Who was the best college ball player to never go pro?

 Hank Gathers

 Hank Gathers

dude from michigan fab five

dude from michigan fab five

 Not counting dead guys, my dude woud be Ed Cota. Guy was an assist machine with handles. Check out his highights on youtube. What a boss… Never understood why he didn’t get a chance. Strong point guard with silly vision.

 Not counting dead guys, my dude woud be Ed Cota. Guy was an assist machine with handles. Check out his highights on youtube. What a boss… Never understood why he didn’t get a chance. Strong point guard with silly vision.

Bob Kurland played in the late 40s, but he’s the only one I can think of who could have been a star but simply opted to work a normal job where in those days you could make more money. For those who don’t know him:

7’0” C, played from Oklahoma State (called Oklahoma A&M at the time). Was George Mikan’s biggest rival.

Was the first player to regularly dunk in games (in the NCAA). Not the first to ever dunk, but the first to do it on the regular. He also used to grab the ball when it was high above the cylinder which lead to defensive goaltending rules (this rule was in fact implemented because of Kurland, not George Mikan as is commonly believed. As we know these rules were further changed a decade later with guys like Russell and Chamberlain).

2 x Olympic Gold Medalist
2 x NCAA Champion (46′, 47′) Final 4 Most Outstanding player both years.
National Player oft he Year 1946 (Helms, Sporting News)
3 x First team all-American (remember, back then freshmen couldn’t play varsity so he was 3 for 3 on this)
Is in the BB HOF
Dropped 58 in a game against Ed McCauley

Sorry I can’t provide NCAA season averages, numbers fro that era are tricky to find (maybe someone can post if you find them?).

I think he could have been a something in between Neil Johnston and George Mikan if he had that fire in him…. which evidently he didn’t…

Bob Kurland played in the late 40s, but he’s the only one I can think of who could have been a star but simply opted to work a normal job where in those days you could make more money. For those who don’t know him:

7’0” C, played from Oklahoma State (called Oklahoma A&M at the time). Was George Mikan’s biggest rival.

Was the first player to regularly dunk in games (in the NCAA). Not the first to ever dunk, but the first to do it on the regular. He also used to grab the ball when it was high above the cylinder which lead to defensive goaltending rules (this rule was in fact implemented because of Kurland, not George Mikan as is commonly believed. As we know these rules were further changed a decade later with guys like Russell and Chamberlain).

2 x Olympic Gold Medalist
2 x NCAA Champion (46′, 47′) Final 4 Most Outstanding player both years.
National Player oft he Year 1946 (Helms, Sporting News)
3 x First team all-American (remember, back then freshmen couldn’t play varsity so he was 3 for 3 on this)
Is in the BB HOF
Dropped 58 in a game against Ed McCauley

Sorry I can’t provide NCAA season averages, numbers fro that era are tricky to find (maybe someone can post if you find them?).

I think he could have been a something in between Neil Johnston and George Mikan if he had that fire in him…. which evidently he didn’t…

 Scottie Reynolds was a first team all American at villanova in 2010. He wasn’t drafted and never played a second in the NBA though. It’s the first time a first team all-American hasn’t been drafted since the merger in 1976.

 Scottie Reynolds was a first team all American at villanova in 2010. He wasn’t drafted and never played a second in the NBA though. It’s the first time a first team all-American hasn’t been drafted since the merger in 1976.

Kresimir Cosic might be the best to never play in the NBA. First team All-WAC from 1971-1973 and was an All-American in 1972 after averaging 22.3 PPG and 12.8 RPG. I think he might have played professionally in Europe, but I’m not sure since he is better known for his international accolades for Yugoslavia. He was a 6-11 center that could shoot from outside, run the floor and was a terrific passer. 

Kresimir Cosic might be the best to never play in the NBA. First team All-WAC from 1971-1973 and was an All-American in 1972 after averaging 22.3 PPG and 12.8 RPG. I think he might have played professionally in Europe, but I’m not sure since he is better known for his international accolades for Yugoslavia. He was a 6-11 center that could shoot from outside, run the floor and was a terrific passer. 

There have been a few that come to mind: 

DeAndre Kane was a guy I thought had every tool to make it to the next level, still can’t figure that one out

Jacob Pullen from K State was nasty, I thought could be like Eddie House 

Keydren Clark from St Peters averaged like 27 ppg for his career

There have been a few that come to mind: 

DeAndre Kane was a guy I thought had every tool to make it to the next level, still can’t figure that one out

Jacob Pullen from K State was nasty, I thought could be like Eddie House 

Keydren Clark from St Peters averaged like 27 ppg for his career

 Scotty Thurman from Arkansas in ’94.  Big guard, great shooter, good handles.  Projected to be a first rounder but shockingly went undradted after he left college early.  He was a star at Ark. With big nasty, and one of my favorite coaches of all time, Nolan Richardson.  I really loved those "40 min of hell" teams of the early ’90s.  Scotty Thurman was as big a name in college ball as you could be.  Never played a min in the NBA.  Hard to believe that he as undrafted, and never got a chance.  Could have been a slightly shorter Klay Thompson.

