Kansas basketball: Top ten Jayhawks of the decade

2. Thomas Robinson, Kansas basketball 2009-2012

Thomas Robinson was a force to be reckoned with. He had an awesome career at Kansas, highlighted by a national championship game appearance in his final season.

Robinson’s junior year in 2012 was arguably the best in college basketball that year outside of Anthony Davis. Robinson averaged 17.7 points per game in addition to 11.9 rebounds per game. He also had one of the greatest moments in Kansas basketball history when he blocked Missouri’s potentially go-ahead shot attempt as time expired.

The Jayhawks went on to win the Border War in what was believed to be the final game between Kansas and Missouri.

During a three week time period in 2011, Robinson’s grandmother, grandfather, and mother all passed away. Bill Self praised Robinson for continuing to play, saying “For him to even be out there on the court was remarkable.”

In his junior season alone, Robinson was named Big 12 Player of the Year, first-team All-Big 12, a consensus first-team All-American, 2012 NCAA all-tournament, and a finalist for the Wooden Award. He finished with 1,026 points putting him at 55th all-time.

Robinson was taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings.