They thrived in college but not in the NBA >>> ESPN

[BigTime]

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Hollis Price, Oklahoma (2000-2003): Price led the Sooners to the 2002 Final Four. He was a headline player, but had to earn every bit of it. Price did a little bit of everything. He seemed to always be around the 50-50 balls, and simply made the plays that mattered most. He had a terrific attitude, and always seemed to play through any situation as he continued to put his body on the line for the play. He was never going to be an NBA, player but did eventually make his way overseas.

:hollis754:

 

[SoonerTraveler]

The occasional NBA player would be nice, but I would be elated if OU returned to the days when players like Hollis Price, Choo Kennedy, Damon Patterson, Ryan Minor, Ernie Abercrombie, Aaron McGhee, and Quannas White dotted the roster. Of course the main thing is for the coach to meld a good solid group of players into a good team. I am hopeful as to what we shall see over the next 12 months, on the court and on the recruiting trail.

:OUbball-logo:

 

[skyvue]

I think Hollis did more than "eventually make his way overseas." He played abroad right away, no? And he's been very successful at it.

And I think he could have been a decent NBA player, but, as is so often the case in professional sports, but especially the NBA, it all depends upon who drafts you (although perhaps Hollis wasn't drafted at all, I don't recall).

 

[steverocks35]

Could have had guys like Ed O'Bannon on that list, Scottie Thurman, Ryan Minor, Adam Morrison..etc.

 

[ousooners1baby]

I think Ebi was quite the sensation for a few years also.

 

[WaymanFan]

Could have had guys like Ed O'Bannon on that list, Scottie Thurman, Ryan Minor, Adam Morrison..etc.

You can scratch off O'Bannon and Morrison. The list is for guys who were great college players that no one would expect to contribute in the NBA. All those guys were either drafted late or (like Hollis) not drafted at all. Expectations for guys like Adam Morrison and Ed O'Bannon were pretty high.

Hollis is easily the most deserving Sooner for a list like that. I'm not sure if/where Ryan Minor fits into that. The only reason he got pushed to the second round was because of an inconsistent senior season. Had he left for the NBA after his junior year, he was projected to go somewhere in the middle of the 1st round. He seemed to have decent size and could play the 3 at the NBA level.

Based on the intentions of that article, I would say the next most deserving Sooner would be Choo Kennedy. Of course, I like to hear opinions of those who followed OU closer than I did in the Dave Bliss era since John McCollough might be a strong candidate as well.

 

[SoonerNorm]

The occasional NBA player would be nice, but I would be elated if OU returned to the days when players like Hollis Price, Choo Kennedy, Damon Patterson, Ryan Minor, Ernie Abercrombie, Aaron McGhee, and Quannas White dotted the roster. Of course the main thing is for the coach to meld a good solid group of players into a good team. I am hopeful as to what we shall see over the next 12 months, on the court and on the recruiting trail.

:OUbball-logo:

In my opinion, if a team is to have a shot today at a national championship, they will have to have at least one NBA player and probably two along with some really good role players.

 

[MNsooner]

In my opinion, if a team is to have a shot today at a national championship, they will have to have at least one NBA player and probably two along with some really good role players.

This ends up being a self-fulfilling prophesy. If we had won a championship with Price he would have been drafted and given a shot. That being said, with the new one and done rule the talent level of college seems to have improved.

 

[BigTime]

I think Ebi was quite the sensation for a few years also.

I thought for sure that he would be a pro after his stretch run from which Sampson nicknamed him "ESPN".

He did do very well overseas though (like Hollis).

I always thought Relly Rell would have a shot at the league...

 

[boksooner]

Ebi Ere played on the Nigerian nation team. I remember him playing pretty well in Worlds in '06

 

[BoulderSooner]

This ends up being a self-fulfilling prophesy. If we had won a championship with Price he would have been drafted and given a shot. That being said, with the new one and done rule the talent level of college seems to have improved.

disagree ... he was a 2 guard with point guard size that didn't have a good handle