Best UW alumni to never play in NBA

[jbeiermann]

Let me know your thoughts wyonation...

quick short list
Marcus Bailey
Jay Straight
Brandon Ewing
Leonard Washington

 

[Cuttslam]

That one is easy. Mike Jackson "The White Tornado".

 

[BeaverPoke]

Let me know your thoughts wyonation...

quick short list
Marcus Bailey
Jay Straight
Brandon Ewing
Leonard Washington

Definitely not Leonard Washington.

Marcus Bailey is my vote.

I think I read something once saying going into his senior year he was ranked the 13th best draft prospect, and that was the same draft class as LeBron, Melo, Chris Bosh, Chris Kaman and D-Wade. Who knows what could have happened had he stayed healthy? He could have gone in the first round or even lottery had he taken Wyo back to the Big Dance or even done well in it.

Imagine if the Big 3 on the Heat was LeBron, Marcus Bailey, and D-Wade...

 

[Cowduck]

That one is easy. Mike Jackson "The White Tornado".

This is the correct answer. Likely would have been a lottery pick had he not tore up his knee. "The White Tornado," John Thompson called him.

 

[Cowduck]

Let me know your thoughts wyonation...

quick short list
Marcus Bailey
Jay Straight
Brandon Ewing
Leonard Washington

Definitely not Leonard Washington.

Marcus Bailey is my vote.

I think I read something once saying going into his senior year he was ranked the 13th best draft prospect, and that was the same draft class as LeBron, Melo, Chris Bosh, Chris Kaman and D-Wade. Who knows what could have happened had he stayed healthy? He could have gone in the first round or even lottery had he taken Wyo back to the Big Dance or even done well in it.

Imagine if the Big 3 on the Heat was LeBron, Marcus Bailey, and D-Wade...

Marcus was never seriously projected as a first round draft pick, let alone a lottery pick, in the 03 draft class (which was the best class of the last 20 years, easy). Even if he hadn't hurt his knee he was likely going in the second round or UFA. He might have been the 13th best college senior in that draft - the first 13 taken were:

7 Kirk Hinrich
12 Nick Collison
13 Marcus Banks (what a goddamned bust)
15 Reece Gaines
16 Troy Bell
18 David West
20 Dahntay Jones
24 Brian Cook
29 Josh Howard
31 Jason Kapono
32 Luke Walton
33 Jerome Beasley
37 Travis Hansen

God I hated Travis Hansen so much, but really that's about where a healthy Bailey probably would have slotted in the draft. Several college seniors were taken after Hansen in that second round that are still in the midst of productive NBA careers - Steve Blake, Matt Bonner, James Jones, Kyle Korver. That draft was fucking LOADED.

 

[laxwyo]

Leonard was not NBA material. Leonard had a great role and some great moments.

 

[seattlecowboy]

It was easily Mike Jackson. He was drafted in the first round of the NBA by the Kansas City Kings and would have played had he not injured his knee in his last game at Wyoming.

 

[POKE FAN]

You can't go wrong with either Mike Jackson or Marcus Bailey, but I'd go with Bailey.

To this day, I've haven't seen more explosive 3-on-2 fast breaks at WYO than those with Tub Bradley and Mike Jackson on the wings. Jackson was a GREAT athlete who could really get up and throw down. Excellent defender, too.

Bailey....what can you say? Two-time 1st-team all-MWC. Would have been a three-timer without the injury. Wooden pre-season All-American his senior year. Bailey was incredible with his mid-range pull-up jumper in the paint -- a lost art for many in CBB. He was money in the bank with that shot.

Two great players.

 

[Wyolie Coyote]

Let me know your thoughts wyonation...

quick short list
Marcus Bailey
Jay Straight
Brandon Ewing
Leonard Washington

Definitely not Leonard Washington.

Marcus Bailey is my vote.

I think I read something once saying going into his senior year he was ranked the 13th best draft prospect, and that was the same draft class as LeBron, Melo, Chris Bosh, Chris Kaman and D-Wade. Who knows what could have happened had he stayed healthy? He could have gone in the first round or even lottery had he taken Wyo back to the Big Dance or even done well in it.

Imagine if the Big 3 on the Heat was LeBron, Marcus Bailey, and D-Wade...

Marcus was never seriously projected as a first round draft pick, let alone a lottery pick, in the 03 draft class (which was the best class of the last 20 years, easy). Even if he hadn't hurt his knee he was likely going in the second round or UFA. He might have been the 13th best college senior in that draft - the first 13 taken were:

7 Kirk Hinrich
12 Nick Collison
13 Marcus Banks (what a goddamned bust)
15 Reece Gaines
16 Troy Bell
18 David West
20 Dahntay Jones
24 Brian Cook
29 Josh Howard
31 Jason Kapono
32 Luke Walton
33 Jerome Beasley
37 Travis Hansen

God I hated Travis Hansen so much, but really that's about where a healthy Bailey probably would have slotted in the draft. Several college seniors were taken after Hansen in that second round that are still in the midst of productive NBA careers - Steve Blake, Matt Bonner, James Jones, Kyle Korver. That draft was fucking LOADED.

Thanks, now my blood pressure is way up! Hated that guy.

