Category Archives: NBA Impact

Sons of NBA Players in College Basketball 2025-2026 headlined by dads LeBron, Carmelo, the “Human Highlight Film”, and more!

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An impressive roster of freshmen are jumping onto the college basketball scene in 2025-2026 and a few of them have familiar names from NBA greats.

The LeBron, Carmelo Era officially ending as active players as sons take the reins

The 2025 college basketball season is full of exciting storylines, especially from famous basketball families whose sons are now making their own names on the court. One of the biggest examples is Kiyan Anthony, the talented son of Carmelo Anthony. His success reminds fans of the 2003 NBA Draft, when his dad and LeBron James began their legendary careers. Now, over twenty years later, that moment feels like a distant memory as their kids and other second-generation stars bring fresh energy and talent to college basketball today.

The lineage of game-changing forwards continues to flourish across Division 1 ball

Carlos Boozer and Dominique Wilkins may have played in different eras of the NBA, but their sons enter a new generation of outstanding freshman talent across the college basketball landscape.

Georgia forward Jake Wilkins (21) during Georgia’s game against Morehead State at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. Photo courtesy Conor Dillon/UGAAA/On3.com

Dominique Wilkins’ son treating Georgia to familiar highlight films, again

The Human Highlight Film, Dominique Wilkins’ greatness maybe best on display during his heyday and epic battle against Michael Jordan in the 1988 NBA Dunk contest. Like many who battled against Jordan in that era, he never won a title, but his mark on the game will be everlasting.

That unbreakable legacy is being renewed right now by the same fresh legs and sporty number 21 still jumping out of gyms in and around Atlanta. Georgia’s Jake Wilkins looks just like pops.

Watch Wilkins make a mockery of an early season contest in the 2025 campaign as he channeled his father for a nostalgic windmill slam: VIDEO POSTED BY ESPN.

Carlos Boozer’s son looks to repeat a championship legacy at Duke

To watch the 2000-2001 Duke Blue Devils highlights on YouTube is like watching an NBA team from that same time period. We’re talking about a starting five that could have included Jay Williams, Dahntay Jones, Chris Duhon, Shane Battier, and Carlos Boozer. Oh, and Mike Dunleavy may be coming off the bench.

Not surprisingly, that Duke team cut down the nets and won a national championship.

Now, Carlos Boozer’s son Cameron is riling up the Cameron Crazies as he attempts to repeat a family legacy: winning a national basketball championship.

Peja Stojaković’s DNA to score from anywhere passed down to Illinois Basketball

One of the best shooters of the modern NBA also has a son in college basketball. Peja Stojaković is regarded as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, having made 1,760 three-point field goals in his career; this total ranked fourth all-time upon his retirement from the NBA. Stojaković won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.

Now, his son is a leading score for the certain tournament team in Illinois. Andrej Stojakovic actually played his first two college basketball seasons at Cal, but will finally see the light of day in the NCAA Tournament as he transferred to the Illini before the start of this season.

Andre Iguodala’s Son Playing for the Baylor Bears in College Basketball

Andre Iguodala’s impressive 19 year NBA career came to an end only two short years before his son started playing college hoops. Andre Iguodala II started his Division I career on the injury report with the Baylor Bears as a redshirt freshman. He should take some self-care advice from his pops. If Iguodala junior sips from that fountain of youth that his father discovered, he should be thriving on the court in no time.

Imagine: If Iguodala the Second does follow in his father’s footsteps, the NBA could have an Iguodala playing in the NBA in 84.4% of a 45 year stretch. This might be the eye test dot com, but that’s some fun data to throw around!

It’s also ironic that an Iguodala makes this list opposite of LeBron James’ son. James and Iguodala senior had some epic battles against each other as the Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Golden State Warriors in three consecutive NBA Finals. Iguodala won the series in that matchup, earning a Final MVP Award in the process.

LeBon James raises another son who makes it into Division 1 basketball

While LeBron has played as teammates with his older son Bronny, Bryce James is still enjoying his underclassmen years at basketball power, Arizona.

D.J. Wagner takes NBA pedigree to more of a leadership role at Arkansas
The grandson of NBA veteran Milt Wagner and son of former pro Dajuan Wagner, D.J. is continuing his family legacy at Arkansas Razorbacks under coach John Calipari. In the 2024-25 season he started all 36 games, averaged 11.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists, and led the team in assists on 16 occasions. He’s embraced more of a facilitator role while still showing scoring ability, and heading into 2025-26 he’s been recognized by the SEC media (preseason All-SEC third team) as a key piece of Arkansas’s plans. Arkansas Razorbacks While his shooting numbers haven’t yet turned into elite efficiency, Wagner’s role as lead guard and his family pedigree keep the spotlight on him — especially as the Razorbacks look to make noise in March.

