r/CollegeBasketball • u/royaltyera2026 • 22h ago
History Best college guards to never make the NBA.
/r/nba/comments/1x7vgnd/best_college_guards_to_never_make_the_nba/Best college guards to never make the league?
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u/AutistPorterJr UC Riverside Highlanders 21h ago
Surprised no one has said the real answer here. Scottie reynolds. First all American to go undrafted. 3 time all conference. Clearly him
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u/2PacTookMyLunchMoney UConn Huskies • Missouri Tigers 20h ago
He’s actually who came to mind for me.
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u/schwoda North Carolina Tar Heels 21h ago
Ed Cota deserves a mention. Led the ACC in assists all four years he played, first player to ever have 1000 points/1000 assists and 500 rebounds, and went to 3 Final Fours. Went undrafted and never played an NBA game.
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u/BKStyle82 16h ago
Brooklyn Boy Ed Cota. Threw them lobs to VC. Gonna add another Brooklyn guy Omar Cook. Lacked a jumper
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u/Every-Government-272 7h ago
I think Cook played a bit in the league. I'm a Raptors fan and I seem to recall him being our backup pg for a bit
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u/tdmoney Kansas Jayhawks 21h ago
Sherron Collins.
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u/The_Ghettoization Kansas Jayhawks 9h ago
I was in Nashville just before Christmas a couple of years ago on Broadway. (Broadway during the Christmas season is wonderful). During the afternoon, there was an older gentleman outside of Tootsie's handing out CDs for free and asking for donations. He saw my KU beanie and suddenly stopped trying to give away CDs and asked, "Kansas? You know Sherron Collins?"
It was cold that afternoon, but instead of heading inside, I chatted him up about Sherron for a couple of minutes, much to my wife's chagrin. Apparently he was from Chicago and said the older dudes still talk about how dominant Collins was back in the day. If Sherron had just a little more discipline when he got out of college, I have no doubt he would have been in a rotation in the league.
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u/llama-non-grata South Dakota Coyotes 15h ago
The Sheronn Collins vs Ben Woodside battle of the Metrodome during the first round of an ncaa tournament was some of the most memorable clutch basketball I’ve ever witnessed.
Demar Derozan, Taj Gibson and Draymond all played during different sessions that same day but Collins and Woodside are the only players that stand out in my memory.
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u/exitthisromanshell Kansas Jayhawks 14h ago
I think that’s the game Cole Aldrich got the first triple double with blocks in the NCAAT since Shaq
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u/C_Beeftank Tennessee Volunteers 21h ago
Chris lofton
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u/FuegoFerdinand Kentucky Wildcats 15h ago
You'll get a lot of Kentucky fans to agree with this one.
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u/roshanritter Duke Blue Devils 22h ago
Jon Scheyer scored over 3000 points in high school and had a great 4 year college record including one championship, but went undrafted and never played a single NBA game.
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u/RustyKangaroo7 21h ago
Leaving out a major eye injury in summer league that completely derailed his chances
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u/kai333 North Carolina Tar Heels 20h ago
Yeah that description of the injury makes me queazy
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u/Old_Implement7210 18h ago edited 18h ago
If I had to pick someone for it to happen to…
Downvote me if you want, everyone that’s met him knows he’s a douche
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u/Tripl3Dee Maryland Terrapins 18h ago
MD fan, and I approve of this message
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u/Old_Implement7210 18h ago edited 17h ago
lol those Duke teams played dirty as shit and got dudes injured because of it but of course the above is a line too far
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u/Tripl3Dee Maryland Terrapins 17h ago
If we still played Duke I'd totally show up with a huge Scheyerface sign. It's still funny.
The injury sucks, but I'd say it all worked out for him in the end, coaching arguably the biggest brand in college ball still.
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u/GumbySquad Arizona Wildcats 22h ago
Same story with Jason Gardner at the UofA. 3rd all time in total points, zero NBA minutes.
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u/HankHillShow 21h ago
Honorable mention to Gerry McNamara. Great college resume. 4 year starter. Would’ve made a killing if NIL was around back then.
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u/I_AM_DEATH-INCARNATE Syracuse Orange 10h ago
Also the source of Boeheims "Not ten fucking games" rant that's still quoted regularly enough on the Syracuse blogs I frequent.
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u/patdmc59 Pittsburgh Panthers 21h ago
2000’s Pitt has a few candidates here. Brandin Knight and Levance Fields are the first two that come to mind.
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u/bisonpitt Pittsburgh Panthers 20h ago
Brandin Knight did get 3 minutes in one game for the Rockets. Loved to watch him play! I always thought Julius Page could've made it as a 3 and D guy in the NBA but I don't think he got close.
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u/HeadyRoosevelt UConn Huskies 20h ago
Loved watching the late 2000s Pitt/UConn games. Prime Big East.
