Kansas basketball: Ranking the 10 most underappreciated Jayhawks of all-time

No. 8: Ben McLemore (2012-2013)

Kansas basketball career stats: 37 games, 15.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 49.5% FG

Perhaps this is my own imagination, but McLemore does not get talked about enough when conversations arise about 21st-century Kansas squads. It could be because of his lack of NBA success or his team’s gut-wrenching defeat against Michigan. Regardless, an argument can be made that he is the second-best one and done to ever don the crimson and blue, trailing only Josh Jackson.

He was the leading scorer and three-point shooter on a 31-6 KU squad that was a free-throw make away from a potential title run — all before reaching 20 years old. His athleticism and pure scoring ability made him a joy to watch for Jayhawks fans. Although he played on a more experienced team than fellow one-and-dones Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, McLemore looked like a superstar the second he set foot in Lawrence.

In his lone season with the Jayhawks, McLemore was named a Consensus Second Team All-American and an All-Big 12 First Team selection. He even was named a finalist for the Wooden Award. McLemore isn’t a marquee name in the Kansas basketball history books, but he certainly deserves more respect than he is given.