Best of 2021 header

2021 marks PressBox’s fifth annual Best Of edition celebrating the top people, performances and moments of the year.

Best College Athletes: Santi Aldama

Loyola only played 17 games — all Patriot League contests — during the 2020-21 college basketball season, but Santi Aldama certainly made the most of his opportunities.

The 6-foot-11, 224-pound forward out of Spain averaged 21.2 points and 10.1 rebounds and earned first-team All-Patriot League honors.

Armed with the skill set of a modern big man, Aldama was taken 30th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Jazz and subsequently traded to the Grizzlies. He became the fourth player ever to be drafted out of the Patriot League.

“I’m really, really blessed to have had the opportunity to be there,” Aldama said in the fall of his time at Loyola.

Photo Credit: Larry French

For more Best Of, visit PressBoxOnline.com/BestOf

Plus: Check out PressBox’s 2021 Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Year, Justin Tucker.

Justin Tucker

Issue 272 December 2021 / January 2022

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