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

[NMSooner'80]

I'm no NBA talent scout, but there were a few guys in my 36 years of watching OU basketball live who looked like pros to me at least, but for whatever reason (health, height, etc.) didn't make in the "league." Off the top of my head:
- Tim McCalister
- Hollis Price
- Damon Patterson
- Jackie Jones
- Taj Gray
- Jeff Webster
- Skeeter Henry
- Nate Erdmann

Not trying to bad-mouth any of those guys. I did enjoy watching them play in college for us. I was just thinking about this in light of discussions about the NBA and how it's affected OU attendance.

 

[skyvue]

The two that leapt to mind for me were Price and McGhee.

 

[DenverSooner]

Ryan Minor

 

[WTSooner]

I was pretty shocked that Ace didn't make it, or at least get a shot. Bigs (I know he barely qualifies as that in the NBA) that can shoot like that are usually pretty valuable.

Corey Brewer hung around the Heat for awhile, but didn't get much PT if I remember right.

I thought Hollis would get a look. Surprised Ere didn't get a look. He was 6'6, plenty big enough to play the 2/3.

 

[NMSooner'80]

I did mean to list Aaron McGhee - just forgot about it long enough. But I'll never forget his role in that amazing late comeback against Arkansas in Norman. We were down eight with under two minutes to play - then he and Hollis worked some magic. Then we wound up winning in overtime.

As for the guys from my era as a student, probably the best NBA prospect of the '79 title team was Raymond Whitley. If you never saw him play, he was a 6-3 point guard who looked like a future All-American once he finished his sophomore year in '79. He had a pretty good junior year but wrecked his knee in the off-season before Tubbs started coaching that first year. Raymond did come back and play as a fifth-year senior in '82, but he was just a shell of what he'd been.

Ebe Ere was another guy I thought had a chance.

 

[seniorsooner]

McGhee. The last half of his senior year he was an absolute monster.

 

[WaymansFadeaway]

To this day it blows my mind that Hollis and Ace didnt get much of a shot, especially considering some of the chumps that are/were sitting on NBA benches.

 

[thegreyghost]

jackie jones

 

[AdaSooner]

Hollis comes immediately to mind. I thought he would eventually get a shot somewhere, and to this day I still believe he could have made it if given half a chance.

 

[DenverSooner]

jackie jones

He was great. I wonder what happened to him. He was the best player at OU after the 1988 team. That kid was going to destroy the Big Eight if he had made his grades. He might have been an All American.

 

[WTSooner]

Angelo Hamilton

 

[jaymOU]

Ace was a shocker. Great baseline shooter. Still remember Kellen saying Ace was a one dribble guy. Sampson would only let him take one dribble. Ace was a tweeter, but I still thought he would be a pro. Jeff Webster was a great player too. Smooth.

 

[thebigabd]

Ace Mcghee
Ryan Minor

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Ebe Ere was another guy I thought had a chance.

I saw him playing for the Blazers in the Summer League one time in Vegas. He didn't exactly impress.

 

[tycat947]

Ryan Minor

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

 

[StatGeek]

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

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

 

[Dr Sleep]

Agree with the other posters. I thought Ace was very fluid and strong and would play. Hollis has such a great shot and handles, I thought he could play PG in the NBA.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Agree with the other posters. I thought Ace was very fluid and strong and would play. Hollis has such a great shot and handles, I thought he could play PG in the NBA.

hollis didn't have close to good enough handles to play in the NBA ...

he was very fast ... but not with the ball in his hands ..

nate erdman is the guy i thought would stick in the league at least for a little while

 

[NickZepp]

I thought maybe Hollis would be a Steve Kerr type (I know Kerr was about 6-3, but he wasn't really strong and didn't have great handles) that would come off the bench and hit some 3s. But I Never really thought he was an NBA PG. And that's probably why he didn't make it.

From Kelvin's era

Ace McGee, Price, and Corey Brewer are the big ones from the Kelvin era. Brewer was athletic. I think Ere didn't always have his head in the game. You can be a headcase off the court and make it in the NBA. But on the court you really have to be in the game.

I'm not sure why Austin Johnson isn't in the pros. I think he was good enough.

I think Minor would have been better off in the NBA if he stuck to that instead of MLB. He seemed like he was more gifted as a basketball player. Not that he was bad in baseball either. He was good enough to make the majors, just not good enough to hit a curve ball.

 

[McJacknife]

Tiny Gallon