Assistant Coaches Oversee Sons Carrying Family Legacies

Perhaps missing from this list could be a few 11th or 12th men on Division 1 benches who are not only the sons of an NBA player, but that player is now coaching them as an assistant. See, for example, Howard Eisley Jr. currently playing for the Michigan Wolverines. As of the first month of the season, Eisley Jr. had not logged a minute yet in the college basketball season. In the 2024-2025 season, he played just 4 minutes total over two games. Yet, he makes this list and enjoys the excitement of college basketball alongside his father. That, in and of itself, is pretty great.

Murray State races towards Mason Miller in the transfer portal
Son of NBA champion sharpshooter Mike Miller, Mason began his collegiate career at Creighton Bluejays where he made strong strides, including leading the Big East in 3-point percentage in 2023-24 at 45 percent. For the 2025-26 season, he transferred to Murray State Racers, reuniting with his former assistant-coach-turned-head-coach Ryan Miller.

Standing at 6′9″, Mason blends floor-stretching shooting (76 career 3-pointers) with positional versatility, and his move to Murray State signals a new chapter where he may have expanded opportunity. With his height, shooting and the lineage of his father’s championship experience, Mason could surprise this season if his development continues the upward trend.

Want to see more second generation players?
Click here to see the 2024-2025 roster for sons of NBA players in college basketball.

Other families ties across college basketball link to former NBA players

Liberty Flames redshirt senior guard JJ Abrams is the stepson of Bo Outlaw. Outlaw was a 15 year veteran of the league who did the dirty work for some of the NBA’s worst teams during that time. He played for the Clippers and Magic, to name a few. Outlaw snagged a few top 10 votes as the leagues defensive player of the year for his commitment on that end of the floor.

Abrams, a redshirt senior, could be seen this season in March Madness. The Liberty Flames are widely regarded as one of the nation’s best true mid-major programs remaining, under the leadership of head coach Ritchie McKay.

Player movement across NCAAB with the transfer portal and NIL has made it more difficult for mid-majors to compete. Click here to read more about the current threat to parody across the NCAA.

Why Jimmy Butler to the Houston Rockets Makes Total Sense 🚀 

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With the NBA world buzzing about where disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler might land, we lay out a sound argument for him to play with a West Coast Conference contender.

Butler recently returned from a first team suspension from the team wearing Jordan’s #45

Coming out of Marquette on the heels of alumnus Dwayne Wade’s NBA superstardom surge, Jimmy Butler was picked 30th overall. The former homeless high school student maybe a fringe first rounder, but the massive chip on his shoulder would propel him to NBA greatness. His aggressive play and blossoming offensive game had his underdog 2023 Miami Heat make a surprise appearance in the NBA Finals. In that 2023 NBA Finals Jimmy Butler would have surely been the MVP if the Denver Nuggets didn’t have other plans. However, now that aggression has pushed too far and things have gone sour in Miami. Hall of Fame legend and current Miami Heat President Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler are obviously at odds.

There’s only one solution. For Jimmy Butler, it’s time to go home.

Butler gave a 2011 TV interview with college hoops reporter Andy Katz detailing his unlikely path to success at Marquette. He talked about going door to door searching for a home to take him in, after his mother kicked him out of their house. Sadly and ironically, he is in a similar spot now as far as his NBA life is concerned. It is very much a mystery where Jimmy will land for the second half of this season. But one thing is for sure. The trade deadline is on February 6th and the Miami Heat are too successful of an organization to let his incredible value go wasted, even if not in their franchise.

Where Bad Behavior Could Lead to the Perfect Fit for Jimmy Buckets

Butler was just handed a third multiple game suspension for what the club characterizes as bad or unprofessional behavior. There’s a group of characters in his home state of Texas who have their own resumes of bad behavior, but are currently slotted as the 3rd seed in the West: The Houston Rockets. Butler, a native to Houston, would be an absolute perfect fit. Rockets coach Ime Udoka already got jettisoned from another winning organization (the Celtics) after allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a colleague. The Rockets went out of their way to sign technical foul machine Dillon Brooks. Even point guard Fred VanVleet went after a referee this season. Jimmy Butler will fit right in, or maybe get an immediate merit raise for good behavior in comparison. The Rockets have a ton of guys with a chip on their shoulders. Another one of those guys is Cam Whittemore, who cannot be too pleased with his current position in the NBA. The former Villanova freshman phenom is back-and-forth between the pros and the G League. The Rockets have talent to spare. Whittemore might end up being a trade chip for Jimmy Butler.