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u/Ear_Enthusiast Virginia Cavaliers 7h ago
Curtis Staples was the greatest NCAA three point shooter of all time. Dude had a lightning quick release. If he played today he would probably be a top 5 pick. Never got drafted. Never played in the NBA.
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u/mr_SM1TTY 5h ago
At one point he held the record for 3 pointers made at Oak Hill Academy, UVA, ACC and maybe even the NCAA until JJ Reddick broke his college records. Was undersized and his game was pretty limited outside of his shooting, but was ahead of his time as a shooter.
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u/bezzlege Louisville Cardinals 21h ago
Russ Smith
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u/Mental-Rhubarb-5870 UConn Huskies 6h ago
My interpretation of this question was players who never played in an NBA game
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u/bezzlege Louisville Cardinals 5h ago
To me, to “make” the NBA, you have to have made it there. Russ tried and failed.
Semantics I’m sure
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u/HocDawk13 21h ago
In 1997 Andre Woolridge lead the B1G in scoring and assists and I believe he was a 3rd team all American. Best Hawkeye guard I can think of that didn’t make the NBA.
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u/Squat1998 22h ago edited 22h ago
Maybe not the best but Cat Barber was an absolute joy to watch. The speed, shiftiness, handles, and big shot ability were all there. I guess the size held him back in the pros.
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u/LitterTreasure 21h ago
Jared Harper (no real significant minutes in the association but floated around) and Bryce Brown (g-league) fit this mold too.
Damn were they a great duo in Aubie land.
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u/GoBears415 California Golden Bears 22h ago
Jerome Randle was a stud. Think he spent some time in the g-league but was just too short for the NBA
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u/lavistadad 22h ago
Had a great overseas career, did great in the 3-on-3 tournaments and highly respected. I thought he may have gotten an NBA chance at some point since he was a scorer and distributor.
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u/lightningdave14 Providence Friars • VCU Rams 20h ago
Bryce Cotton. Dude is an NBL LEGEND. Absolute bucket.
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u/Feeling_Anteater_389 South Carolina Gamecocks 20h ago
Devan Downey
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u/DasaniFresh Cincinnati Bearcats 9h ago
Downey carried UC his freshman year. I was so bummed when he transferred
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u/bdostrem00 Iowa State Cyclones 19h ago
Curtis Stinson. Won the G League MVP but never got a crack at the NBA.
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u/bearcatgary Cincinnati Bearcats 18h ago edited 18h ago
Steve Logan. Consensus 1st team All-American in 2002. He was unstoppable from half way through his junior year until the end of his senior year. Was 1st pick in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft and ridiculously decided to hold out for a guaranteed contract. Never got one and never played in the NBA. One of Cincinnati’s best players ever.
P.S. - My favorite Steve Logan accomplishment. On 2/15/2002, he out scored the whole Southern Mississippi team 41-37. He went 12/18 from the field, 8/13 from three, 9/10 free throws, had 9 assists and 6 rebounds. UC won 89-37.
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u/bearcat_eng00 Cincinnati Bearcats 14h ago
But numerically that pick would have been in the first round if Minnesota hadn't gotten their pick taken away for the Joe Smith fiasco. Kind of a dumb reason to hold out for a fringe player. Steve played about 10 years too early; could have been a proto-Dame.
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u/Quackattackaggie Utah State Aggies 19h ago
Jaycee Carroll. 50% shooter from 3. Made a lot of money in Europe.
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u/Stop_staring_at_me VCU Rams 22h ago edited 21h ago
Briante Weber was going to set the ncaa steals record then blew his knee out 12 steals short during his senior season. He got some g league time but never made it.
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u/Powderkeg84 21h ago
Aaron Craft
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u/BillHigh422 20h ago
Aaron Craft walked so Payton Pritchard could shoot half court heaves in the NBA Finals
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u/Powderkeg84 20h ago
Hahaha that's so true.
Unfortunately, I'm a Cavs fan so I have irrational hate for PP.
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u/Single_Seesaw_9499 Purdue Boilermakers 21h ago
Carsen Edwards
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u/D1SCOSP1DER Texas Longhorns 21h ago
He had a cup of coffee. 72 games over 3 years.
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u/somethingAPIS Kansas Jayhawks • Big 12 4h ago
This is one of my favorite phrases, you don't see it as often anymore.
