TOP 10 2K CLASSIC PERFORMANCES
Here’s a look back at some of the best individual performances in the history of the 2K Classic.
1. Grayson Allen (Duke)
November 13-22, 2015
11/13 – 26 pts, 5 rebs (vs. Siena)
11/14 – 28 pts, 6 asts (vs. Bryant)
11/20 – 30 pts, 6 rebs (vs. VCU)
11/22 – 32 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts (Champ. vs. Georgetown)
Most Valuable Player
Allen averaged 29.0 points per game in setting a 2K Classic record with 116 points scored, including a record 62 during the Championship Rounds. In the championship game against Georgetown, he scored his 32 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, including 5-of-6 from three, while going a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line in earning Tournament MVP honors.
2. Kevin Durant (Texas)
November 16-17, 2006
11/16 – 21 pts, 9 rebs, 4 blks (vs. Michigan State)
11/17 – 29 pts, 10 rebs, 3 blks (Consol. vs. St. John’s)
All-Tournament Team
While Texas was disappointed with its third place finish in 2006, Durant put on a clinic in the Championship Rounds. He recorded a double-double in the third-place game against St. John’s with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Durant averaged 25 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks in the 2006 Championship Rounds and was a member of the All-Tournament Team.
3. Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse)
November 14, 2002
27 pts, 11 rebs (vs. Memphis)
All-Tournament Team
Unlike Durant, Carmelo Anthony only had one game to prove himself as part of this list (2002 Classic used a Showcase Format). On a team that would eventually go on to win the NCAA National Championship, Anthony played spectacularly against Memphis although the Orange lost 70-63. He scored 27 points and gathered 11 rebounds against the Tigers.
4. Jameer Nelson (Saint Joseph’s)
November 14, 2003
20 pts, 10 asts, 8 rebs (vs. # 12 Gonzaga)
Most Valuable Player
In his only game, Nelson put up 20 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds as he led his #18 Saint Joseph’s squad to a 73-66 victory over #12 Gonzaga in his junior year. In his senior campaign, Nelson won the Wooden, Naismith, and Rupp Awards (among others).
5. Evan Turner (Ohio State)
November 9-20, 2009
11/9 – 14 pts, 17 rebs, 10 asts (vs. Alcorn State)
11/12 – 24 pts, 17 rebs, 4 asts (vs. James Madison)
11/19 – 23 pts, 11 rebs, 4 asts (vs. #4 North Carolina)
11/20 – 26 pts, 14 rebs, 6 asts (Consol. vs. #12 California)
All-Tournament Team
Turner recorded a triple-double in the Buckeyes’ season opening 100-60 win over Alcorn State and followed that with three double-doubles. Over four games he averaged 21.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. In leading Ohio State to a third-place finish in the Classic, Turner shot 35-of-59 (.593) from the field and 16-of-21 (.762) from the line en route to All-Tournament honors.
6. Shabazz Napier (Connecticut)
November 21-22, 2013
11/21 – 20 pts, 4 rebs (vs. Boston College)
11/22 – 27 pts, 5 rebs (Champ. vs. Indiana)
Most Valuable Player
Napier scored 27 points, including 11 over the final seven minutes, to lead No. 18 UConn to a 59-58 victory over Indiana in the championship game of the 2K Classic. Napier was 10-of-14 from the field and his driving basket with 1:34 to play turned out to be the game’s final points.
7. Rodney Carney (Memphis)
November 18-19, 2004
11/18 – 33 pts, 9 rebs, 4 asts (vs. Saint Mary’s)
11/19 – 25 pts, 5 asts, 4 rebs (Champ. vs. #6 Syracuse)
All-Tournament Team
In the 2004 Classic, Rodney Carney accounted for over 40% of Memphis’ scoring by putting up 25 against Saint Mary’s and 33 against Syracuse in the Championship Rounds when no one else on the Tigers scored more than 18. These performances garnered him the honor of being on the 2004 Coaches vs. Cancer All-Tournament team.
8. Ekene Ibekwe (Maryland)
November 16, 2006
22 pts, 14 rebs, 2 blks (vs. St. John’s)
Ibekewe is the first person on this list that was not a member of their respective All-Tournament team. The performance that gave him the right to be on this list was his play against St. John’s in the 2006 semifinals. Ibekwe led Maryland to a 92-60 victory over the Red Storm with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks. In the 2006 Championship Rounds, Ibekwe averaged 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game.
9. Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis)
November 16, 2007
33 pts, 7 rebs (Champ. vs. UConn)
Most Valuable Player
The only way to word Douglas-Roberts’ performance in the 2007 championship game is dominating. He was 14-of-24 from the field, including 2-of-3 from long range. Douglas-Roberts accumulated 33 points and seven rebounds to help lead #3 Memphis to an 81-70 victory over UConn. He averaged 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the two Championship Round games, which was good enough to earn him the Tournament MVP honor.
10. Manny Harris (Michigan)
November 11-21, 2008
11/11 – 30 pts, 7 rebs, 2 asts (vs. Michigan Tech)
11/12 – 26 pts, 10 rebs, 8 asts, 1 stl (vs. Northeastern)
11/20 – 15 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls (vs. #4 UCLA)
11/21 – 25 pts, 2 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls (Champ. vs. #5 Duke)
All-Tournament Team
Harris set a then-tournament record in scoring 96 points over four games, averaging 24.0 ppg to go along with 6.0 rpg, 4.5 apg, and 1.8 spg as Michigan advanced to the Classic final with wins over Michigan Tech, Northeastern, and No. 4 UCLA. Harris shot 27-of-49 (.551) from the field, 8-of-19 (.421) from three, and 34-of-39 (.872) from the line in earning All-Tournament honors.