[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 That made it to the league,that you thought never would have.

Eric Bledsoe is for sure one player I thought was going to be in college at least 3 years, granted he was the #2 rated PG in the country,but his buzz had to be the lowest ever for a #2 point guard in the country.

Then when Wall commited to UK, I thought Bledsoe was going to take a back seat and shine that next year,but no Bledsoe started and played really well and was selected just outside of the lottery.

I don’t think anybody, even Bledsoe thought he would be one and done.

 

A two and done player that shocked me was Jeff Teague,rated the #8 PG in the country out of HS in a loaded 2007 class and having nearly signed with Southern Illinois, I thought the ACC might be a bit too much for him as he only stood 6-1 155 going into Wake.

But 20 pounds later and a huge confidence booster, Teague went on to play very well as a freshman and exploded his sophomore season,argubaly being the best player in the country for the first half of the 2008-09 season, Teague as well was drafted just outside of lottery and could have been a top 5 pick had he kept up his dominating performances.

 

Russell Westbrook is another guy who has really shocked me and his success to date is even more impressive and shows you what hard work and confidence can really do for a player that’s really gifted.

Coming out of HS Westbrook was a top 20 PG,meaning he was in the range of top 100-150 HS players overall, he nearly signed with Kent State(MAC) and Creighton(MVC)  his junior year, before exploding a little bit and getting a few high major offers at the last minute in his senior year.

Like Teague Russell was a late bloomer,but while Teague had quite some success his freshman year at Wake Forest(13.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.5 APG), Russell did not only averaging(3.7 PPG, 0.8 APG, 0.9 RPG in 9MPG). Maybe the PAC 10 was too much for him, maybe he was one of those guys that was a mid-major prospect but jumped the gun from a high major offer and would have better success at a lower level school.

But Westbrook cam back the next year and put up solid numbers for a very good UCLA team, and shocked everyone going #4 in the draft, and well you know the rest.

[fliptonnParticipant]

how good this kentucky team would be if bledsoe stayed 4 years 

[DunksNJordans23Participant]

 Bledsoe should have stayed a second year to be with Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones. Had Bledsoe stayed I think Kentucky would have won it last year and made him a lottery pick. Now days he’s at the end of the bench stuck behind CP3, Mo Wiliams, and Randy Foye (even though he’s been playing the 2)

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 Bledsoe is going to be ok, he had an injury that set him back this year,but he’s been playing better and better as the season has went on.

Next year should be a breakout year for him,just like Avery Bradley.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I know a lot of people even myself felt Bradley should have stayed but he received some valuable training with the Celtics and now it is paying off.  I think Bledsoe has the tools to be a starting point guard.  It does not hurt to have Billups and CP on your team.  I remember when Steve Nash was in a situation playing behind KG and Kidd.  It worked out great for him.  I am not saying Bledsoe will be a Steve Nash but I am sure that the vets he plays with will rub off on him.

[Author]

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