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u/RealBlustripChip 21h ago
I think he made the Celtics roster
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u/Single_Seesaw_9499 Purdue Boilermakers 21h ago
I mean I guess there’s a difference between literally making the league and MAKING it in the NBA
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u/BillHigh422 20h ago
Eh, he started a few games and came off the bench for a few more. He was G-League MVP one year iirc, but that’s where he spent most of his time with the organization
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u/aainvictus91 Louisville Cardinals 21h ago
Russ Smith
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u/ilovethorntons Louisville Cardinals 21h ago
He had a cup of coffee in Memphis
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u/Professional_Ad9809 Louisville Cardinals 18h ago
Scored something like 16 in 8 mins, don’t think he ever played again
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u/SbMSU Michigan State Spartans 22h ago
Mateen Cleaves, Kalin Lucas, Cassius Winston
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u/I_AM_DEATH-INCARNATE Syracuse Orange 10h ago
Mateen Cleaves was one of my first choices after GMac! He was fun to watch
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u/mf-TOM-HANK 8h ago
3x All American and 1st rounder but considered a 12th-15th man for most of his NBA career
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u/Dimeskis Illinois Fighting Illini 19h ago
Dee Brown
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u/WhatSheOrder Illinois Fighting Illini 8h ago
12 year old me through he was going to be a god in the NBA. I probably should have clocked it otherwise when 10 year old me met him and was looking at him eye to eye.
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u/entenduintransit Michigan Wolverines • Syracuse Orange 5h ago
he was drafted and played 68 NBA games though
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u/FilteringBullshit 13h ago
Doron Sheffer. Ray Allen’s backcourt partner on the uconn teams. Was drafted in the 2nd rd by the Clips, but went to play overseas.
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u/entenduintransit Michigan Wolverines • Syracuse Orange 5h ago
ITT: people for some reason naming a bunch of dudes that did in fact play NBA games
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u/Sue-yee Michigan Wolverines 21h ago
Scoop jardine
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u/DannyTorrance Syracuse Orange 20h ago
Haha no way. I loved Scoop. But there was Good Scoop and Bad Scoop and no in-between and it was infuriating. Dion Waiters fulfilled the prophecy of what Scoop started.
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u/ScoreTheBasekt 20h ago
A few years ago Scoop was playing in a local men's league. Source is me. He torched us.
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u/speedy_delivery West Virginia Mountaineers 17h ago
Jon Hargett. Born 25 years later and he'd have been a millionaire.
As it was he got booted from college, scuttled his shot at the league and ended up in prison.
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u/thewoodsytiger New Mexico Lobos 17h ago
Not top of the list but one of the better ones I’ve seen was Jalen House. Seeing him at The Pit during the Pitino Era was absolutely insane. I know he technically played some G league time and summer league, but doubtful he will go much farther. Super fun to watch play at the college level.
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u/BKStyle82 16h ago
Couple more Big East names that probably don't quality. They had toughness but really lacked any NBA ready offensive skills: Carl Krauser, Taliek Brown
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u/BKStyle82 16h ago
I always like local guards as a Brooklyn native. Gonna throw Charles Jones out there. Frmr leading scorer at LIU BK. Took the blackbirds to the tourney, got beat by Nova(tim thomas and them). Was always a fan of dude.
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u/long-walk-home-99 15h ago
Thought of Omar Cook from St John's but checked and he played 22 nba games over 2 yrs. Averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.2 assists. Definitely should have another yr in college. Currently assistant coach with Cleveland.
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u/RevivalGhost Indiana Hoosiers 9h ago
Chris Thomas from Notre Dame. He was a McDonalds All American and Mr Basketball for Indiana. He was so good in high school and his first couple years at Notre Dame. I think he would have made it if he declared for the draft after his freshman year.
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u/RevNeutron 8h ago
Trey Burke Michigan made the NBA, but one of the best college guards to never find a home in the NBA
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u/slasher016 Cincinnati Bearcats 8h ago
Steve Logan. Drafted high but had a contract dispute (sounds like his agent didn't help him.) Never ended up playing in the NBA. Consensus 1st team all american in college at Cincinnati.
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u/True-Reference3476 5h ago
Dominic James. Not the best ever here, but worth a mention. Slightly undersized but amazing athlete. Really thought he’d at least have a long nba career as a ~backup like Travis Best or something - probably would’ve been drafted if he left early. Feel like he kinda gets forgotten with the run of other great guards Marquette had around his time too.
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u/Strawberry_Letter_27 4h ago
I'll go with two guys from my old neighborhood; Greg "Boo" Harvey out of St. John's and Khalid Reeves from Arizona. Kenny Patterson from DePaul and Vernon Moore from Creighton are two more. We had a lot of talent in the area. Too many to name. Shout out to Mark Jackson and Anthony Mason for making it.
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u/ProfessionalPass4202 1h ago
I always thought Mateen Cleaves was great but his size limited him and as a UK fan… Tyler Ulis was an awesome PG but, was just WAY too small for the league. Unfortunately, there are quite a few guys who were just limited due to genetics. 🤷♂️
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u/n00bn00b 42m ago
Rashad Phillips from Detroit Mercy. He was ahead of his time though his size didn’t help and the fact his game was too similar to AI played a part.
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u/tughussle Kansas Jayhawks 21h ago
Frank Mason
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u/SadLionsFan52 Michigan State Spartans 20h ago
Cassius Winston is up there for sure. He just didn’t have the size or athleticism to make it in the league.