How can the Heat trade to the Rockets for Jimmy Butler

Well, ESPN’s trade machine tells me that it would only take a few players to get it done 😉

Sons of NBA Players in College Basketball 2024

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The list of sons of NBA players hooping in college basketball seems to grow each year and here’s a look at the long list for the 2023-2024 season.

BY MATTY D.

  1. Bronny James

    LeBron James’ son Bronny has to be the most well recognized son of an NBA star in today’s college basketball landscape. After suffering cardiac arrest in the preseason, Bronny James made his USC debut after missing several games. 

    He was ranked by ESPN.com as the number 19th best basketball recruit coming out of high school. USC lists the freshman at 6-4 and 210 pounds. 

2. DJ Rodman

Although USC has the son of a sure-fire Hall of Fame player, USC has the son of another current Hall of Fame player. And that’s Dennis Rodman. Rodman’s son DJ Rodman had a stellar collegiate career at Washington State. Now he gets to chase an NCAA Final Four as a member of the USC Trojans. Similar to his father, DJ has a knack for rebounding. Of course, no one is the rebounder that Dennis Rodman is. However, DJ has a smooth shooting stroke and range that his father rarely showcased. 

3. Augustas Marciulionis

This guy often doesn’t make these lists, but Augustas Marciulionis has been starring at St. Mary’s for years now. The Gaels are a perennial March Madness participant, and this guard is a big reason why.

Do you like old school hoops from the 80s and 90s? Do yourself a favor and watch a sample of Šarūnas Marčiulionis Career Highlights. 

4. Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Jamal Mashburn Jr. has been a best-kept-secret in the second generation category because of his teams inability to make the NCAA Tournament. Mashburn Jr. started his collegiate career with Minnesota and then transferred to the New Mexico State Lobos. Unlike his father Jamal Mashburn who starred at Kentucky and in Final Fours, junior has not been able to crack the bracket yet. The last time the Gophers made the tournament was 2019. The last time the Lobos made the tournament was 2014.  Hopefully, the sharpshooting Mashburn Jr. will re-introduce the family name to a national audience come March of 2024. 

5. Jaelen House

Mashburn Jr. isn’t the only Lobo with a familiar last name listed on New Mexico’s roster. Jaelen House is another sharpshooting guard who is following in his father’s footsteps. Eddie House played for the Celtics, Suns and Heat in addition to also playing for the Arizona State Sun Devils (where Jaelen started his collegiate jounrey. 

6. Jace Howard

Juwan Howard has now had many sons come through the NCAA Division 1 ranks. Currently, Juwan senior’s number 25 isn’t retired from this alma mater Michigan. However, the number is in good hands with his son Jace. 

7. Jabri Abdur-Rahim 

Jabri Abdur-Rahim is the son of former lottery pick and Grizzlies great, Shareef Adbur-Rahim.

8-9. Ashton and Jayden Hardaway

Penny Hardaway is actually coaching two of his sons with the Memphis Tigers. Jayden Hardaway has earned his minutes over the years and is now a regular rotation player with the Tigers. Ashton Hardaway is a freshman and has had his own share of bright moments this season. 

10. James Keefe

Former Atlanta Hawks forward Adam Keefe’s son James has seemingly played for Stanford for the last decade. The graduate student is a forward from Los Angeles. 

11. Jameer Nelson Jr.

After playing for the Delaware Hens in the Colonial Athletic League for several years, point guard Jameer Nelson Jr. has made the leap to Big 12 Basketball as he joins the TCU Horned Frogs.

12. Ryan Mutumbo

The son of one of the best-ever shot blockers, Dikembe Mutumbo, makes this list without much fanfare. Ryan Mutumbo has stuck it out during a rocky tenure with Georgetown. He has seen the thrill of coach Patrick Ewing leading his team to an unlikely tournament berth as a 12 seed after winning the 2021 Big East Championship. And, he’s seen that same coach fired for a new era with Ed Cooley. 

The 7 foot 2 junior plays sparingly for the Hoyas. At last check, he had played 7 of 22 games averaging just 4 minutes per. However, Mutumbo does have 28 blocks over his college career! Mutumbo’s cameo on this list bolsters the presence of second generation talent from the 1994-1996 NBA All Star game…

Follow College Basketball Eye Test on Twitter (or X) to join the chat!

