[surveParticipant]

Lets give some love to some players who had to work hard to get out of the shadows of their predecessors or their more highly touted contemporaries to go on to more NBA success or at least surpass those in regard and stature.  Just recently we witnessed Derrick Williams, the least heralded recruit of his freshman class at Arizona rise to the second pick in the draft.  Thats a lil different scenario because Williams wasnt in anyones shadows because coming out of high school he wasnt really on anyone’s radar.

My first offering is Sherman Douglas.

Douglas, nicknamed "the General" coming out of high school received exactly one scholarship offer, and that was from Syracuse.  To say he was unheralded was an understatement.  He sat behind then Syracuse star and NYC icon, Dwayne "Pearl" Washington…who incidentally had been nicknamed after Earl "the Pearl" Monroe.  Washington was the #1 recruit coming out of high school and had nothing but high hopes heaped upon him.  Douglas was a mere afterthought.  Things turned around for Douglas when Washington left school early to enter the draft and was selected number 13 overall. 

What did Washington do?  He became a bust of major proportions. 

What did Douglas do?  He became Syracuse’s all time leader in scoring and the NCAA all time leader in assists.  Not bad for a guy who only received one scholarship huh?  Douglas still was slighted by being selected in the 2nd round of the NBA draft…scouts still didnt see him as possessing the type of talent as his predecessor Washington did.  What they didnt realize that Douglas had one of the biggest hearts and highest basketball IQ’s of any player in college or pros at the time. 

Douglas wasnt done proving his point after college…in his 2nd year with the Miami Heat, Douglas averaged 18.5ppg and 8.5apg.  This from a guy who’s doubters always said he was too slow, not athletic enough, too short, etc….

Douglas had a respectable NBA career, playing 14 seasons and averaging 11ppg and 6apg.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

JJ Hickson – Antwan Jamison

Ty Lawson – Chauncey Billups

Dorell Wright

Kyle Lowry – Brooks

Darren Collison – CP3

DeAndre Jordan – Chris Kaman

Marc Gasol – Pau Gasol (in a sense)

Brandon Jennings – Luke Ridnour

John Salmons

Kris Humphries

Marcin Gortat – D12

Wes Matthews

 

I feel these guys have broke the shadow and now can go onto making their own names or already have.

 

 

 

 

[M-DYMESParticipant]

JJ Hickson – Antwan Jamison

Ty Lawson – Chauncey Billups

Dorell Wright

Kyle Lowry – Brooks

Darren Collison – CP3

DeAndre Jordan – Chris Kaman

Marc Gasol – Pau Gasol (in a sense)

Brandon Jennings – Luke Ridnour

John Salmons

Kris Humphries

Marcin Gortat – D12

Wes Matthews

 

I feel these guys have broke the shadow and now can go onto making their own names or already have.

 

 

 

 

[surveParticipant]

I read an article once that said had top 5 HS recruit Michael Christian committed to Illinois instead of Georgia Tech there never wouldve been an Illini named Kendall Gill.

In 85-86 some people felt that Christian was the best player of his class, but certainly the best PG.  I remember Gill saying in an interview that when he and Christian were at a campus visit, all the reporters flocked to Christian while he was left standing in the background.  No one even wanted to talk to him because they didnt know who he was.  Gill later stated that had Christian gone to Illinois, he still wouldve have gone as well, which isnt hard to believe since Illinois was the only team that wanted him.  When Christian chose Georgia Tech, asst coach Jimmy Collins convinced head coach Lou Henson that Gill could help the Illini, shortly after the rest was history and Kendall joined Nick Anderson, Kenny Battle, Stephen Bardo, Lowell Hamilton, and Marcus Liberty to form the Flyin Illini.

Christian, who wouldve been the successor to Kenny Anderson and backcourt partner of the highly touted Brian Oliver suffered career damaging setbacks when he broke his leg.  Georgia Tech struggled as Oliver, an natural SG was forced to play the PG.  Eventually, Anderson arrived from NYC and formed Lethal Weapon 3 with Oliver and high scoring forward Dennis Scott.  Christian transferred to Tulane and graduated after having a decent career mixed with off-court problems.  Christian went undrafted and I dont believe he ever played in the NBA.

Gill went on to lead the Big 10 in scoring his senior year and left Illinois as the school’s 7th leading scorer of all time.  He was drafted 5th overall by the Charlotte Hornets.  He made the all rookie 1st-team and was key in the Hornets early playoff success.  He played 15 years and scored over 12, 000 points, nearly 3, 000 assists and over 4, 000 rebounds.

