Good read on 5* basketball players who didn't make it

[JonathanW]

This popped up on my facebook feed. Showing the point that I often try to make that the number of stars by a players name is only part of the story. There are lots of 5* guys who don't measure up, and lots of 4* & even 3* guys who become superstars or very good players.

Interesting thing about the list in this link, it has 2 KU, 2 Ok St, 2 Baylor, & 1 Texas player out of the 15. If you take away the 2 that never went to college, 7 of the 13 flops were Big 12 guys. Zero UK or even SEC players are on the list, although you could probably but a few on the list. But most of these were not only 5*, but they were top 10 guys.

For those that don'w want to click on the link:
KU: Selby & Henry
Ok St: Nash & Brumbaugh
Baylor: P.Jones & Q.Miller
Texas: Kabongo
Memphis: A.Thomas
Ariz: Tarczewski
UCLA: J.Smith
UNLV: Bennett
Ohio St: Mullens
UL: Samuels
no college: Cooke, Ebi


http://www.thesportster.com/basketb...Distribution&utm_campaign=TS-FB-MC&view=lista

 

[mj2k10]

Here's a full list of guys rated top in the top 10 of the RSCI during the 1 and done era (going 06-15) who aren't signed by an NBA team (if they're playing overseas and probably still making decent money, I list it):

06- Greg Oden, Chase Budinger (Spain, Euro League), Ty Lawson (China)
07- OJ Mayo (suspended), JJ Hickson (China), Donte Green
08- Samuels (Spain, Euro League), Byron Mullens, Delvon Roe
09- Xavier Henry, Renardo Sidney, Kenny Boynton (in Russia, Euro League, but never made the NBA at all), Tiny Gallon.
10- Jared Sullinger (decent shot he ends up back in the league, though), Josh Selby, Perry Jones.
11- Quincy Jones (Germany, Euro League), Marquis Teague, Le'Bryan Nash, Adonis Thomas (Turkey, probably making decent money)
12- Isaiah Austin (China), Anthony Bennett, Kaleb Tarczewski (Italy, Euro League),
13- Aaron Harrison, Chris Walker, James Young
14- Cliff Alexander
15- Diamond Stone


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[jrpross]

It's funny. I remember being a little disappointed personally that we were letting up on Quincy Miller to focus on this unknown Anthony Davis kid.

 

[mj2k10]

It's funny. I remember being a little disappointed personally that we were letting up on Quincy Miller to focus on this unknown Anthony Davis kid.

Sometime around May of 2010, when Davis's name really started to become national news based on his performance at early EYBL events, some guy on another board openly mocked the idea that UK would recruit him. And I have to admit, watching the videos of this kid who was a 6'9" stick figure, I wasn't so sure myself. But Davis just kept dominating that entire summer, and by the time he committed to UK, it was no shock that UK went that direction.

The only other player I remember having such a quick rise was Tracy McGrady. Some players are just destined for greatness, and AD was one of them. No one could have predicted that (at least to the level Davis reached) in May of 2010, or even when he committed to UK later that summer.

 

[mj2k10]

And I should add that from my list, the guys who really, really lost out, as in never made all that much money playing basketball (so far, at least) are:

Delvon Roe, Renardo Sidney, Tiny Gallon, Josh Selby, Le'Bryan Nash, Aaron Harrison (unfortunately), Chris Walker, Cliff Alexander, and Diamond Stone. The other guys who are no longer in the league either lasted a few years, were first round picks, or made decent money playing overseas (or some combination of that). The 9 guys I listed above got none that. They were 2nd round picks or undrafted, and they've mainly been in the D/G League.

I would say Aaron Harrison and Diamond Stone still have shots to carve out a career, either in the NBA or playing for good money overseas. For the other guys, that hope is fading or gone.

 

[RondoBaller21]

Have to add Orton to that list

 

[morgousky]

Umm....They left out a ton of options for Memphis. That's a never ending list.

As for the biggest recently? Joe Jackson was coined the "king of Memphis", OAD stud with Wall speed. Not only did he end up a four year player, he was a terrible leader, and never made a splash in the pros. I'd go with him.

 

[morgousky]

There's a lot of political bs and bad logic that goes on in these rankings as well. For years ESPN would intentionally over rank or under rank players based on rivals and scout. Avery Bradley and Wall immediately come to mind. All to be different, so it's not always intended to be accurate.

Then you've got the media's favorites, like Duke and Michigan State, who's players (especially Duke) either climb or stay the same warranted or not.

The one place the rankings are **usually solid is the top 5. Very hard to manipulate that based on feeling, but even then they do it.

 

[morgousky]

There's a lot of political bs and bad logic that goes on in these rankings as well. For years ESPN would intentionally over rank or under rank players based on rivals and scout. Avery Bradley and Wall immediately come to mind. All to be different, so it's not always intended to be accurate.

Then you've got the media's favorites, like Duke and Michigan State, who's players (especially Duke) either climb or stay the same warranted or not.

The one place the rankings are **usually solid is the top 5. Very hard to manipulate that based on feeling, but even then they do it.

 

[brianpoe]

Have to add Orton to that list

Can't count injured players.

Orton made one of the smartest moves ever to enter the draft.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

Some of the kids on that list were talked about being can't miss future super stars in the NBA. A few of them couldn't even get a shot at making money out of the country. It just goes to show you that while a kid looks to have the tools to make the NBA and last for a long time, nothing is ever a guaranteed. Just imagine how a couple of these guys are feeling today after hearing so many people that told them they were going to become huge and have enough money to buy whatever they wanted? It would have to be a huge let down.