Who Had The Better College Career, Jimmer Fredette Or Zion Williamson?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – You’re probably thinking, here we go again, another article from the Utah media trying to get Jimmer Fredette in the news. This comes from a national college basketball insider in Andy Katz from NCAA.com.

Katz, a longtime college hoops reporter, ranked the last 10 winners of the prestigious Naismith Award. An award given to College Basketball’s best player. Fredette took home the hardware in 2011 after leading BYU to their first Sweet 16 appearance in 30 years.

Dayton’s Obi Toppin was named Naismith Award winner in college hoops. First time since 2011 a player outside a major conference won the award.

Last one outside the major conferences to pull it off was #BYU legend Jimmer Fredette nine years ago today. #BYUhoops @kslsports pic.twitter.com/UZxrj5SdA1

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) April 4, 2020

Is Fredette the best Naismith winner in the past 10 years of college hoops?

Almost, according to Katz.

2011 | Pull up on 'em like Jimmer Fredette! #BYU pic.twitter.com/LF5uzy98FK

— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) June 14, 2017

Fredette checked in at No. 2 on Katz’s list. Ranked only behind New Orleans Pelicans All-Star and former Duke star Zion Williamson.

Williamson played only one season at Duke from 2018-19. He averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 2.1 steals per game for the Blue Devils. He was a national spectacle that the college basketball tuned in to watch every time they could, but should he be ranked above Fredette?

Look, if we’re basing this off of the NBA, it’s not a debate. I understand that. But imagine if Fredette and BYU in the 2010-11 season were in a conference that was featured every night on ESPN like Duke was with Zion?

Zion Williamson with the unreal 360 dunk at Duke👀pic.twitter.com/rAsmWNAd2G

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 3, 2020

Jimmer Fredette created “Jimmermania” with games being played on The mtn. and Twitter in its infancy stage. Fredette would have received all the hype in today’s social media world, and it likely would have grown his legendary status.

Fredette averaged 28.9 points per game and dropped three-pointers all over the court in his senior year with BYU.

It’s a great debate as to which Naismith Award winner was greater in college. There’s a strong argument that Jimmer was the best of the past 10 years, but you can’t go wrong with Zion. Who proved at Duke he was a generational talent.

Katz’s full list of Naismith winners over the past 10 years

1. Zion Williamson, Duke

2. Jimmer Fredette, BYU

3. Anthony Davis, Kentucky

4. Buddy Heild, Oklahoma

5. Doug McDermott, Creighton

6. Trey Burke, Michigan

7. Jalen Brunson, Villanova

8. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

9. Obi Toppin, Dayton

10. Frank Mason III, Kansas