Guys from OU you thought would make the NBA but didn't (?)

[soonermcd93]

Hollis Price went baseline to baseline for a game winner against Tech in about 4 seconds with the ball in this hands. Of course, Knight thought it was about 4.2.

 

[bocabull]

The main quality of NBA players is foot speed. The game is played at an incredibly fast pace. Ace McGhee was a plodder and never looked NBA caliber.

As for Hollis, he got multiple chances at NBA summer league and camps. It's just a totally different level of athlete and he wasnt big enough.

 

[CineSooner]

Didn't Ryan play in the MLB? Or was it his brother, Damon? I know they led us to 1995 NCAA baseball championship!!!

Ryan is actually a great piece of sports trivia. He is the player who started at 3rd base for the Orioles when Cal Ripken Jr. ended his consecutive games streak. Just a fun fact.

 

[soonersublime]

I think Ryan Minor would have been drafted a lot higher had the NBA teams known for a fact that he was going to play basketball. If I remember correctly he was pretty intent on playing baseball unless he was drafted much higher then he was.

 

[tycat947]

They both played in MLB and the NC was in 1994. Chip Glass shall live forever!

Right! I got to go to Austin for the regional when we kicked the whorns to punch our ticket to the CWS!!!

 

[DenverSooner]

I think Ryan Minor would have been drafted a lot higher had the NBA teams known for a fact that he was going to play basketball. If I remember correctly he was pretty intent on playing baseball unless he was drafted much higher then he was.

What a great athlete he was. He was drafted to play in the NBA and actually made it to the big leagues in MLB. I realize he wasn't a star in baseball but very few guys are actually drafted to play two sports.

Name a former Big Eight player that was drafted to play football, basketball and baseball? I will give you two hints, he did not play at OU or Nebraska and he played professionally in the NFL.

 

[NMSooner'80]

What a great athlete he was. He was drafted to play in the NBA and actually made it to the big leagues in MLB. I realize he wasn't a star in baseball but very few guys are actually drafted to play two sports.

Name a former Big Eight player that was drafted to play football, basketball and baseball? I will give you two hints, he did not play at OU or Nebraska and he played professionally in the NFL.

That would be Mr. Lon Kruger, former superstar athlete at K-State. His top assistant, Steve Henson, was a two-sport star there himself (basketball and track).

 

[CobraKai]

I was always surprised Jeff Webster didn't make it. I realize he had a cup of coffee in the NBA, but I always thought he had a chance to be pretty good. Erdmann is another that I thought could have played in the NBA.

 

[Dr Sleep]

I always thought Webster played too soft. Erdman to me was a great college player, I never thought he would make it in the NBA. Ere wasn't good enough. I thought Eduardo and obvioulsy Blake would make it and they did. I thought Ace would make it for a while too and it still perplexes me.

 

[DenverSooner]

That would be Mr. Lon Kruger, former superstar athlete at K-State. His top assistant, Steve Henson, was a two-sport star there himself (basketball and track).

If Kruger did that, I did not know that. The guy I was thinking of was Dave Logan at CU. He was drafted to play three sports and I think (but I am not sure about this part) he was a first round pick in all three sports. I was under the impression that he and Dave Winfield were the only guys to ever get drafted by MLB, NBA and the NFL.

Honestly, I did not even know that Kruger had his jersey retired at KSU until this week. I never realized what a good college player he was.

 

[NMSooner'80]

If Kruger did that, I did not know that. The guy I was thinking of was Dave Logan at CU. He was drafted to play three sports and I think (but I am not sure about this part) he was a first round pick in all three sports. I was under the impression that he and Dave Winfield were the only guys to ever get drafted by MLB, NBA and the NFL.

Honestly, I did not even know that Kruger had his jersey retired at KSU until this week. I never realized what a good college player he was.

Actually, I think I was wrong. Kruger was drafted in basketball and baseball (and played both at K-State). He was a really good high school QB and was such a good collegiate athlete that he got some NFL interest. Now that I think about it, I don't think he was drafted in football.

Here's what's in his soonersports.com bio:
"He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the ninth round of the 1974 NBA Draft. He also starred on the baseball diamond for Kansas State and was drafted by the Houston Astros in 1970 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974. During his Wildcat baseball career he posted his best season in 1971 when he went 4-3 as a pitcher (3-1 in Big Eight games) and had an earned run average of 3.33. He struck out 38 and walked 14 in 46 innings. An all-around athlete, Kruger even got some football notice after graduating from KSU when the Dallas Cowboys invited him to their 1974 rookie camp as a quarterback."

 

[Salt City Sooner]

I think Ryan Minor would have been drafted a lot higher had the NBA teams known for a fact that he was going to play basketball. If I remember correctly he was pretty intent on playing baseball unless he was drafted much higher then he was.

Ryan Minor's biggest mistake was not going pro after his jr. year. He was an easy first round pick (I remember Red Auerbach practically salivating over him, calling him the closest thing he'd seen to Larry Bird in a college player since LB was @ ISU, & that he'd draft him on the spot if he got the chance). Minor came back to OU though, had a significant decline in his shooting numbers, & ended up sliding.

 

[StatGeek]

Ryan Minor's biggest mistake was not going pro after his jr. year. He was an easy first round pick (I remember Red Auerbach practically salivating over him, calling him the closest thing he'd seen to Larry Bird in a college player since LB was @ ISU, & that he'd draft him on the spot if he got the chance). Minor came back to OU though, had a significant decline in his shooting numbers, & ended up sliding.

agreed, I believe the top two SF's in that class would have been Michael Finley and Ryan Minor.

 

[BoulderSooner]

then ryan had one of the worst preseason's of all time with phily i think .. he shot 20% from the field and in the end was cut

 

[zeptrey]

Corey Brewer? I know he got drafted, but I don't think he ever played in the NBA.

 

[boksooner]

Corey Brewer? I know he got drafted, but I don't think he ever played in the NBA.

I think you're right. He got drafted right before the lock out.

 

[NMSooner'80]

On KREF, I just heard another name of a guy who I thought might have a shot at the NBA - Chucky Barnett. He was 6-4 and athletic, and could shoot it fairly well.

 

[vbdad]

I vote for Corey Brewer. He was a great defender and strong point guard.


Webster was too small for a power forward and didn't play enough defense. He could flat score though.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Webster. Easily IMHO. Honestly think he got caught in a shift on how the NBA got called [i.e. Showtime vs. Pistons]

 

[OklahomaLibertarian]

Ryan Minor for me.

Just go back and watch footage of him.

He was a baller.

Today? well, not so much. More of an eater - haha