Ultimate Alumni NCAA 25: Ranking the Best Former College Athletes

Introduction

The NCAA has been a breeding ground for some of the greatest athletes in history. Every year, countless student-athletes graduate and go on to successful careers in professional sports, business, and beyond.

But who are the best of the best? Who are the most accomplished NCAA alumni of all time?

To answer this question, we've compiled a list of the 25 most successful NCAA alumni, based on their achievements in their respective fields. Our list includes athletes from all sports, from football and basketball to track and field and swimming.

The Ranking

1. Michael Jordan: The greatest basketball player of all time, Jordan led the University of North Carolina to a national championship in 1982. He went on to win six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and is now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets.
2. Tiger Woods: The greatest golfer of all time, Woods won 15 major championships during his career. He turned professional in 1996 and quickly became the world's top-ranked golfer.
3. Serena Williams: The greatest female tennis player of all time, Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles. She is the only player, male or female, to have won all four Grand Slams in singles in the same year on multiple occasions.
4. LeBron James: The greatest basketball player of his generation, James has won four NBA championships with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. He is also one of the most popular athletes in the world.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo: The reigning NBA MVP, Antetokounmpo is one of the most dominant players in the league. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years in 2021.
6. Simone Biles: The greatest gymnast of all time, Biles has won 32 Olympic and world championship medals, including seven Olympic gold medals. She is the most decorated gymnast in American history.
7. Usain Bolt: The greatest sprinter of all time, Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. He set world records in all three events and is considered to be the fastest man in history.
8. Michael Phelps: The greatest swimmer of all time, Phelps won 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold medals. He is the most decorated Olympian of all time.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo: The greatest soccer player of his generation, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or awards and five Champions League titles. He is the all-time leading scorer for Portugal and Real Madrid.
10. Lionel Messi: The greatest soccer player of his generation, Messi has won seven Ballon d'Or awards and four Champions League titles. He is the all-time leading scorer for Barcelona and Argentina.
11. Tom Brady: The greatest quarterback of all time, Brady has won seven Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
12. Peyton Manning: The greatest quarterback of his generation, Manning has won two Super Bowls with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. He is the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
13. Roger Federer: The greatest male tennis player of all time, Federer has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles. He is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
14. Novak Djokovic: The greatest male tennis player of his generation, Djokovic has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles. He is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
15. Rafael Nadal: The greatest male tennis player of his generation, Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam singles titles. He is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
16. Phil Mickelson: The greatest golfer of his generation, Mickelson has won six major championships during his career. He turned professional in 1992 and quickly became one of the world's top-ranked golfers.
17. Joe Montana: The greatest quarterback of his generation, Montana led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories in the 1980s and 1990s. He is considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all time.
18. Wayne Gretzky: The greatest hockey player of all time, Gretzky won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers and four more with the Los Angeles Kings. He is the NHL's all-time leading scorer in goals, assists, and points.
19. David Ortiz: The greatest designated hitter of all time, Ortiz led the Boston Red Sox to three World Series championships in 2004, 2007, and 2013. He is one of the most popular players in Red Sox history.
20. Albert Pujols: The greatest first baseman of all time, Pujols has won two World Series championships with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels. He is one of the most feared hitters in baseball history.
21. Derek Jeter: The greatest shortstop of all time, Jeter led the New York Yankees to five World Series championships in the 1990s and 2000s. He is one of the most popular players in Yankees history.
22. Kobe Bryant: The greatest shooting guard of all time, Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships in the 2000s and 2010s. He is one of the most popular players in Lakers history.
23. Tim Duncan: The greatest power forward of all time, Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA championships in the 2000s and 2010s. He is one of the most consistent players in NBA history.
24. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The greatest center of all time, Abdul-Jabbar led the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers to six NBA championships in the 1970s and 1980s. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
25. Magic Johnson: The greatest point guard of all time, Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships in the 1980s. He is one of the most popular players in NBA history

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many successful NCAA alumni who have gone on to achieve great things in their respective fields. The NCAA has a long and rich history of producing some of the most talented and successful athletes in the world.

What Makes a Great NCAA Athlete?

There are many factors that contribute to the success of an NCAA athlete. Some of the most important factors include:

• Natural ability: Some athletes are simply born with more athletic talent than others. This can give them a significant advantage in their sport.
• Hard work: Success in athletics requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Athletes must be willing to put in the time and effort to improve their skills and fitness.
• Coachability: Great athletes are coachable. They are willing to listen to their coaches and learn new techniques.
• Mental toughness: Success in athletics often requires mental toughness. Athletes must be able to overcome setbacks and adversity.
• Motivation: Great athletes are motivated to succeed. They have a strong desire to win and achieve their goals.

Benefits of Being an NCAA Athlete

There are many benefits to being an NCAA athlete. Some of the most important benefits include:

• Education: NCAA athletes have the opportunity to earn a college degree while training and competing in their sport. This can give them a significant advantage in the job market after they graduate.
• Healthcare: NCAA athletes have access to free healthcare and medical treatment. This can help them stay healthy and perform at their best.
• Training facilities: NCAA athletes have access to state-of-the-art training facilities. This can help them reach their full athletic potential.
• Coaching: NCAA athletes have access to world-class coaching. This can help them improve their skills and techniques.
• Support: NCAA athletes have the support of their teammates