13. D.J. Wagner

Fans of NBA basketball from the early 2000s might remember Dajuan Wagner. But, then again, then might have forgotten him. After one of the best high school basketball careers ever, Dajuan Wagner was drafted 6th overall by the Cleveland Cavs in 2002. A medical condition held him back from ever having an NBA career materialize. However, Google searches for “What happened to Dajuan Wagner” are morphing into “How high is D.J. Wagner’s draft stock?” That’s because his son D.J. Wagner is starring for a Kentucky Wildcats team that’s been consistently ranked in the top 25 this year. 

In recent years, Dajuan Wagner was interviewed by fellow past NBA players, Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. 

More: Mike Miller, Larry Hughes Jr.

See previous year’s rosters of 2nd generation NCAAB/NBA Talent:

2022-2023
2021-2022

NBA Draft Grades: Best Non-Lottery Picks from the NCAA

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General managers from the National Basketball Association continue to show that they’re not watching college basketball closely enough as major talent dropped out of the top 10. Here’s my top 5 steals. These are proven players from college basketball who slipped further than they should have.

Kansas State Forward Keyontae Johnson Picked in the Second Round

It’s fitting that a sleepy good team from tornado alley, appropriately named the Thunder, kept Keyontae Johnson from slipping off the radar. Oklahoma City is slowly putting together a respectable program. They just missed the play-in tournament during the 2023 campaign after playing well down the stretch. Johnson will add a big and experienced basketball body and mind. Keyontae’s collapse on the court while a Florida Gator is well documented. He made his return to basketball to help lead the Kansas State Wildcats to the Elite 8. Johnson is big, strong, and should fit in perfectly with a hungry Oklahoma City club.

Houston Rockets Refuel on Explosive Talent

The Houston Rockets already had a back-log of 21, 22, and 23 year-olds ready to prove their high ceiling possibilities in the NBA. Now they’ve added probably the best teenager in the 2023 NBA Draft after Victor Wembanyama.

Cam Whitmore of the Houston Rockets becomes the steal of the NBA Draft

Those who closely watch college basketball couldn’t believe that Cam Whitmore dropped to the 20th overall pick. Sure, he missed some time at Villanova with injury. However, during the second half of the season he was virtually un-guardable. It’s hard to believe he is only 18 years old. He looks like Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards, already. Watch for his shooting stroke to catch up with that profile.

Winning players from college basketball who kept winning in the NBA

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BY MATTY D.

Winning is contagious. And if you watch the NBA, you notice that losing is also contagious. There are many franchises that continue to trust the process about drafting gaudy measurable individual skills and attributes. They lose because they don’t take into account the winning pedigree. The players on this list are the total opposite.

This list is being published at a time when Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts just led his team to the Super Bowl. Sports fans who watch college games weren’t surprised by this. Hursts is a winner. He won at Alabama and at Oklahoma. Yet, he lost his college job to Tua Tagovailoa. Tua is a flashy arm talent but cannot stay on the field. Hurst just continues winning with every opportunity he gets. This is the basketball list filled with those guys.

This list is also being published during the NBA trade deadline. It’s no surprise that players from winning programs, who were drafted lower than so-called studs from losing programs, are sought after. The trade market is serving as a correction to the initial error. Not enough NBA GM’s value winning during the NBA Draft process. The first player on this list hasn’t won at the NBA level, yet. However, Saddiq Bey just got traded for a number 2 overall pick in James Wiseman.

10 non-lottery picks who won in college, continued winning in the NBA

These are players who proved that they were winners in NCAA basketball, but somehow find themselves again needing to prove their value in the NBA.

10. Saddiq Bey, Villanova 19th overall pick in 2020

Saddiq Bey scored one point short of 500 in his sophomore campaign at Villanova in 2019-2020. Despite being a blossoming member of the Big East Championship Wildcats, he slipped out of the NBA draft lottery. Nearly three years later, his value is much higher than many of the players drafted above him. He hasn’t won in the NBA yet, but he was a winner during the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

9.  Javale McGee, Nevada: 18th overall pick in 2008

Save your jokes.  Javale McGee has only one less NBA Championship than Shaquille O’Neal. 

Who’s Shaqtin’ a Fool, now?  

McGee was the butt of many jokes by Shaq and the NBA on TNT team, but the former Nevada Wolfpacks career has seen mostly winning.  

Nevada doesn’t make it to the NCAA Tournament on very often.  Between 1985 and the present, the Wolf Pack have only made it to eight tournaments.  McGee saw himself at the center of one of those appearances in 2007.

Later, he would win two NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and one with the bubble victor LA Lakers.  

The University of Nevada will also be quick to remind you that he became the first Nevada Wolf Pack alum to ever win an Olympic Gold Medal.

