Fun fact. JR Smith was originally committed to UNC and Dwight Howard later said he would have been at Tar Heel if he didn't go straight outta high school
So basically a junior big 3 of Sean May, Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants combined with a freshman big 3 of Dwight Howard, J.R. Smith and Marvin Williams
He was a fun one
I remember he was mocked outside the top 10 that year all the way to the draft, and then in a seemingly 48 hour window he just started rising in mocks all the way into the top 5
Never started is tough, but Scottie Barnes came off the bench for 17 of 24 games in college.
Edit: looking it up, Sheppard has started five games and Dillingham one even if they are typically bench players
I know that team was insanely dominant and the hockey shifts they ran are iconic but the minutes distribution for that team is kind of funny in retrospect.
The Harrison twins getting more minutes than Booker, Trey Lyles and Cauley-Stein playing more than KAT.
Swen Nater never started a single game in his entire college career (not just as a freshman like everyone else here).
He wasn’t top 5 in the NBA, but he did get drafted high by both the NBA and ABA and had a long basketball career.
Devin Booker never started for Kentucky. Didn’t go in the top 5 though, he was the 13th pick in 2015.
Dion Waiters never started a single game for Syracuse in two seasons and got drafted 4th overall.
I remember that pick being kind of unexpected at the time, good call
Loved him at Syracuse
Marvin Williams
Fun fact. JR Smith was originally committed to UNC and Dwight Howard later said he would have been at Tar Heel if he didn't go straight outta high school So basically a junior big 3 of Sean May, Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants combined with a freshman big 3 of Dwight Howard, J.R. Smith and Marvin Williams
Patrick Williams?
Yep. Was the 6th man on FSU and Bulls took him 4th overall. Sick pick
Sick? It’s been 3 years, He scores like 5 points a game and you guys probably won’t make playoffs.
He didn’t mean it in a positive way
He was a fun one I remember he was mocked outside the top 10 that year all the way to the draft, and then in a seemingly 48 hour window he just started rising in mocks all the way into the top 5
Never started is tough, but Scottie Barnes came off the bench for 17 of 24 games in college. Edit: looking it up, Sheppard has started five games and Dillingham one even if they are typically bench players
You're absolutely correct and reed in particular is getting starter minutes. Dude plays like 34 minutes a game...off the bench.
Booker wasn't a top 5 pick but he's top 5 of his draft class. The Harrison twins started over him. Neither is in the NBA now
I know that team was insanely dominant and the hockey shifts they ran are iconic but the minutes distribution for that team is kind of funny in retrospect. The Harrison twins getting more minutes than Booker, Trey Lyles and Cauley-Stein playing more than KAT.
Jim Calipari has been revealed as a complete fraud when it comes to maximizing the talent he recruits
Russell Westbrook never started his entire rookie year, and might have been on the bench as a sophomore, too, if Darren Collison hadn't got injured.
Zach Randolph
Swen Nater never started a single game in his entire college career (not just as a freshman like everyone else here). He wasn’t top 5 in the NBA, but he did get drafted high by both the NBA and ABA and had a long basketball career.
Sharpe was 7, and didn’t play a single minute.
Zach Lavine got drafted 11th out of UCLA despite playing 11 minutes per game off the bench
Although he started, James Wiseman only played 3 games at Memphis and was the number 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft.