Who's Your One "What Could Have Been" UK Player?

[George]

Here's the game: think long and hard about one player who, for whatever reason, you believe didn't become the best version of himself while at UK.

This could be because of injury, transfer, chemistry, coaching - whatever. But here's the catch: it has to be someone before the one-and-done/Calipari era. All those guys are just too easy to choose from.

I'm still thinking about my pick, but feel free to jump in if you've got something. And remember: you only get ONE player.

[catfaninin]

There is one guy I thought of instantly when I saw this. Jason Parker. I expected him to be a star. Had a good first year but never got anywhere near what I thought he would become.

[KevinHall]

Easy for me, Dwight Anderson. He was terrific for a season plus a little bit on the 2nd one. He was dismissed from the team by Joe B Hall during the Christmas break of his sophmore season. he was into drugs big time and was proven out over time. He was at one time homeless and living on the streets of Dayton because of his drug addictions. If he had been clean he could have been one of the all time great at UK. He had blazing speed and could take over a game like not many I have seen at UK. Some of you may remember him leading a big comeback against Notre Dame in his freshman season. Al McGuire proclaimed a "Star is Born" during that game. But it wasn't to be.

[Joneslab]

Antwain Barbour.

There was talk about him that he may go from junior college right to the NBA. I thought we were getting a superstar.

Strangely he turned into a solid role player.

[Dwight Schrute]

Antwain Barbour.

There was talk about him that he may go from junior college right to the NBA. I thought we were getting a superstar.

Strangely he turned into a solid role player.

Seems like he injured his hand and was never the same.

I played church league ball and went to high school with him - dude once dunked on me. Even before he became a great high school player, he was athletic as all get out. He exploded in the state tournament that year and actually had offers from Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, and others, but wound up going the JUCO route because of his academics.

I'd run into him at UK and he always said hey and I felt pretty cool. I ate lunch once with him and Bernard Cote. That was interesting.

[Katmendo]

Chris Mills.

[George]

I thought about Barbour, thought about Parker, and I like both picks. But...

I'm going with Rashaad Carruth. The guy was such an idiot and all-around cancerous personality, but there's no denying that he was talented. I remember a moment when I thought we had a Tony Delk challenger on our hands.

[Spiritof96]

I thought about Barbour, thought about Parker, and I like both picks. But...

I'm going with Rashaad Carruth. The guy was such an idiot and all-around cancerous personality, but there's no denying that he was talented. I remember a moment when I thought we had a Tony Delk challenger on our hands.

I was going to say him but because of his personality I think we did get the best version of him here and it was terrible. If you confine the discussion to only his game, he could have been Ray Allen.

[Joneslab]

Chris Mills.

If we're going in this era then we have to throw out Eric Manuel.

[George]

I was going to say him but because of his personality I think we did get the best version of him here and it was terrible. If you confine the discussion to only his game, he could have been Ray Allen.

Yeah, that's what I meant, originally. For anyone participating (or planning to participate), think in these terms as you choose your player.

[Joneslab]

The Oscar Combs podcast episode with Brooks Downing has some interesting info about Carruth.

Unsurprisingly, he was a nightmare.

[Spiritof96]

The Oscar Combs podcast episode with Brooks Downing has some interesting info about Carruth.

Unsurprisingly, he was a nightmare.

I was truly surprised that he was significant enough in the locker room to matter. He was so new and this was back when freshmen were less prominent... Never would have thought he could be the root of the problems that team had.

[lilproUK98]

Wouldn't Sam Bowie be the obvious choice?

[Joneslab]

I was truly surprised that he was significant enough in the locker room to matter. He was so new and this was back when freshmen were less prominent... Never would have thought he could be the root of the problems that team had.

Very severe personalities can have an impact when there are only 14 or 15 guys, I think. Also, Carruth was just a freshman...but he'd come in with all these accolades. McDonald's All-American, etc. This was a time when UK didn't have a lot of those guys, so he would have had some clout just because of that.

[Spiritof96]

Wouldn't Sam Bowie be the obvious choice?

Good one.