8. Alex Caruso, Texas A&M: Undrafted in 2016

Since reaching the Elite 8 in 1969, Texas A&M basketball has only made it to the Sweet 16 four times. Senior Alex Caruso ran point guard for the Aggies in 2016 during one of those magical seasons. The former homegrown College Station ball boy not only saw success in Aggieville, but would also win a championship with the Lakers in bubbleville (during COVID-19). Caruso was a 1,000 point scorer in college and averaged 5 assists per game. He is a big game performer, scoring 8 points in the opening 7 minutes in his NCAA Tournament debut. He has an all-around game where he also registered 276 steals in his NCAA career.

It’s important to note that Texas A&M team had other NBA talent. Caruso played with Robert Williams and DJ House.

Despite not being drafted, Caruso saw success in the rotation with the Lakers and later bagged a nice free agency deal with the Chicago Bulls.

Alex Caruso bursted on the national scene in the first minutes of his tourney debut.

7. Jose Alvarado, Georgia Tech: undrafted in 2021

Despite his tenacious defensive attitude and winning ways at Georgia Tech, Jose Alvarado slipped off the radar and wasn’t drafted in 2021. However, like his patented defensive move where he pretends he’s not on the court and then steals an inbounds pass, Alvardo snuck back into basketball’s limelight. Now he is a mainstay in a playoff-good New Orleans Pelicans team. When college basketball returned from its COVID-19 year off, Jose Alvarado and his Yellow Jackets stole an ACC Championship and NCAA tournament bid.

Now sporting the nickname Jose “Grand Theft” Alvarado, his NBA highlight reel shines in an unconventional way. His steals epitomize how hustle plays can win basketball games.

6. Grant Williams, Tennessee: 22nd overall pick in 2019

Forward Grant Williams might have slipped out of the NBA lottery because he is a hair shorter than his peers at the position. However, his stock as an NBA contributor has grown ever since. Having starred at Tennessee with back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, Williams brings a football-like tenacity to the NBA. His nose for the ball and great hands pair perfectly on the court with another NFL safety lookalike, teammate Marcus Smart. The young Boston Celtics made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 thanks in large part to role players who had a large sample size of success on the NCAA stage (see Payton Pritchard, Robert Williams, etc). According to Volswire.com, Grant Williams was the first player to win the SEC Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons since 1995.

5. Georges Niang, Iowa State: 50th overall pick in 2016

Georges Niang has made the playoffs all six of his NBA seasons. This year his Philadelphia 76ers will ultimately make it for his seventh consecutive year. Niang also led his Iowa State Cyclones to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Photo Courtesy: Cyclones.com

The stocky small forward might have one of the shortest vertical leaps in the Easter Conference. However, his body positioning, court-awareness, and ability to knock down an open shot has remained consistent since college. At Iowa State he become on of the Cyclone’s first-ever players to receive votes for individual player of the year honors, such as being a Karl Malone nominee. Like Malone, he can slowly and methodically power defenders down low with post moves that can embarrass an undisciplined defender. Unlike Malone, he can knock down the three pointer more consistently with a 40.7% career 3 point percentage. His Iowa State Cyclones lost in the elite 8 in 2016 to #1 seed Virginia. We saw a coming attraction in that game and throughout his collegiate career to what he’d bring to NBA clubs for years to come.

4. Jalen Brunson, Villlanova: 33rd overall pick in 2018

It’s no coincidence that the New York Knicks would return to the NBA playoffs if the NBA season ended today. Jalen Brunson is a winner. He won two national titles at Villanova, was the starting point guard as the Dallas Mavericks made a surprise “Final 4” run, and is now leading a resurgent Knicks team. Brunson is leading with his offensive efficiency and his vocal approach. Teammates like Julius Randle and RJ Barrett are clearly better with a proven point guard at the helm. The Knicks might have the best starting point guard since another veteran departed Dallas for MSG. Can you name him?

It’s hard to believe that Brunson wasn’t even a first round pick in the NBA draft. He was the NCAA Player of the Year in 2018 before leaving college after his junior year. However, he went 33 overall in the NBA draft. Bruson is the best example on this list that winning isn’t valued enough by NBA executives.

Jalen Brunson won two national titles and earned player of the year, but was picked 33 overall.

Jalen Bruson also joins a long line of players to follow in their NBA dad’s footsteps.

Click here for our updated list of sons of NBA players currently playing NCAA hoops.

