Big things were expected from Forte while he was at the Tarheels, but he left too early. Heaps of talent, but a real knucklehead - sadly that's the case with a lot of guys.
Seriously a lot of these guys are not close to the best that haven't made it. Forte? Sure he was good in college, but from the getgo you can tell his game wasn't suited for the NBA really. Lenny Cooke? Good, but not the best to not make it; not even close to being the best really. DeAngelo Collins? He would be a solid starter at most, not the best to not make it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Seriously a lot of these guys are not close to the best that haven't made it. </div> Why dont you throw out some names. I'm curious on what you think. I liked Ed O'bannon, John Wallace (he just never learned to D), Stromile Swift... all of them produced a bunch in college.
Man, you guys is all hopped up on crack. Have any or at least one of you guys seen Hook Mitchell play??? You kids just wait for that Documentary to come out, "Hooked", and ya'll change your minds about the lenny cookes and jaRon Rush's. (oh yeah, don't take the crack comment too seriously, i'm just tryin' to prove a point)
Another guy who never really got a "chance" to make it in the league was Connie Hawkins. Sure he got into the league but he was well past him prime by then. The league missed out on something real special. Then there are the players like Earl Manigault, the previously mentioned Hook Mitchell, Joe Hammond, and Pee Wee Kirkland. Look at some of the old Rucker Park legends and you'll see a few people who didn't make the league (whether it be because they were ignored or simply decided not to join). As for underachievers....no one beats good 'ole Derrick Coleman!
Connie Hawkins was outstanding, one of my personal all time favorites. BTW: Danny Ferry is another name that belongs in this list.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sunsfan1357:</div><div class="quote_post">Then there are the players like Earl Manigault, the previously mentioned Hook Mitchell, Joe Hammond, and Pee Wee Kirkland. </div> Yea but we've only "heard" about those guys. I'm sure none of us here have actually seen those guys ball.
However back when NBA stars actually played at Rucker Park and cared about streetball they saw those players play. They also vouch for those players as guys who can hang in the NBA legitmately. Heck a lot of those guys even got offers to play in the NBA, but turned it down because they were making more money from streetball. Adding to the dissappointments....Michael Ray Richardson. First guy to lead NBA in assists and steals, four time all-star....also banned for life by the NBA for drug abuse...he was reinstated but chose to stay in Italy...
Now, Hook Mitchell is like Vince Carter x5, he's easily the best baller outta Oakland, and GP, Kidd, and other NBA cats like Brian Shaw and Drew Gooden all came outta oaktown, he was so much better than them. He scored in bunches, and his dunks are OUT OF THIS WORLD. The stuff i've seen............It makes your jaw drop. I'm talkin' like a 5'9"-5'10" guy doing 360's over cars, jumps over people just as easily as you and i can dribble a ball. I'm not sure when his documentary comes out, but i'm tellin' ya, i'm goin' be the first person in theaters for that. I'ma sleep outside 2 days before it starts......... And the reason Hook didn't make it the the L............he was f**ked up, man. He had drug problems and did alotta bad sh*t. now he's in jail n' all, turned islamic and changed his name (ala' Cassius Clay and Lew Alcindor), but he's still tha greatest to never make it. -------------------- <font size="1">Double post edited by <font color="DarkRed">King James</font></font> --------------------
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">I thought Paige was an AI wannabe with really little talent. His last year at Georgetown, he scored like 22+pts but shot like 36fg% and averaged way more turnovers than he did assist. I think his assist-to-turnover ratio was like 0.6 or something like that. He was a fool to leave school so early.</div> Isnt that what AI is now which means Victor Page should have at least got a legit shot in the NBA. He is the all-time leader in points in the CBA. I mean at least that desevred a shout at an NBA tryout camp
I'd like to name Scoonie Penn. He wasn't the best player not to make it, no doubt about that, but after his junior season with Ohio State he was looking great, like one of the top 3 point guards in the NCAA. He returned for his senior season though, and something just broke in him, he still had just as much heart but his FG% probably fell by about 20%.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sunsfan1357:</div><div class="quote_post">Seriously a lot of these guys are not close to the best that haven't made it. Forte? Sure he was good in college, but from the getgo you can tell his game wasn't suited for the NBA really. Lenny Cooke? Good, but not the best to not make it; not even close to being the best really. DeAngelo Collins? He would be a solid starter at most, not the best to not make it.</div> i'm seeing first hand Lenny Cooke lead a rag-tag professional team now...they've won 3 of their 4 games and suddenly are contenders for the play-offs...they need to win a do or die game on Friday...and im talking about a team who's so bad they wouldn't win a game without him...this guy is built like a PF who can dribble like a PG...too bad he can't shoot the ball well from beyond 15 feet...but so does Lebron...
A name I might just chuck up - Randy Livingston. Career was shot down by knee injuries, but before that he was one of the hottest college prospects in the country, is still floating around the league somewhere but injury screwed him over big time.
