Ben Gordon

American college basketball guard who led the University of Connecticut to the 2004 NCAA Championship, earning Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.

Ben Gordon was born in London, England in 1983 and moved to the United States as a child. He attended the University of Connecticut under coach Jim Calhoun and won the national championship in 2004. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 18.2 points per game across the tournament. He was the Big East Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. He averaged 18.5 points per game across three seasons. His ability to create his own shot from anywhere on the floor — particularly his step-back three and his mid-range pull-up — made him one of the most dangerous scorers in the tournament. Chicago Bulls selected him third overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2005 — the first rookie to win the award. His UConn career is one of two national championships the program won across a five-year window alongside Hamilton's 1999 title. He is one of the most significant players in British basketball history.

Gordon was known as a dynamic scoring guard with exceptional shooting ability from beyond the three-point line. He possessed quick release mechanics and could create his own shot off the dribble, making him particularly effective coming off the bench. His ability to heat up quickly and score in bunches made him a valuable instant-offense weapon.

Gordon helped establish UConn as a premier basketball program and demonstrated how international-born players could excel in American college basketball.

• National Championship (2004)
• Tournament MOP (2004)
• Big East Player of Year
• All-American
• NCAA National Championship (2004)
• NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2004)
• Big East Player of the Year (2004)
• Consensus First-team All-American (2004)
• NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2005)