Sun Mar 30 01:20:00 UTC 2025: ## One-and-Done Dynasty: NBA’s Top Picks Often Skip Senior Year After March Madness Success

**Syracuse, NY/Lexington, KY/Louisville, KY –** A recurring theme in college basketball history involves star players leading their teams to Final Four appearances and national championships, only to forgo their senior seasons for the lucrative NBA draft. This pattern is highlighted by three prominent examples: Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis, and Pervis Ellison.

Carmelo Anthony’s electrifying performance in the 2003 NCAA tournament, culminating in a Final Four appearance and chants of “One More Year” from Syracuse fans, ultimately yielded to the allure of the NBA. His 20 points and 10 rebounds against Oklahoma were crucial to the team’s success. Similarly, Anthony Davis propelled Kentucky to victory in the 2012 championship game with an 18-point, 11-rebound performance. Both players became number-one overall draft picks shortly after their college triumphs. Pervis Ellison, a Louisville Cardinal, also followed this trajectory. His impressive 15-point, 10-rebound, 2-block game in the 1986 Elite Eight secured a national championship and a top NBA draft pick status for the “Never Nervous” player.

These three prominent cases exemplify the “one-and-done” phenomenon in college basketball, where top prospects achieve national recognition and championship success before immediately entering the NBA.

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