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

[J.Jennings]

If we are talking about the Cal era, so many could have been's it's crazy and insane. Kanter sticks out because he actually never played but for many others it would have been great to watch them develop over 3 to 4 years.


With that being said, the obvious choice is Kyle Wiltjer, what happens if he decided to redshirt, stay, and come back to play at Kentucky his final two years??

[J.Jennings]

If it's players who never came to UK, it's Charles Barkley. I hear he was in the bag for Kentucky and changed his mind last minute, not sure if it was rumor or not....

[George]

If we are talking about the Cal era, so many could have been's it's crazy and insane. Kanter sticks out because he actually never played but for many others it would have been great to watch them develop over 3 to 4 years.


With that being said, the obvious choice is Kyle Wiltjer, what happens if he decided to redshirt, stay, and come back to play at Kentucky his final two years??

We're not. That rule was in the OP.

[George]

I didn't think long and hard about it, because it came to me pretty quickly.

If we're talking about players who played at UK, but not a full career, and didn't fulfill their potential, for me it's Dwight Anderson, for the reasons another poster already mentioned. He was amazing.

If we're talking about players who didn't come to UK, it would be Ralph Sampson. He came very close to coming to UK, in the same class as Sam Bowie. He went to Virginia, which wasn't so good, and took them to the Final Four, and was National Player of the Year three times (3!), #1 overall NBA draft pick, NBA Rookie of the Year...imagining 7'4" Ralph Sampson playing for four years at UK, on a roster with Sam Bowie, Melvin Turpin, Kenny Walker, Kyle Macy, Dirk Minniefield, Jim Master, Charles Hurt, Derrick Hord, James Blackmon, Winston Bennett, and, yes, Dwight Anderson...wow.

Conversation for a different thread, but probably a fun one.

[Blue Heaven]

Without going through this thread, my list would be:
Dirk Nowitzki
Ralph Sampson
Tracey McGrady

[Blue Heaven]

Ok, now that I know the rules...man this is a tough one. I hate to name a player already listed so I am going to say James Blackmon. That guy was a S.T.U.D. in High School. He had superstar written all over him. He was good for us but nowwhere near as good as I thought he would be.

[Blue Heaven]

Probably the best answer ever to the question: player most screwed out of his dreams by the NCAA? Not that there wasn't cheating but the coaches are OK, the schools are fine, Manuel is banned forever...goes to Hiawassee JC and never heard from again. Hope he's successful and happy but that's a raw deal from the association looking out for the well-being of the student athlete.

Clearly should have gone to UNC. May be a household name now.

That game he started for an injured Rex against Syracuse(?) in Rupp? Man he was AWESOME that day.

[teamchemistry15]

After thinking long and hard about Josh Deadeye in Practice Carrier, I think I am going to say Matt Pilgrim.

[teamchemistry15]

Ryan Harrow comes to mind during the Cal era.

[samsdad]

Marquis Estill. I don't think he could have played because of the Proposition 48 thing, but I believe UK would have won the national championship if he could have played his senior season.

[George]

Ryan Harrow comes to mind during the Cal era.

Are you trolling?

[George]

Marquis Estill. I don't think he could have played because of the Proposition 48 thing, but I believe UK would have won the national championship if he could have played his senior season.

Loved me some Estill. He's still one of my favorite players.

I know we've had these conversations before, but there are a lot of us who connected with those early '00s Tubby teams more than any others. Estill was an important piece for a minute there.

[SBCatMan]

Desmond Allison.

[Spiritof96]

Desmond Allison.

I was thinking about this one too. He should have been Kawhi Leonard.

RIP.

[George]

I was thinking about this one too. He should have been Kawhi Leonard.

RIP.

In an NBA fantasy draft, how high would you take Kawhi Leonard?

All things considered, I might be willing to go top three.