 Scotty Thurman from Arkansas in ’94.  Big guard, great shooter, good handles.  Projected to be a first rounder but shockingly went undradted after he left college early.  He was a star at Ark. With big nasty, and one of my favorite coaches of all time, Nolan Richardson.  I really loved those "40 min of hell" teams of the early ’90s.  Scotty Thurman was as big a name in college ball as you could be.  Never played a min in the NBA.  Hard to believe that he as undrafted, and never got a chance.  Could have been a slightly shorter Klay Thompson.

 in 1983 according to some members of media and tv commentators north carolina state’s derek whittenburg was hyped up to be next great nba guard..dude went in the 3rd round and never played in the nba..i read some folks saying how larry brown was a great baller in college and in the aba.

 in 1983 according to some members of media and tv commentators north carolina state’s derek whittenburg was hyped up to be next great nba guard..dude went in the 3rd round and never played in the nba..i read some folks saying how larry brown was a great baller in college and in the aba.

 landon turner

 landon turner

 landon turner

 landon turner

 chicago high baller benji wilson never went to college..but that kid had the potential to become great.

 chicago high baller benji wilson never went to college..but that kid had the potential to become great.

 James Forrest was a power forward at Georgia Tech  in the early 90s….had the body and game of David West….I thought he was a sure fire first rounder, yet was never drafted

 James Forrest was a power forward at Georgia Tech  in the early 90s….had the body and game of David West….I thought he was a sure fire first rounder, yet was never drafted

 Kevin garnetts high school teammate Ronnie Fields or another person Marylands Len Bias!

 Kevin garnetts high school teammate Ronnie Fields or another person Marylands Len Bias!

len bias

len bias

peewee Kirkland was a beast streets know

peewee Kirkland was a beast streets know

earl manigoat. kareem Abdul jabber said he was the best player he ever went against

earl manigoat. kareem Abdul jabber said he was the best player he ever went against

2x NCAA scoring champ and  a year out of college was working in Houston’s public works dept

2x NCAA scoring champ and  a year out of college was working in Houston’s public works dept

 Corey Fisher Nova

Gee Gervin. Houston

Reggie Freeman Texas

Kevin Braswell Georgetown 

 Corey Fisher Nova

Gee Gervin. Houston

Reggie Freeman Texas

Kevin Braswell Georgetown 

 I thought Brandin Knight from Pitt was pretty dope I remember those Pitt teams where tough even levnace fields was nice Isiah Austin from Baylor  was another. Arizona Hassan Adams was good and Mustapha Shakur too. Ricky moore from uconn nobody body up Allen Iverson the way he did that alone should have gotten him drafted. Len bias did get drafted so that might not count. Lenny Cooke I mean seriously if Sebastian telfair got drafted Lenny shoulda gotten at least drafted…taliek brown from uconn to was a key to that 04 national championship team. Did Andre Barrett from seton hall ever get drafted?

 I thought Brandin Knight from Pitt was pretty dope I remember those Pitt teams where tough even levnace fields was nice Isiah Austin from Baylor  was another. Arizona Hassan Adams was good and Mustapha Shakur too. Ricky moore from uconn nobody body up Allen Iverson the way he did that alone should have gotten him drafted. Len bias did get drafted so that might not count. Lenny Cooke I mean seriously if Sebastian telfair got drafted Lenny shoulda gotten at least drafted…taliek brown from uconn to was a key to that 04 national championship team. Did Andre Barrett from seton hall ever get drafted?

 Nicos Galis, another name to add to the list.  28 points a game for his last college seasons.  Wasn’t a high draft pick, but later when he was a superstar in Europe he stayed there instead of going to the NBA so he could still play in the Olympics.

Panagiotis Fasoulas had a season with NC State.

Rashard Griffith, averaged 17 and 11 for Wisconsin, never played in the NBA.

Scoonie Penn, he and Redd were a college backcourt and both were second round picks.

Steve Logan, Cincinnati point guard.

Center Erazem Lorbek.

Shooting guard Rickey Paulding had some big college games, no NBA games.

 Nicos Galis, another name to add to the list.  28 points a game for his last college seasons.  Wasn’t a high draft pick, but later when he was a superstar in Europe he stayed there instead of going to the NBA so he could still play in the Olympics.

Panagiotis Fasoulas had a season with NC State.

Rashard Griffith, averaged 17 and 11 for Wisconsin, never played in the NBA.

Scoonie Penn, he and Redd were a college backcourt and both were second round picks.

Steve Logan, Cincinnati point guard.

Center Erazem Lorbek.

Shooting guard Rickey Paulding had some big college games, no NBA games.

 Marcus hatten really carried those St. John’s teams in the early 2000s. Undersized guard who could score the ball at will in the college game. I was at the game when he made the and 1 to beat Duke at msg and it was one of the best live games I’ve seen in my life. I thought he would get a chance in the NBA eventually but it just never happened.

 Marcus hatten really carried those St. John’s teams in the early 2000s. Undersized guard who could score the ball at will in the college game. I was at the game when he made the and 1 to beat Duke at msg and it was one of the best live games I’ve seen in my life. I thought he would get a chance in the NBA eventually but it just never happened.