 

[kansasCowboy]

Bobby Traylor, mid 90's. Was greatly overshadowed by Ratliff.
Dontae Richardson, very accurate and consistent. I still remember that Richardson/ Rueben Douglas "show" at the PIT back then. I think Richardson had 40 and Douglas had 50 by the end of it, and we came out with the win.
Uche Amadi. Was a beast on rebounds, had a soft touch on his shot, and I think he was our worst ft shooter at 65%. That saying something.
Others
Justin Williams. Great versatility and good shot blocker.
Jason Straight. Was good off the dribble, but his insanely high TO rate screwed him.
Ogirri, was good at WSU and ended up being one of our best 3 pt shooters.

 

[WYCowboy]

Bailey was probably the best with the pull-up jumper that I can remember and Ewing was the best at taking the ball to the basket that I can remember. Too bad he didn't have better teammates & coaches.

 

[gopokes1399]

One that no one has mentioned is Afam Muojeke. After his freshman year he was projected a top 15 pick based on him coming out after his junior year. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career. He won MWC freshman of the year and prior to his first knee injury as a soph. he was leading the conference in scoring. The guy was an offensive machine, had the size and body to be a legitimate draft pick as well. I really do feel bad for him, some guys blow it because of drugs, laziness, etc. But, Afam had drive and still does as he is playing over seas and appears to be as healthy as he has been in years.

I think he would've not only gotten drafted, but he would have been a solid pro

 

[Cowduck]

Bobby Traylor, mid 90's. Was greatly overshadowed by Ratliff.
Dontae Richardson, very accurate and consistent. I still remember that Richardson/ Rueben Douglas "show" at the PIT back then. I think Richardson had 40 and Douglas had 50 by the end of it, and we came out with the win.
Uche Amadi. Was a beast on rebounds, had a soft touch on his shot, and I think he was our worst ft shooter at 65%. That saying something.
Others
Justin Williams. Great versatility and good shot blocker.
Jason Straight. Was good off the dribble, but his insanely high TO rate screwed him.
Ogirri, was good at WSU and ended up being one of our best 3 pt shooters.

Justin Williams played in the NBA, he spent half a season with the Kings and had a couple of 10-day contracts elsewhere. Played in something like 50 games in the Association.

 

[Wyolie Coyote]

One that no one has mentioned is Afam Muojeke. After his freshman year he was projected a top 15 pick based on him coming out after his junior year. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career. He won MWC freshman of the year and prior to his first knee injury as a soph. he was leading the conference in scoring. The guy was an offensive machine, had the size and body to be a legitimate draft pick as well. I really do feel bad for him, some guys blow it because of drugs, laziness, etc. But, Afam had drive and still does as he is playing over seas and appears to be as healthy as he has been in years.

I think he would've not only gotten drafted, but he would have been a solid pro

And along those lines, Quin Higgins. Probably the highest ranked basketball recruit to come to UW, done in by knee injuries also.

 

[seattlecowboy]

One that no one has mentioned is Afam Muojeke. After his freshman year he was projected a top 15 pick based on him coming out after his junior year. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career. He won MWC freshman of the year and prior to his first knee injury as a soph. he was leading the conference in scoring. The guy was an offensive machine, had the size and body to be a legitimate draft pick as well. I really do feel bad for him, some guys blow it because of drugs, laziness, etc. But, Afam had drive and still does as he is playing over seas and appears to be as healthy as he has been in years.

I think he would've not only gotten drafted, but he would have been a solid pro

And along those lines, Quin Higgins. Probably the highest ranked basketball recruit to come to UW, done in by knee injuries also.

Yep. He would have been great also. Mr. Alabama basketball player of the year out of high school wasn't he? Damn we have had a ton of good players that hurt their knees through the years.

 

[kansasCowboy]

Bobby Traylor, mid 90's. Was greatly overshadowed by Ratliff.
Dontae Richardson, very accurate and consistent. I still remember that Richardson/ Rueben Douglas "show" at the PIT back then. I think Richardson had 40 and Douglas had 50 by the end of it, and we came out with the win.
Uche Amadi. Was a beast on rebounds, had a soft touch on his shot, and I think he was our worst ft shooter at 65%. That saying something.
Others
Justin Williams. Great versatility and good shot blocker.
Jason Straight. Was good off the dribble, but his insanely high TO rate screwed him.
Ogirri, was good at WSU and ended up being one of our best 3 pt shooters.

Justin Williams played in the NBA, he spent half a season with the Kings and had a couple of 10-day contracts elsewhere. Played in something like 50 games in the Association.

I did not know that.

 

[Cuttslam]

It was easily Mike Jackson. He was drafted in the first round of the NBA by the Kansas City Kings and would have played had he not injured his knee in his last game at Wyoming.

Actually it was the 4th round I believe and it was late in the season when he blew out his knee

 

[ZapPoke]

I really liked Ugo before he blew his knee. He lost his fearlessness after that.

 

[stymeman]

agreed, Bailey, Uche, Mike Jackson, Jay Straight, Brandon Ewing and Leonard, there's sometimes a reason not everybody plays in the elite NBA, not for everyone, but look at how studly Fennis was with us and then basically sat bench with the Pistons, but at least he got a ring. I think Fennis might have been more of a player not on a championship team for a few more years. it is what it was

 

[Wyo2dal]

agreed, Bailey, Uche, Mike Jackson, Jay Straight, Brandon Ewing and Leonard, there's sometimes a reason not everybody plays in the elite NBA, not for everyone, but look at how studly Fennis was with us and then basically sat bench with the Pistons, but at least he got a ring. I think Fennis might have been more of a player not on a championship team for a few more years. it is what it was

He sat the bench because he didn't have a work ethic and refused to work on his game during the off season just thought his athletic ability would get him by. If he would have taken even some of the advice he was given he could have been a star i the NBA.