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

This topic contains 64 replies, has 21 voices, and was last updated by Magic Jordan 10 years, 2 months ago.

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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 4:36am #63547

ZachAttack
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So… I’ve got a question, who was the best college basketball player to never go pro? I know there are a lot of people that aren’t very good that decide to go pro, but rarely ever good players that don’t go pro. So all you knowledgable posters out there… Who was the best college player to never go pro?
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:19am #1058320

dcase
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Hank Gathers
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:19am #1058200

dcase
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Hank Gathers
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:09am #1058346
  
  dazeone
  Participant
  I was thinking the same thing when the post came up early….Dobbins Tech/Loyola…
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:09am #1058467
  
  dazeone
  Participant
  I was thinking the same thing when the post came up early….Dobbins Tech/Loyola…
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:10am #1058348
  
  dazeone
  Participant
  I was thinking the same thing when the post came up early….Dobbins Tech/Loyola…
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  - Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 11:08am #1058366
    
    dcase
    Participant
    I think people forget how good he really was. One of only 4 players to lead Div 1 in scoring and rebounding the same season.
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  - Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 11:08am #1058486
    
    dcase
    Participant
    I think people forget how good he really was. One of only 4 players to lead Div 1 in scoring and rebounding the same season.
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:10am #1058469
  
  dazeone
  Participant
  I was thinking the same thing when the post came up early….Dobbins Tech/Loyola…
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:20am #1058322

Chammes
Participant
dude from michigan fab five
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:20am #1058202

Chammes
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dude from michigan fab five
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:22am #1058326

Chrispy
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:22am #1058206

Chrispy
Participant
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.
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:29am #1058328
  
  Chrispy
  Participant
  Ed Cota, youtube… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzzvvfWkm8c
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:29am #1058208
  
  Chrispy
  Participant
  Ed Cota, youtube… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzzvvfWkm8c
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:52am #1058401
  
  ncballer
  The Cota flota was what I religiously practiced in my driveway as a kid. I worshipped the ground he walked on. Sadly after maturing and learning more about the game, I realized he could not guard my grandmother nor throw the ball in the ocean from deep. Freaking love that guy though, lots of UNC memories of him throwing oops to Vince and Jamison.
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:52am #1058281
  
  ncballer
  The Cota flota was what I religiously practiced in my driveway as a kid. I worshipped the ground he walked on. Sadly after maturing and learning more about the game, I realized he could not guard my grandmother nor throw the ball in the ocean from deep. Freaking love that guy though, lots of UNC memories of him throwing oops to Vince and Jamison.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:54am #1058336

terrancebower
Participant
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…
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 5:54am #1058216

terrancebower
Participant
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…
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 1:17pm #1058410
  
  wonzi_bells
  Participant
  No, the reason why he never joined the NBA was because he wanted to keep his amateur status and play for the US during the Olympics, hence why he’s a two-time medalists instead of once like everyone else in that era.
  He played for a traveling team though, Phillip 66ers and they won a bunch of AAU titles.
  
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 1:17pm #1058530
  
  wonzi_bells
  Participant
  No, the reason why he never joined the NBA was because he wanted to keep his amateur status and play for the US during the Olympics, hence why he’s a two-time medalists instead of once like everyone else in that era.
  He played for a traveling team though, Phillip 66ers and they won a bunch of AAU titles.
  
