephen Curry happened. Adams picked defenses apart at every level, blending his shooting prowess with dynamic playmaking skills and crafty finishes at the rim.

Adams spent four years at Boston College, where he earned second-team All-Big East honors three times. Known for both his funky push-shot at the charity stripe, as well as his electric play at the point guard position, he was selected in the third round of the 1986 NBA Draft.

Runner-up: Kevin Loughery — A gifted scorer at 6-foot-2, Loughery spent the bulk of his career with the Baltimore Bullets, where he averaged over 20 points per game in multiple seasons.