The list of second generation basketball players seemingly grows each year, with sons of former NBA players competing in college hoops nationwide. Below is a full list of sons of NBA dads we’ve spotted in college basketball. If we have missed any, please tweet us at CBBEyeTest.
CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEAR’S LIST OF SONS OF NBA PLAYERS IN NCAA 2020-2021
The leading man for the second generation players list of 2022 has to be Jabari Smith. He is a likely top lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
As a freshman, Jabari Smith Jr. is leading the Auburn Tigers as a possible future 1 seed for March Madness.
His father, Jabari Smith senior, had a lesser-known NBA career versus some of the names below. He played 108 games in his NBA career.
For fans of 1990s NBA basketball, this list continues to provide entertainment. It brings back memories of some of the great battles for NBA supremacy during the decade, especially in the Eastern Conference. In fact, the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals between the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls actually featured at least 8 (future) fathers of kids who would go on to play Division 1 basketball.
One of those blasts-from-the-past is Brian Shaw. His son B.J. Shaw wears the same number 20 and competes with UC Davis.
Photo courtesy: ucdavisaggies.com
Another important rotation player from that series was Ron Harper. As you may know, his son Ron Harper Jr. is one of the best “juniors” across the college basketball landscape.
Ron Harper Jr. had one of the season’s most memorable moments when his buzzer beater helped defeated the then-number 1 ranked Purdue Boilermakers.
You cannot have a conversation about the 1990s Bulls without talking about Scottie Pippen. Yes, his son is playing college basketball too! Scotty Pippen Jr. is being coached by another all-time NBA great, Jerry Stackhouse, and averaging over 19 points for Vanderbilt in his junior season.
Note that the Generation Z player spells his name with a “Y” while pops spells Scottie with an “i.e.”
What sort of tangent would this article be about the 1990s Bulls without a reference to Dennis Rodman?
Yes, his son plays Division 1 Basketball too!
DJ Rodman is a junior with Washington State.
Steve Kerr’s son Nick played college basketball with Cal a few years ago, which means that 1996 Bulls team could have fielded a full team of future fathers of college players.
Meantime, those 1996 Orlando Magic had a few scholarship players in their gene pool, too.
The most famous Magic ever, Shaquille O’Neal, has a son playing college hoops right now at LSU.
This story wouldn’t be complete without a Shaq-and-Penny connection. Penny Hardaway is actually coaching his son with the Memphis Tigers in 2021-2022 as well. Jayden Hardaway has earned his minutes over the years and is now a regular rotation player with the Tigers.
The 1990s Eastern Conference is well represented in this list.
Dikembe Mutombo’s son Ryan continues a big man family legacy at Georgetown.
At midseason, Simaki Walker’s son Jabari Walker already had eight double-doubles for Colorado.
Former Indiana Pacers guard Harold Workman’s son Bryce plays D1 ball.
Jameer Nelson Jr. is a junior guard and plays guard for Delaware.
The East Coast doesn’t just dominate this status of talent inheritance. On the West Coast, players like James Keefe of Stanford and Eric Williams Jr. of Oregon are sons of NBA players.
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.
Otis Thorpe’s son DJ Thorpe plays for the Cal Bears.
Here’s another random, 1990s sir name, nostalgic, NBA nugget: Marčiulionis.
Do you remember that name?
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.
It’s not only the 1990s Eastern Conference powers represented, but also 1980s NBA playoff teams with sons in power 5 schools. Cleveland Cavalier’s great Larry Nance’s son Pete continues carving out his own professional basketball career. That status would mean that he follows in both father, and brother’s, footsteps.
Pete Nance is leading Northwestern as a possible tournament team.
Nance continues a growing trend of second generation players populating the entire Big 10 Conference.
According to IUHoosiers.com, Trayce Jackson-Davis is the “son of for Indiana Pacers standout Dale Davis and Ray and Karla Jackson.”
https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/trayce-jackson-davis/15620
The Fab 5 even makes a cameo on this list. Juwan Howard is another former NBA player who is coaching his son currently.
Da’Monte Williams is one of the best glue guys in college basketball. He is also the son of another Illini player, Frank Williams.
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