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 6:48am #1058355

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 6:48am #1058235

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
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.
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:11am #1058409
  
  trombonematrix43
  Participant
  He could ball. I always wished someone gave him a shot. Dude worked hard and was really good.
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:11am #1058289
  
  trombonematrix43
  Participant
  He could ball. I always wished someone gave him a shot. Dude worked hard and was really good.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:21am #1058381

ItsVictorOladipo
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:21am #1058261

ItsVictorOladipo
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:26am #1058387

TRC1991
Participant
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

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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:26am #1058267

TRC1991
Participant
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

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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 12:13pm #1058388
  
  cjw
  Participant
  Yea i thought kane would definitely make it with his size and skill at point. And then pullen could flat out score. Goes to show how competitive the PG position is
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- Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 12:13pm #1058508
  
  cjw
  Participant
  Yea i thought kane would definitely make it with his size and skill at point. And then pullen could flat out score. Goes to show how competitive the PG position is
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:56am #1058403

Illadelph
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 7:56am #1058283

Illadelph
Participant
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.
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- Posted on: Fri, 04/29/2016 - 9:06am #1058631
  
  Magic Jordan
  Participant
  Yesss he would have been mine as well. Him and Corliss Williamson were a hell of a duo in college.
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- Posted on: Fri, 04/29/2016 - 9:06am #1058750
  
  Magic Jordan
  Participant
  Yesss he would have been mine as well. Him and Corliss Williamson were a hell of a duo in college.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:19am #1058413

RUDEBOY_
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:19am #1058293

RUDEBOY_
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:37am #1058305

RUDEBOY_
Participant
landon turner
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:37am #1058425

RUDEBOY_
Participant
landon turner
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:37am #1058307

RUDEBOY_
Participant
landon turner
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 8:37am #1058427

RUDEBOY_
Participant
landon turner
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 9:02am #1058315

RUDEBOY_
Participant
chicago high baller benji wilson never went to college..but that kid had the potential to become great.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 9:02am #1058435

RUDEBOY_
Participant
chicago high baller benji wilson never went to college..but that kid had the potential to become great.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 9:25am #1058327

capecodder
Participant
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
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 9:25am #1058447

capecodder
Participant
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
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 9:26am #1058329

kikikiki
Participant
Kevin garnetts high school teammate Ronnie Fields or another person Marylands Len Bias!
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 9:26am #1058449

kikikiki
Participant
Kevin garnetts high school teammate Ronnie Fields or another person Marylands Len Bias!
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:43am #1058354

celticsthug
len bias
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:43am #1058474

celticsthug
len bias
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:44am #1058358

celticsthug
peewee Kirkland was a beast streets know
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:44am #1058478

celticsthug
peewee Kirkland was a beast streets know
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:46am #1058356

celticsthug
earl manigoat. kareem Abdul jabber said he was the best player he ever went against
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 10:46am #1058476

celticsthug
earl manigoat. kareem Abdul jabber said he was the best player he ever went against
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 11:03am #1058360

vulture711
Participant
2x NCAA scoring champ and a year out of college was working in Houston’s public works dept
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 11:03am #1058480

vulture711
Participant
2x NCAA scoring champ and a year out of college was working in Houston’s public works dept
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 11:11am #1058368

NJHooper95
Participant
Corey Fisher Nova
Gee Gervin. Houston
Reggie Freeman Texas
Kevin Braswell Georgetown

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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 11:11am #1058488

NJHooper95
Participant
Corey Fisher Nova
Gee Gervin. Houston
Reggie Freeman Texas
Kevin Braswell Georgetown

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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 2:37pm #1058437

Machetti
Participant
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?
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- Posted on: Fri, 04/29/2016 - 4:08am #1058579
  
  Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
  Participant
  Barrett wasn’t drafted but did have a short stint in the nba. He was one of my favorite college players to watch.
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- Posted on: Fri, 04/29/2016 - 4:08am #1058698
  
  Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
  Participant
  Barrett wasn’t drafted but did have a short stint in the nba. He was one of my favorite college players to watch.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 2:37pm #1058556

Machetti
Participant
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?
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 3:46pm #1058578

ExumInferno
Participant
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.

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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2016 - 3:46pm #1058458

ExumInferno
Participant
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.

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Posted on: Fri, 04/29/2016 - 4:19am #1058581

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
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.
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Posted on: Fri, 04/29/2016 - 4:19am #1058700

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
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.
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