The 2025-26 college basketball countdown is officially activated after The Field of 68 released its top 25 players since 2000. The Cardinals have had a lot of elite players to play during that timeframe, and the college basketball experts agree.
Former Louisville basketball star guard and fan favorite Russ Smith earned a spot on this list as he comes in ranked No. 23. Smith has gone down as one of the best guards ever to wear a red and black uniform, and after these rankings, it clearly proves that.
The Field of 68 only released 21 through 25 today, and falling behind Smith includes Oklahoma's Buddy Hield at No. 24 and Duke's Shane Battier at No. 25.
🚨 Top 25 Players since 2000 🚨
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) August 18, 2025
⁰Part 1️⃣ kicks off with spots 25–21:⁰🔸 Shane Battier⁰🔸 Buddy Hield⁰🔸 Russ Smith⁰🔸 Jameer Nelson⁰🔸 Frank Kaminsky
Who’s ranked TOO LOW? 👀⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IaadPezwTF
Russ Smith gets the flowers he deserves
Louisville and Smith getting the spotlight they deserve has the Cardinals fans wearing a huge smile. The former star point guard led Louisville to its first National Title in 2013, after the city and fans had gone 27 years without a title.
Smith started in 37 of 40 games, and averaged 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 41.4 percent from the field. He made the All-Big East First Team and was an All-American after his championship run.
During the Cardinals' March Madness run, he averaged 22.5 points and 2.5 steals per game. He earned the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Midwest Regional. Now, Smith ranks No. 36 in career points with 1,235 points in his four seasons.
Smith was one of the most dominant two-way players in his generation. The 6-foot, 165-pound guard out of New York then went on to play in the AAC in his senior season and earned All-AAC and AAC Tournament MVP. He averaged 18.2 points and 2.0 steals while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor.
Smith was a consensus All-American his senior season, and immediately became one of the best players ever to wear a Cardinals uniform. His No. 2 uniform now hangs up in the rafters at KFC Yum! Center, proving he was one of the best players in the 2000s.
While many fans in 2025 might not know about Smith, those who watched him play in 2013 and 2014 knew how dominant and talented he was.
Related: Louisville fans demand 2013 national title back after Michigan’s soft punishment