On ESPN’s College Gameday this weekend, Seth Greenberg made the claim that Carmelo Anthony was the best freshman to ever play college basketball. So that got me thinking. With guys like RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish and Zion Williamson at Duke this year, among a bunch of other freshmen standouts, who is the best to ever do it in their first year? Note: No Michigan Fab Five members appear on this list (too many to choose from) and Zion Williamson is also not included, but when it’s all said and done, he just might.

5. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (LSU)

Abdul-Rauf, then known as Chris Jackson, was a stud at LSU for his two years there. In his freshman year, Abdul-Rauf averaged 30.2 points per game, a freshman record at the time. He also totaled 965 points on the season, good for 9th all-time in college hoops. He did shoot 23 shots a game, but when you convert 48.6% of them, that isn’t much of an issue. Unfortunately for LSU, the team ended the season on a 4-game losing streak, including a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to UTEP.

4. Michael Beasley (Kansas State)

Beasley played one season at Kansas State in 2008, and it was a manly one. He averaged 26.2 PPG and 12.4 RPG, leading the Wildcats in both categories. At the time, people believed he would change the entire landscape of the NBA. His pro career didn’t exactly pan out as planned, but nothing will take away from that freshman year. Beasley led K-State to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being bounced by Wisconsin.

3. Magic Johnson (Michigan State)

Magic started his triple-double quest right out of the gates at Michigan State. Although he would fall short, Johnson averaged 17.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 7.9 APG. When it was uncommon for freshmen to play in college basketball, let alone start, Johnson was a standout. He led Sparty all the way to the Elite 8 before capturing the National Championship his sophomore year. His NBA career is one of the best, but the magic started at Michigan State.

2. Kevin Durant (Texas)

Another one-and-done talent, Durant won basically every single award you’d want to win as a college basketball player and did it all in just one season. He was the first freshman ever to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award, and to this day remains one of only two along with Anthony Davis. He also won the Wooden Award, Big 12 POY, AP POY, and the Rupp Trophy. In that magical 2007 season, Texas went 25-10 and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Durant averaged an eye-popping 25.8 PPG to go along with 11.1 rebounds. He also shot 47.3% from the floor and 40.4% from deep.

1. Carmelo Anthony

That’s right, I’m agreeing with Seth Greenberg here. Melo put Syracuse on his back and led them to their first and only national title in 2003. Anthony averaged 22.2 PPG and 10 RPG in the regular season, but it was the tournament that lands him at the top of our list. He is the only one of the five to capture a championship in their first year. The Orange knocked off two #1 seeds and beat Kansas in the National Championship to polish off an improbable run. Anthony was named to the all-tournament team, the all-region team, and was named the tournament’s best player. In that deciding game, Melo went for 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was spectacular all season long and even got his number retired by Syracuse University, an accomplishment that is unheard of after only one year of play. Carmelo Anthony deserves to be the top of our list.