{"id":438370,"date":"2015-03-24T17:36:07","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T21:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=438370"},"modified":"2019-01-05T21:36:52","modified_gmt":"2019-01-06T02:36:52","slug":"top-kicks-worn-one-done-freshmen-ncaa-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/top-kicks-worn-one-done-freshmen-ncaa-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top Kicks Worn by “One and Done” Freshmen in the NCAA Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"

words \/\/ Pierce Simpson<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s safe to say that Men’s College Basketball will never be the same. The days of dominant collegiate teams gracing hardwood floors together over successive years seem to be archaic, as some of the top prospects in the country utilize the NCAA as a glorified internship as they prepare for the NBA. While this generation’s legends may be Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant to some, rather than Christian Laettner and Larry Johnson to others, those aforementioned “one and done”<\/em> players should still be celebrated as their indelible mark has been left on various campuses across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, with that in mind, we decided it be best to chronologically take a look at some of the notable players to only showcase their talents and kicks within one go at the NCAA tournament, as they would ultimately become “one and done” talents. Without further adieu, flip through the pages below and let us know in the comments sections which Diaper Dandy had the best heat during their respective tournament run.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carmelo Anthony<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2003
\nModel:<\/strong> Nike Shox Supremacy<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Any particular movement or dynamic shift in culture has an origin. With the “one and done” movement proliferating during the 2000s, there’s only one particular player that can be identified as the lynch-pin for this sudden shift and that’s Carmelo Anthony. The skillful forward hailing from Baltimore, Maryland by way of New York City took his silky game back to the Empire State as he helped lead the Syracuse Orange to a National Championship during his only “year” on campus. During the previously mentioned campaign, Melo would sport the Nike Shox Supremacy in a Syracuse makeup.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Marvin Williams<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2005
\nModels:<\/strong> Air Jordan 10 & Air Jordan 13<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hey, Atlanta Hawks fans… that point guard that you all wished you could’ve had for over a decade-plus was ripe for the taking as Chris Paul and Deron Williams both were available at the number two spot of the 2005 NBA Draft. Okay, now while Marvin Williams may draw the ire of many Southerners, his career has ultimately ascended as he has provided quality role help for teams such as the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets. Much like the recent stages of his career, Marvin Williams was a prominent role player for the North Carolina Tar Heels during their 2005 National Championship run. Rocking an assortment of Air Jordan PEs, Williams’ best models were the “Ice Blue” Air Jordan 1os and “UNC” Air Jordan 13 PEs, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Greg Oden & Michael Conley<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2007
\nModel:<\/strong> Nike Zoom LeBron IV<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Coming out of Ohio, Michael Conley and Greg Oden were poised to do damage at the Ohio State University. With Oden being the nation’s top player and Conley being the son of a former Olympic gold medalist, Thad Matta and company had their sights set on a National Championship. That premonition almost came to fruition as the Buckeyes made it to the 2007 National Title Game in Atlanta as they took on the Florida Gators. Although their time in Columbus would be brief, Conley and Oden would sport the “Ohio State” PEs of the Nike Zoom LeBron IV on a regular basis.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kevin Durant<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2007
\nModel:<\/strong> Nike Air Max Enforcer<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kevin Durant stepped foot on the 40 Acres during Fall of 2006 and to the surprise of no one<\/em>\u00a0dominated his respective competition. Easily cementing himself as the best freshman in the country along with being one of the best players in the nation regardless of classification, Durant averaged nearly 26 points per game and 11 rebounds during his only season in Austin. In fact, Durant garnered Nasmith Player of the Year honors all while rocking the Nike Air Max Enforcer, the same model in which he wore during Texas’ first round matchup against the USC Trojans.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Derrick Rose<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2008
\nModel:<\/strong> adidas TS Pro Model “Memphis”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You know how coaches always preach about how free throws can win or lose games? Well those coaches had to be on Cloud Nine during the 2008 National Championship game as the Memphis Tigers watched their championship hopes fall to the wayside as a bevy of missed free throws kept Kansas in the game. With star point guard Derrick Rose poised to become the first pick in the NBA Draft, he capped off his final game in style as he sported this Memphis PE of the adidas TS Pro Model.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Michael Beasley<\/h2>\n

Year<\/strong>: 2008
\nModel<\/strong>: Air Jordan 8 “Aqua”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It’s safe to assume that Michael Beasley’s professional career has not panned out in the manner that many people expected but his time in Manhattan, Kansas was more than stellar as the BEAst<\/em>, was a walking double-double. He led the Kansas State Wildcats to a second round berth in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, a postseason in which Beasley sported the coveted “Aqua” Air Jordan 8s.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tyreke Evans<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2009
\nModel:<\/strong>\u00a0Jordan Six Rings<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It seems like John Calapari keeps a stellar array of point guards within his stable, as in 2009 Coach Cal helped push Tyreke Evans to the forefront of collegiate\u00a0hoops. Now while plenty will argue that Evans had his fair share of notoriety, his run within the 2009 NCAA Tournament did a lot to help his draft stock and subsequent profile. Nonetheless, Evans showcased a variety of dope models such as the Nike Hyperdunk and the Jordan Six Rings during his tenure in Memphis.<\/span><\/p>\n

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John Wall & DeMarcus Cousins<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2010
\nModel:<\/strong> Nike Hyperize “Kentucky” PE<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arguably one of Coach Cal’s most talented teams at Kentucky, the 2009-2010 squad produced five first round draft picks including John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Those two aforementioned studs rocked some memorable kicks during their stint in Lexington as they rocked the highly-controversial Nike Hyperize model during the 2010 NCAA Tournament. After being eliminated in the Elite 8, Wall and Cousins would become top-five picks in the 2010 NBA Draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kyrie Irving<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2011
\nModel:<\/strong> Nike Zoom Soldier IV<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I’m willing to go out on a limb and state that Kyrie Irving had the greatest college experience ever<\/em>. Now while plenty will state that being injured and only\u00a0playing in a handful of games is a bit of a bummer, just think of this: Kyrie was able to attend Duke University, be a popular figure on campus, play on the premiere stage in the game and then become the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Sound like a win to me… Aside from that, Kyrie spent his minimal amount of playing time during the NCAA tournament while sporting this team take on the Nike Zoom Soldier IV.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Anthony Davis<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2012
\nModel:<\/strong> Air Jordan 10<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Davis would help provide Coach Cal his first championship in 2012, as a mostly freshman laden team defeated an experienced Kansas squad. In what became an incredible run for Anthony Davis, the uber-athletic forward would sport the Air Jordan 10 while on his way to garnering MOP honors during the 2012 NCAA Tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jabari Parker & Andrew Wiggins<\/h2>\n

Year:<\/strong> 2014
\nModels:<\/strong> Nike LeBron X Elite PE & adidas Crazylight III<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins will forever be linked\u00a0as they each mirrored one another within the collegiate ranks and became the first and second overall picks during the 2014 NBA Draft. During their time as amateurs, Parker and Wiggins would each sport stellar models of varying brands during the tourney as Parker laced up this Duke PE of the Nike LeBron X Elite and Wiggins sported a Kansas specific model of the adidas Crazylight III.<\/span><\/p>\n