Kansas basketball: Ranking the 10 greatest big men in Jayhawks history

No. 8: Drew Gooden (1999-2002)

Kansas basketball career stats: 98 games, 15.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 49.3% FG

Gooden and another player who will be mentioned on this list later formed an unstoppable big-man tandem in the early 2000s. His offensive skill set was well above his time, as he was tremendously athletic for his size and could run the floor very well.

In each of his three years at Kansas, he averaged double digits in the points column and 7.5 or more rebounds per game. However, his best season came in 2001-02 when he posted 19.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks per contest, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four before they lost to the eventual champion Maryland.

He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team as a junior and the Second Team as a sophomore. In addition to winning the 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year award, he and Jay Williams were named the NABC Co-Players of the Year. Gooden is one of just two Kansas basketball players all-time to post 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 100 steals across their career as Jayhawks. The versatile forward wasn’t your prototypical big man, but his versatility is part of what made him such a terrific player at KU.