3.  Fred VanVleet, Wichita State: Undrafted in 2016

Fred Van Fleet came out of high school barely ranked in the top 100 as number 87 on ESPN’s list, finished his college career in the final four, and has one NBA Championship ring (2019 Toronto Raptors).

How is that for a career trajectory?

Fred VanVleet helped lead the Shockers to three MVC titles, three Missouri Valley Conference regular season titles, and nine NCAA Tournament wins in four trips.

When the Wichita State Shockers made a shocking run to the Final Four in 2014, you probably couldn’t guess who from that roster would excel in the NBA. They had three players from that team play some time in the league. However, Fred VanVleet is far-and-away the best current player in the NBA from Wichita State. In fact, he might even be a player sought after during this season’s trade deadline.

2. Draymond Green, Michigan State: 35th overall pick in 2012

Draymond Green epitomizes the Tom Izzo era in East Lansing. To call Green the “ultimate glue guy” probably undervalues his skill. Green was a Final 4 player with the 2010 Michigan State Spartans.

He is now a four time NBA Champion. Green was appropriately inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 2022. He is probably just 5 short years after his NBA career away from a Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Before his fourth NBA Finals tipped off, Michigan’s “The State News” took a look back at his Michigan State career.

If you want to check out another great related article, click here to see the Sporting News top 10 2nd round picks in the NBA.

1.  Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State: 15th overall pick in 2011.

Just on the outside cusp of being considered a lottery pick, needless to say NBA GM’s weren’t watching enough San Diego State basketball in 2011. Kawhi Leonard left the Aztecs after his sophomore season.

San Diego State was disrespected as an 11 seed in 2010 during Leonard’s freshman year.
In 2011, San Diego State was more appropriately ranked as a 2 seed.
Later that year, Leonard dropped to the 15th overall pick.
In 2014, Leonard became the NBA Finals MVP defeating LeBron James and the Heat.
In 2019, Leonard won another NBA Finals in a surprising single year with the Toronto Raptors.

Today, the NBA has finally got the memo that Kawhi Leonard is great. He continues to be one of the NBA’s most sought after free agents after reaching a max deal with the LA Clippers.

Did we miss anyone? Tweet us at CBBEyeTest and join the debate!


Sons of NBA Players in College Basketball 2022-2023

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Here’s list of sons of NBA players in college basketball for the 2022-23 season. March Madness 2023 will not feature as many second generation players as originally expected. UNC, New Mexico, and Michigan were snubbed by the tournament committee. That left out five second generation players alone. Still, there should be seven sons of NBA stars in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, by our count. Enjoy the list below and a trip down memory lane!

LOOKING FOR THE CURRENT LIST WITH SONS OF NBA PLAYERS?
CLICK HERE! 👀 

Cedric Henderson Junior snags top seed of second generation stars

Cedric Henderson played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and a few other NBA teams. Today, his son Cedric Henderson Jr’s game is coming into form. The Fighting Camels transfer from Campbell is logging some productive minutes for an Arizona Wildcats team that won the PAC-12 title and grabbed a 2 seed in the South Region.

One team takes the cake when it comes to second generation talent. In 1996, Rick Pitino was coaching Jamal Mashburn and the Kentucky Wildcats in the Final Four. Nearly 30 years later, his son Richard Pitino Jr. is coaching not only one, but two sons of NBA players. Jamal Mashburn Jr.’s New Mexico Lobos will be a tournament team this year.

Photo Courtesy AP News/Star Tribune


If we have missed any sons of NBA pros in NCAAB, please tweet us at CBBEyeTest!

Jamal Mashburn Jr. courtesy New Mexico’s YouTube channel

CLICK BELOW FOR PAST YEAR’S ROSTERS OF SONS OF NBA PLAYERS:
2020-2021
2021-2022

2022-2023 Sons of NBA Players in College Basketball Roster

If you’re a fan of 1990s hoops, this next example will surely having you feeling old.

Larry Hughes was one of the best basketball players to ever come out of St. Louis. He played one season for the Saint Louis Billikens before skyrocketing into the NBA as the 8th overall pick. His son Larry Hughes Jr. is now following in his footsteps as a St. Louis Billiken.

Larry Hughes Jr. is also a Missouri state champion. Photo courtesy: slubillikens.com

Mike Miller had serious game over his 17 year NBA career including 41% from 3pt. His son Mason Miller is a freshman at Creighton and could be a dangerous sharpshooter off the bench.