 

[surveParticipant]

I read an article once that said had top 5 HS recruit Michael Christian committed to Illinois instead of Georgia Tech there never wouldve been an Illini named Kendall Gill.

In 85-86 some people felt that Christian was the best player of his class, but certainly the best PG.  I remember Gill saying in an interview that when he and Christian were at a campus visit, all the reporters flocked to Christian while he was left standing in the background.  No one even wanted to talk to him because they didnt know who he was.  Gill later stated that had Christian gone to Illinois, he still wouldve have gone as well, which isnt hard to believe since Illinois was the only team that wanted him.  When Christian chose Georgia Tech, asst coach Jimmy Collins convinced head coach Lou Henson that Gill could help the Illini, shortly after the rest was history and Kendall joined Nick Anderson, Kenny Battle, Stephen Bardo, Lowell Hamilton, and Marcus Liberty to form the Flyin Illini.

Christian, who wouldve been the successor to Kenny Anderson and backcourt partner of the highly touted Brian Oliver suffered career damaging setbacks when he broke his leg.  Georgia Tech struggled as Oliver, an natural SG was forced to play the PG.  Eventually, Anderson arrived from NYC and formed Lethal Weapon 3 with Oliver and high scoring forward Dennis Scott.  Christian transferred to Tulane and graduated after having a decent career mixed with off-court problems.  Christian went undrafted and I dont believe he ever played in the NBA.

Gill went on to lead the Big 10 in scoring his senior year and left Illinois as the school’s 7th leading scorer of all time.  He was drafted 5th overall by the Charlotte Hornets.  He made the all rookie 1st-team and was key in the Hornets early playoff success.  He played 15 years and scored over 12, 000 points, nearly 3, 000 assists and over 4, 000 rebounds.

 

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Sorry I took this thread a lil differently and opened it up a little more. 

I like the topic though…+1

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Sorry I took this thread a lil differently and opened it up a little more. 

I like the topic though…+1

[surveParticipant]

all those players you named were pretty much stars in their own right before getting to the league…I want guys who werent expected to make it anywhere and blossomed into having good careers.  Like Derrick Williams.   Another example is a year ago, the best HS prospects from Georgia were Jelan Kendrick, Ryan Harrow, and Marcus Thornton, etc…there wasnt much talk about a guy named Jeremy Lamb…who has now stepped out to be one of the best NBA prospects in college basketball period.  Plus on the opposite side I was targeting the guys who’s shadow these players were in and how they didnt turn out to have as good careers.  You get the idea.  Thanks for contributing though.

[surveParticipant]

all those players you named were pretty much stars in their own right before getting to the league…I want guys who werent expected to make it anywhere and blossomed into having good careers.  Like Derrick Williams.   Another example is a year ago, the best HS prospects from Georgia were Jelan Kendrick, Ryan Harrow, and Marcus Thornton, etc…there wasnt much talk about a guy named Jeremy Lamb…who has now stepped out to be one of the best NBA prospects in college basketball period.  Plus on the opposite side I was targeting the guys who’s shadow these players were in and how they didnt turn out to have as good careers.  You get the idea.  Thanks for contributing though.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Yea I took a more thorough read into your post after I already posted.  I just kinda read the title and went from there. 

Thats why I made that 2nd post after realizing what your post was about.

Thanks for understanding…didn’t mean to take your post another direction.  +1 for being a great sport about it. 

 

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Yea I took a more thorough read into your post after I already posted.  I just kinda read the title and went from there. 

Thats why I made that 2nd post after realizing what your post was about.

Thanks for understanding…didn’t mean to take your post another direction.  +1 for being a great sport about it. 

 

[ChrispyParticipant]

A good current example is ‘Lil Earl. Went to Eastern Michigan, dropped 24 a night, didn’t get drafted and was gone. Got a contract with the Cavs, played a little and was gone. Was a non-dressing roster filler with the Clips until an injury put him on the court. Did well for a few games. Gone. GSW picked him up and he began to fill it up. All told, he has had 5 or 6 really good years playing of the bench. Not bad for generously listed 5’5 player, undrafted and who once played behind Keon Dooling, Eric Piatkowski and Q-Richardson.

