Like a walk down memory lane.
http://www.bleacherbreaker.com/bask...tm_content=00542d8ae3388542a91520b41513912e92
http://www.bleacherbreaker.com/bask...tm_content=00542d8ae3388542a91520b41513912e92
College Greats That Didn't Translate to the NBA
- Thread starter Random UK Fan
- Start date
Give me the cutoff for college great. I can think of quite a few UK players even under Cal that should have been much better pros than they were.
Agreed. I can also think of a few that were better in the league than in college (i.e. Skal).
Surprised Hansbrough isn't on that list.
I’m not giving bleacher all those clicks. Can somebody summarize the list please.
Not really. He is classic bulldozer meant for college only.
Never saw him as a NBA star.
Not gonna click through all that, but the first couple who come to mind are Jimmer Fredette, Adam Morrison, Juan Dixon, and Randolph Childress.
That's what he was saying; Hans was an amazing college player who didn't become a big star in the league. BTW, would have KILLED to have him in a Duke uniform. Guy was an animal.
One of Bleachers less-good click bait articles. Goes after guys who played a decade in the league and made all-star teams. I think it is actually a re-release of an old article from several years ago, actually, now that I think about it.
Ahh, you know what I just noticed? That isn't Bleacher REPORT, it is some other site that looks like a knock off. Anyone know what Bleacher Breaker is?
Indiana has a couple in Damon Bailey and Steve Alford.
Not that anyone thought they would be good in the NBA, but they were definitely college greats.
Not that anyone thought they would be good in the NBA, but they were definitely college greats.
Donyell Marshall and Dennis Scott have no business in that article. Career double-digit scorers with 10+ years in the NBA.
Jimmer and Hansbrough should both be near the top of the list since they both were recognized as the National Player of the Year.
Other names to consider:
-Shawn Respert, Michigan State
-Ed O'Bannon, UCLA
-Tony Delk, Kentucky
-Shelden Williams, Duke
-Joe Forte, UNC
-Randolph Childress, Wake Forest
-Lawrence Roberts, Mississppi State
-Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
-Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
-Nolan Smith, Duke
-Thomas Robinson, Kansas
-Troy Bell, Boston College
-Casey Jacobsen, Stanford
-Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State
-Miles Simon, Arizona
-Dee Brown, Illinois
-Julius Hodge, NC State
Jimmer and Hansbrough should both be near the top of the list since they both were recognized as the National Player of the Year.
Other names to consider:
-Shawn Respert, Michigan State
-Ed O'Bannon, UCLA
-Tony Delk, Kentucky
-Shelden Williams, Duke
-Joe Forte, UNC
-Randolph Childress, Wake Forest
-Lawrence Roberts, Mississppi State
-Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
-Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
-Nolan Smith, Duke
-Thomas Robinson, Kansas
-Troy Bell, Boston College
-Casey Jacobsen, Stanford
-Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State
-Miles Simon, Arizona
-Dee Brown, Illinois
-Julius Hodge, NC State
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I don't think it's fair to put Hurley in there. Guy almost died 30 games into his career and ended up with a completely busted knee that was never the same again.
Put him in the Oden category of things we'll never know.
Put him in the Oden category of things we'll never know.
That's probably fair. I crossed him out and inserted Shelden Williams in his place.
Ed Cota was always one that shocked the hell out of me that he didn’t make it in the NBA.
Yeah, that schmuck is responsible for the demise of the EA Sports College Football/Basketball Games. Unforgivable.
anyone who shuts down any EA game can do no wrong in my book. I've been boycotting that horse crap company since 2003.
Oh man great list. Troy Bell and Joe Forte, those are perfect choices. Hodge is a good one too.
Cash Winston will likely be on this list soon. Kid’s old man game is sooo fun to watch at the college level. Maybe he’ll get a shot in the NBA as a backup PG. Just enjoying the show while he’s at MSU. Kid is a pleasure to watch.
EvilMonkeyInTheCloset
Well-Known Member
EvilMonkeyInTheCloset
Well-Known Member
Meh. They did continue to tinker hit-or-miss style with the NCAA games, but at least they were putting them out there.
Somebody else just needs to grow some balls and bring the franchise back.
They basically ruined Bioware, I still have PTSD from Mass Effect 3's ending and Andromeda was dog shit. I'm with you.
I was playing Mass Effect 3 on PC, after many hours into the game, my HD quit working and lost everything. I never got to the ending.
The extended cut was better but still definitely lacking considering what they were selling with the first two. 2 is still one of my favorite games of all time. Such a masterpiece.
It really is very difficult to project to the NBA. There are a few no-brainers like Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid(only question was his knee), but for the most part, it's difficult. So much depends on what the kids are working with upstairs. I think some guys who have the skills, miss the mark in the NBA because they can't adapt mentally. It's a hit to the ego that they suddenly aren't dominating everybody and they don't know what to do with it. Some also can't transition from being the go-to guy to being just another cog in the machine, and confidence dwindles. I think that really hit Jimmer Fredette hard. He is at his best when he's given the ball and told to score. He couldn't transition to being a ball distributor who occasionally looks for his shot. That...and he can't play defense.
I was thinking Joe Forte. His skill level and athleticism was off the charts. Unfortunately so wasn't his brain.
He was definitely a bust in the NBA but that dude was no more than a 2 or 3 start recruit that became NPOY. I think everything after that was gravy for him. Just the fact that he collected NBA checks is a win for him.
Sherron Collins was absolutely incredible at KU but was 5'11" and got too big/heavy/slow to play in the NBA.
Other KU guys
Danny Manning - bad knees and bad back
Jacque Vaughn - can't shoot
Rex Walters- not athletic enough
Mark Randall - not athletic enough
Keith Langford (great overseas career) not big enough to be a slashing SG in the NBA
Wayne Simien - too short to be PF not skilled enough to play SF
Thomas Robinson - too short to be PF not skilled enough to play SF
some other big 12 guys that were great college players but didn't translate
Michael Beasley
Bryant "big country" Reeves
Hollis Price
James Anderson
Marcus Fizer
Doug Smith
Derrick Cheivous
Melvin Booker
Other KU guys
Danny Manning - bad knees and bad back
Jacque Vaughn - can't shoot
Rex Walters- not athletic enough
Mark Randall - not athletic enough
Keith Langford (great overseas career) not big enough to be a slashing SG in the NBA
Wayne Simien - too short to be PF not skilled enough to play SF
Thomas Robinson - too short to be PF not skilled enough to play SF
some other big 12 guys that were great college players but didn't translate
Michael Beasley
Bryant "big country" Reeves
Hollis Price
James Anderson
Marcus Fizer
Doug Smith
Derrick Cheivous
Melvin Booker
I agree with him also. Cota was an amazing passer & ball handler, blows my mind a NBA team couldn’t have used him.