Photo courtesy Creighton Athletics

Bobby Hurley is one of the best point guards in college basketball history. After winning championships at Duke, his NBA career was cut short by a life threatening car accident. Although he returned from the wreck, he only played a few years in the league. His full recovery includes the continuation of a coaching family legacy. Now his son Bobby Hurley Jr. serves up the occasional dish as a bench player with the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Bobby Hurley Jr. is coached by his father Bobby Hurley at Arizona State. Photo courtesy ASU Twitter

Sons of former Chicago Bulls Ron Harper and Scottie Pippen have graduated from the college basketball landscape, but there are still some Windy City remnants.

DJ Rodman is a junior with Washington State.

Jabri Abdur-Rahim is the son of former lottery pick and Grizzlies great, Shareef Adbur-Rahim.

Penny Hardaway is actually coaching his son with the Memphis Tigers. Jayden Hardaway has earned his minutes over the years and is now a regular rotation player with the Tigers.

Juwan Howard has two of his kids on the Michigan Wolverines squad.

Junior Jace Howard rocks number 25, a number his father sported in the NBA.

Juwan Howard’s Michigan team could beef up the number of second generation talent in the tourney.
Photo courtesy: mgoblue.com

Juwan Howard’s younger son, freshman Jett Howard lit it up in his NCAA debut. Jett Howard might be the highest rated player to make his own NBA career, according to many draft projections.

The 1990s Eastern Conference is well represented in this list. Dikembe Mutombo’s son Ryan Mutombo continues a big man family legacy at Georgetown.

Jameer Nelson Jr. is a junior guard and plays guard for Delaware.

Photo courtesy bluehens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Former Indiana Pacers guard Harold Workman’s son Bryce plays D1 ball.

Jamal Mashburn’s son is following in his footsteps, in more ways than one. Jamal Mashburn Jr. has also followed a Pitino coach.

In fact, Mashburn Jr. played for Rick Pitino’s son Richard at both Minnesota and now with New Mexico.

New Mexico basketball has two sons of NBA players in the rotation. Eddie House’s son Jaelen House is another scoring guard on the team.

Here’s another random, 1990s sir name, nostalgic, NBA nugget: Marčiulionis.

Do you remember that name?

Photo courtesy smcgaels.com/sports

The second generation NBA talent discussion has an international flair as the son of Sarunas Marciulionis has been imported from Lithuania to St. Mary’s basketball. Augustus Marciulionis is a 6-4 freshman with the Gaels.

Pete Nance transferred to UNC where he is a starter for last year’s NCAA runner-up.

Photo courtesy UNC Twitter

According to IUHoosiers.com, Trayce Jackson-Davis is the “son of for Indiana Pacers standout Dale Davis and Ray and Karla Jackson.”

Photo courtesy iuhoosiers.com

Longtime NBA center Duane Causwell’s son Nolan Causwell almost made an appearance in this year’s March Madness. His team lost to Southeastern Missouri in the OVC Championship game.

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NBA Rankings: Top 5 Value Picks of the 2022 NBA Draft

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BY MATTY D.

NCAA Observer Weighs in on NBA Draft Night Steals

If you watch college basketball religiously, you saw a lot of sleeper picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. Here are 5 players to keep an eye on during their NBA career.

5. Blake Wesley, #25 Overall Pick for the San Antonio Spurs

If you’re an NBA fan, you might be curious why San Antonio is shedding so much young talent. They traded Derrick White mid-season. He proved to be a pivotal piece for the Eastern Conference Champion Celtics. Then, the Spurs traded Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks. Murray had become a prime example of how the San Antonio organization continues to draft and develop young talent to reach their potential. They were patient with the thin, raw Murray early in his career and it paid off. Now, the national consensus might be how the Spurs are throwing in the towel. One SB Nation article says the Spurs are setting their “relevancy back years.”

However, if you look at the three first round picks in 2022, you’ll realize that the silver spurs are just re-loading their firearms down in the Alamo.

Blake Wesley is a supremely athletic wing who can contribute minutes immediately to an NBA club. He led Notre Dame to an NCAA Tournament berth last season, taking possessions coast to coast and leading the Fighting Irish to a first round victory over Rutgers. He is listed at 6-4, but easily slices down to lane getting to where he wants. He should develop his three-point-jumper, as every NBA ball player needs to. However, he is a great value as the #25 overall pick.

In fact, the Spurs can benefit from some in-house competition at the swingman position right away. At the 20th pick, the Spurs picked up 6-5 shooting guard Malaki Branham from Ohio State. He showed great flashes of scoring ability late in his short tenure with the Buckeyes. In the top 10, San Antonio also looked to re-kindle the spirit of their former funky Spur, Dennis Rodman, by picking Baylor’s slippery defender/rebounder Jeremy Sochan. NCAA obversers have to give the Spurs draft an A+.