[ChrispyParticipant]

A good current example is ‘Lil Earl. Went to Eastern Michigan, dropped 24 a night, didn’t get drafted and was gone. Got a contract with the Cavs, played a little and was gone. Was a non-dressing roster filler with the Clips until an injury put him on the court. Did well for a few games. Gone. GSW picked him up and he began to fill it up. All told, he has had 5 or 6 really good years playing of the bench. Not bad for generously listed 5’5 player, undrafted and who once played behind Keon Dooling, Eric Piatkowski and Q-Richardson.

[surveParticipant]

thats what I am talkin bout.

[surveParticipant]

thats what I am talkin bout.

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

It amazes me to hear that a guy’s only scholarship offer is to a Big East school, and Syracuse no less. Where were the mid major, low major, d2, d3, naia, and juco schools along the way?

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

It amazes me to hear that a guy’s only scholarship offer is to a Big East school, and Syracuse no less. Where were the mid major, low major, d2, d3, naia, and juco schools along the way?

[surveParticipant]

^^^ I dont know the complete story of why NOBODY considered Douglas, he was coming out of the DC area.  here is an excerpt from an article..

"Douglas graduated from Springarn High School in Washington D.C., the same school that Dave Bing attended. Douglas was not highly recruited, with Syracuse being the only Division 1 school to offer him a scholarship.

As a freshman, Douglas saw limited playing time as the dynamic Pearl Washington was running the show. However, the practice time everyday against the Pearl was invaluable in Douglas’ development." 

Douglas went from 5ppg and 2apg playing behind Pearl to over 17ppg and 7apg in his soph season…the boy was bad to be a TOTAL unknown.

source: http://www.orangehoops.org/sdouglas.htm

[surveParticipant]

^^^ I dont know the complete story of why NOBODY considered Douglas, he was coming out of the DC area.  here is an excerpt from an article..

"Douglas graduated from Springarn High School in Washington D.C., the same school that Dave Bing attended. Douglas was not highly recruited, with Syracuse being the only Division 1 school to offer him a scholarship.

As a freshman, Douglas saw limited playing time as the dynamic Pearl Washington was running the show. However, the practice time everyday against the Pearl was invaluable in Douglas’ development." 

Douglas went from 5ppg and 2apg playing behind Pearl to over 17ppg and 7apg in his soph season…the boy was bad to be a TOTAL unknown.

source: http://www.orangehoops.org/sdouglas.htm

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 @Surve…

bro, I forgot all about Kendall Gill….i used to love that dude no homo…i remember seeing him on some TV show back in the day…Hangtime or something haha

BEAST

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 @Surve…

bro, I forgot all about Kendall Gill….i used to love that dude no homo…i remember seeing him on some TV show back in the day…Hangtime or something haha

BEAST

[surveParticipant]

Yep, I saw that show, cant remember if that was the name or not either.  He became a professional boxer after the NBA and now is a sports analyst.  Yes, he was amazing in college because he was like 6’5" skinny and athletic as hell playing the PG…all I remember was he was usually pick-pocketing somebody and taking it down to the other end for the snowbird.  As time went on he bulked up and became a solidly built guard in the NBA.

[surveParticipant]

Yep, I saw that show, cant remember if that was the name or not either.  He became a professional boxer after the NBA and now is a sports analyst.  Yes, he was amazing in college because he was like 6’5" skinny and athletic as hell playing the PG…all I remember was he was usually pick-pocketing somebody and taking it down to the other end for the snowbird.  As time went on he bulked up and became a solidly built guard in the NBA.

[surveParticipant]

I had a pair of the Ralph Sampson Pumas when they first came out too.  Low top burgundy suede joints.

[surveParticipant]

I had a pair of the Ralph Sampson Pumas when they first came out too.  Low top burgundy suede joints.

[surveParticipant]

that was a highly anticipated matchup back in the day

 

the cover was a fold-out that showed the rest of Ewing’s body

[surveParticipant]

that was a highly anticipated matchup back in the day

 

the cover was a fold-out that showed the rest of Ewing’s body

[McDunkin]

Not really "superstars" but..

DARKO

JJ Barea

David Lee

CJ Miles

Anthony Parker

ZAZA Pachulia

JJ Redick

[McDunkin]

Not really "superstars" but..

DARKO

JJ Barea

David Lee

CJ Miles

Anthony Parker

ZAZA Pachulia

JJ Redick

[Author]

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