The Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year award is among the most prestigious honors in collegiate basketball, highlighting exceptional talent and performance. This list delves into the teams that have produced the most winners of this esteemed accolade throughout college basketball history. From legendary dynasties to contemporary powerhouses, these teams have consistently cultivated top-tier talent and dominated the college basketball landscape. Each recipient symbolizes individual excellence and the collective strength and tradition of their respective programs. Join us as we explore the legacy and impact of these powerhouse teams, whose players have left an indelible mark on the annals of college basketball history.
List of Team with Most Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year Winners
Since 1967, the Associated Press (AP) has bestowed the AP Player of the Year Award annually, honoring the top men's college basketball player. Ralph Sampson from Virginia remains the sole recipient thrice (1981-83), with four others claiming it twice (last in 1975). Duke leads with seven winners, trailed by UCLA (five) and Ohio State (four).
| Year | Player | School |
| 1961 | Jerry Lucas | Ohio State |
| 1962 | Jerry Lucas | Ohio State |
| 1963 | Art Heyman | Duke |
| 1964 | Gary Bradds | Ohio State |
| 1965 | Bill Bradley | Princeton |
| 1966 | Cazzie Russell | Michigan |
| 1967 | Lew Alcindor | UCLA |
| 1968 | Elvin Hayes | Houston |
| 1969 | Lew Alcindor | UCLA |
| 1970 | Pete Maravich | LSU |
| 1971 | Austin Carr | Notre Dame |
| 1972 | Bill Walton | UCLA |
| 1973 | Bill Walton | UCLA |
| 1974 | David Thompson | NC State |
| 1975 | David Thompson | NC State |
| 1976 | Scott May | Indiana |
| 1977 | Marques Johnson | UCLA |
| 1978 | Butch Lee | Marquette |
| 1979 | Larry Bird | Indiana State |
| 1980 | Mark Aguirre | DePaul |
| 1981 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia |
| 1982 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia |
| 1983 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia |
| 1984 | Michael Jordan | North Carolina |
| 1985 | Patrick Ewing | Georgetown |
| 1986 | Walter Berry | St. John’s |
| 1987 | David Robinson | Navy |
| 1988 | Hersey Hawkins | Bradley |
| 1989 | Sean Elliott | Arizona |
| 1990 | Lionel Simmons | La Salle |
| 1991 | Shaquille O’Neal | LSU |
| 1992 | Christian Laettner | Duke |
| 1993 | Calbert Cheaney | Indiana |
| 1994 | Glenn Robinson | Purdue |
| 1995 | Joe Smith | Maryland |
| 1996 | Marcus Camby | UMass |
| 1997 | Tim Duncan | Wake Forest |
| 1998 | Antawn Jamison | North Carolina |
| 1999 | Elton Brand | Duke |
| 2000 | Kenyon Martin | Cincinnati |
| 2001 | Shane Battier | Duke |
| 2002 | Jay Williams | Duke |
| 2003 | David West | Xavier |
| 2004 | Jameer Nelson | Saint Joseph’s |
| 2005 | Andrew Bogut | Utah |
| 2006 | JJ Redick | Duke |
| 2007 | Kevin Durant | Texas |
| 2008 | Tyler Hansbrough | North Carolina |
| 2009 | Blake Griffin | Oklahoma |
| 2010 | Evan Turner | Ohio State |
| 2011 | Jimmer Fredette | BYU |
| 2012 | Anthony Davis | Kentucky |
| 2013 | Trey Burke | Michigan |
| 2014 | Doug McDermott | Creighton |
| 2015 | Frank Kaminsky | Wisconsin |
| 2016 | Denzel Valentine | Michigan State |
| 2017 | Frank Mason III | Kansas |
| 2018 | Jalen Brunson | Villanova |
| 2019 | Zion Williamson | Duke |
| 2020 | Obi Toppin | Dayton |
| 2021 | Luka Garza | Iowa |
| 2022 | Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky |
| 2023 | Zach Edey | Purdue |
FAQ's On List of Team with Most Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year Winners
A. The AP Player of the Year Award is an annual honor given by the Associated Press to recognize the best men's college basketball player of the season.
A. Virginia's Ralph Sampson holds the record for the most AP Player of the Year Awards, winning consecutively thrice from 1981 to 1983.
A. Duke University boasts the highest number of AP Player of the Year winners, with seven players from their program receiving the prestigious award.
A. Apart from Ralph Sampson, four other players have won the AP Player of the Year Award twice, with the most recent occurrence in 1975.
A. Following Duke, UCLA ranks second with five winners, while Ohio State holds the third position with four recipients of the AP Player of the Year Award.
