From Atop the College Basketball World to the Middle of Nowhere

[Joneslab]

Highly interesting article about former UK players who didn't make it. Reminds me of the pieces you read from time to time about minor league baseball players.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/3/13/17112560/kentucky-wildcats-fringes-john-calipari

[40bill]

Another good write up. Orton, Teague, even the twins....
one more year.....maybe.
Willis is a different deal....not a five star one and done that has likely worked up far as he can.

You roll the dice though. First round picks with chances at gooooooooood money. And now and then maybe one or two too many folks telling you just how good you are.


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[Lighthouse]

Good read. I'm sure they all feel kinda like Goodwin.

[KCKUKFan]

Good read.

Most fascinating is how fondly Daniel Orton looks back at his (tumultuous, fractured) time at Kentucky. Probably got out in the real world and realized how cake he had it here.

[Blue Heaven]

FWIW, Andrew Harrison has had a really solid year so I wouldn't say he's in the middle of nowhere.

[Blue Heaven]

FWIW, Andrew Harrison has had a really solid year so I wouldn't say he's in the middle of nowhere.

My bad. A previous post had me thinking he was on that list.

[BobS]

Good to see Archie is still all about Archie.

Orton left without fulfilling his academic obligations. But got a couple of million for his troubles.

Happy for Wiltjer. Glad he's happy. Guys like Teague just got real bad advice. Hope that article is posted in UK locker room.

[KevinHall]

Very good article. Like Bob said it should be required reading for every UK player under Cal. Lots of pitfalls in playing overseas. Not all situations are like Wiltjer's. He got lucky it seems with a very good Greece team and league. But usually Americans are singled out overseas and don't get a break. Most overseas leagues seem to run on a shoestring too. You may or may not get paid. And don't expect to stay in a 5 star hotel either.
Most of these guys miss their days at UK. Compared to the real world it was a piece of cake. More of these guys need to realize it's not all sunshine and roses when they go pro. It's tough world out there and when you are in a highly competitive environment like this its even tougher.

[bigbluebob]

Good to see Archie is still all about Archie.

Orton left without fulfilling his academic obligations. But got a couple of million for his troubles.

Happy for Wiltjer. Glad he's happy. Guys like Teague just got real bad advice. Hope that article is posted in UK locker room.

I hope so too Bob!

[85 Fly]

Anybody know the latest on how Briscoe is doing?

[Spiritof96]

I really enjoyed the article.

[Dwight Schrute]

Very good article. Like Bob said it should be required reading for every UK player under Cal. Lots of pitfalls in playing overseas. Not all situations are like Wiltjer's. He got lucky it seems with a very good Greece team and league. But usually Americans are singled out overseas and don't get a break. Most overseas leagues seem to run on a shoestring too. You may or may not get paid. And don't expect to stay in a 5 star hotel either.
Most of these guys miss their days at UK. Compared to the real world it was a piece of cake. More of these guys need to realize it's not all sunshine and roses when they go pro. It's tough world out there and when you are in a highly competitive environment like this its even tougher.

Counterpoint: Briscoe reportedly hated college and had no desire to stay another year anyway. I imagine a lot of guys are in this boat. So in that regard, even making a hundred grand a year overseas is more enticing than another year of school.

[KevinHall]

Counterpoint: Briscoe reportedly hated college and had no desire to stay another year anyway. I imagine a lot of guys are in this boat. So in that regard, even making a hundred grand a year overseas is more enticing than another year of school.

Sure, if they want to go that bad then go. At least they would be warned and have examples of what it could be like. I wonder what his thoughts are now? He wasn't in this article.

[J.Jennings]

J. Vanderbilt, are you reading this???

[ralph helm]

If a marginal player makes 100k a few years overseas ---then what does he do the rest of his life after he is 25or26& does not have enough education to land a decent or better job?