Doug McDermott and Jimmer Fredette are both widely considered as two of the best college basketball players of the last decade. They have similar play styles, thus causing heated debates on which player was better. Some people think Jimmer was better while others think Doug was.
This article gives brief descriptions of their career stats and accolades as well as a final verdict and analysis.
Let’s start with Jimmer Fredette. Fredette started his collegiate career coming off the bench and averaging 7 PPG for the Cougars. In his sophomore season, he became a starter and averaged 16 PPG. He was also named First Team All-Mountain West.
In both seasons the Cougs made the NCAA Tournament but lost in the 1st round both years. Going into his junior season Jimmer was named Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year. He ended up finishing the season averaging 22 PPG and 5 APG. Fredette shot 44% from beyond the arc as well.
They made the NCAA Tournament as a 7 seed where they beat 10 seed Florida in Double OT with Fredette scoring 37. They then lost to 2 seed Kansas State in the 2nd round. Jimmer was named First Team All-Mountain West. Fredette was a projected late first-round pick but he decided to return to BYU for his senior season.
Jimmer ended up having one of the most electric seasons in college basketball history averaging 29, 4, and 4. He also led the Cougs to the Sweet 16 as a 3 seed. Fredette ended up winning Mountain West Player of the Year, was named a Consensus All-American, and he was the Unanimous National Player of the Year.
Jimmer also became the Mountain West and BYU’s leading scorer. He finished his career with 2,599 points and became a pop culture phenomenon after his electric senior season which propelled him to get drafted in the top 10 of the 2011 NBA Draft. Fredette has been all over in his pro career but he is currently playing in Greece
Now for Doug McDermott. Doug ended up immediately starting for the Jays and in his freshman year, Doug averaged 15 and 7. He was named First Team All-Missouri Valley and became the first freshman to do so since 1954. In his sophomore season, McDermott averaged 23 and 8 while leading the Jays to an 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Creighton would go on to beat 9 seed Alabama but lose to 1 seed North Carolina in the 2nd round. Doug was named Missouri Valley Player of the Year as well as a Consensus First Team All- American. In his junior season, McDermott averaged 23 and 8 again leading the Jays to another NCAA Tournament appearance.
The 7 seed Jays won their first-round game against Cincinnati but lost to 2 seed Duke in the second round. McDermott was again named Missouri Valley Player of the Year as well as a Consensus First Team All-American. He elected to return for his senior season and Creighton also moved from the Missouri Valley to the Big East.
In his senior season, he averaged a whopping 27 and 7 leading the Jays to a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While they would end up losing in the second round to Baylor, McDermott would end up being named the Unanimous National Player of the Year, Consensus All American for the third year in a row, and Big East Player of the Year.
Doug finished his career at #5 for total points scored with 3,150 points. He was drafted in the lottery and has built a solid NBA career as he is currently on the Indiana Pacers.
The Verdict:
Doug McDermott had the better college career. It is hard to argue with 3 Consensus All-American selections. While Jimmer had the better season when comparing their National Player of the Year campaigns Doug played in a tougher conference in the Big East.
McDermott also had a better PPG average in his freshman, sophomore, and junior year and was always named First Team All-Conference in his career. He is in an elite club of 3,000 point scorers and is currently #6 all-time in career points. While Doug never got to the Sweet 16, he had a better individual career than Jimmer.
Image: Elsa/USA Today