4. Kennedy Chandler, #38 Overall Pick for the Memphis Grizzlies

Ironically, this pick was made by the San Antonio Spurs as well…

Kennedy Chandler was regarded as one of the best incoming freshman for last year’s college basketball season, but he got off to a slow start in SEC conference play. The SEC is tough. And he had a few 5 and 6 turnover games. His backcourt mate Zakai Zeigler out-shined him at teams in the rotation. Still, the point guard progressed to finish by averaging nearly 14 points and 4.7 assists per game in his freshman campaign. Now the Grizzlies get a potential perfect counterpart to Ja Morant in the backcourt. Mike Conley spent years swirling around defenses with his dizzying speed in Memphis. Chandler’s low-to-the ground, solid handle can have the same type of impact. He is not a high-flyer like Morant is (nobody is), but his speed and handles could balance out the offense.

The Memphis Grizzlies also nabbed another high quality value pick late in the second half of the draft. They added VCU’s Vince Williams Jr. Injuries nagged his last season as a Ram, but Williams Jr. is an all-around mature player. He is a 6-7 forward who can handle, assist, and defend.

3. EJ Liddell, #41 Overall Pick for the New Orleans Pelicans

This could actually be the steal of the draft. If the Pelicans actually see Zion Williamson play in the 2022-2023 campaign, New Orleans could have the all-linebacker squad for the NBA. There’d be some serious muscle inside. Liddell is built similarly to Williamson, listed at 6-7 and 243 lbs. However Liddell is probably actually a more skilled basketball player at this juncture. He can operate in the post and around the perimeter. His strong base gives him great positioning around taller players in the post. He has been an impact player for Ohio State since he stepped on campus. The Pelicans keep piecing together a winning roster with winning players. Liddell fits the mold of someone who could thrive in the Bayou.

2. Isaiah Mobley, #49 Overall Pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers

This was a no-brainer for the Cavs, re-uniting Isaiah with his younger brother Evan Mobley in Cleveland. The two played together for a year at USC when they lead the Trojans to the Elite 8. There could be a Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol type of tandem here. Isaiah Mobley would be the more burley of the two. Evan Mobley nearly won the NBA Rookie of the Year with his great touch around the rim and quick spring to the glass. Isaiah Mobley is a super skilled big man. Both brothers have exceptional hands. At 6-10, Isaiah Mobley is one of the best perimeter shooters for his size in the draft. After Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr.’s three point efficiency of 39 and 42 percent respectively, Mobley registered a 36% 3PT percentage in his USC days. Oddly enough, he shot 44% from 3PT during his second year at USC.

This billboard in downtown Cleveland needs a 6 foot 10 addition. Photo Courtesy ABC News 5

The Mobley brothers could be a handful as a high-low option with the Cavs. I am surprised every other NBA franchise let this happen. It’s like when your buddy has a second tier running back that you know he loves in fantasy football. He’s firmly on the record loving that RB. But you let him pick that dude up in your snake draft on his quick second turnaround pick in the 7th round. This could be both marketing and basketball gold for the Cavaliers.

1. Ben Mathurin, #6 Overall Pick for the Indiana Pacers

This honor comes straight out of the college basketball eye test playbook. Bennedict Mathurin was a man amongst boys in so many of the clutch games that Arizona played last year. He chewed up the talented Illinois backcourt for 30 points in a high profile, early season non-conference showdown. In March Madness, he served up a serious facial against TCU to rescue his Wildcats from a hard-fought upset loss. He dropped 30 again in this thrilling overtime win. Mathurin has a little Russell Westbrook in his game. He is simply relentless. However, he has a smooth stroke around the perimeter. Watch the dunk below and pay close attention to the killer instinct demeanor. Mathurin is of Haitian decent and grew up in Montreal. He attended the NBA Academy Latin America in Mexico City, Mexico. His diverse skills and killer instinct will win him international appeal.

Honorable Mention: Trevor Keels, #42 Overall Pick for the New York Knicks

Keels seeks out contact as he rushes to the rim. He doesn’t have the same ups that Derrick Rose had at his age, but it could be interesting to watch these guys play together. They both have the running back mentality. They share the mentality launching over the goal-line in order to score. Keels got lost at times at Duke with what his role is, whether a facilitator, off-ball shooter, or Alpha male scorer. The Knicks would be wise to assign Keels a role and see it blossom.

Trevor Keels enters an NBA Summer League game for the NY Knicks. Photo: Courtesy ESPN

Agree or disagree with my list? Join the debate and follow me on Twitter. Thanks for reading!