Bear Down Wildcats

Today I was thinking about Derrick Williams. Has there been another player at AZ who arrived in college with so little fanfare but who went on to do such big things (Pac FOY, Pay POY, led us to the E8, #2 overall pick in '11 draft)? It's not to say that DW was completely off the radar coming into college. He was ranked #72 in his class by ESPN. Still, that's not exactly the kind of ranking that could've prepared us for what was coming. This guy absolutely killed it in his two seasons at AZ.

I'm wondering, then, has there ever been a player as surprising as (or more surprising than) DW at AZ, either under Miller or Lute? A guy whose performance as a college player so greatly exceeded his expectations?

Steeeevvvveee Keeeeerrrrr!!!!!!

Steve Kerr was a nobody out of high school.

Beyond Kerr, Gilbert Arenas was tied for #99 in HS rankings. He was tied with a guy named Greg Morton who never averaged more than 3.9 ppg at Seton Hall.

Didn't realize Kerr was so underrated coming out of HS.

Arenas, yeah. I remember he was a little off radar.

Did Kerr win Pac POY, though?

Wasn't Kerr's only other offer LBSU?

Didn't Ruben Douglas transfer from Arizona when Arenas was signed? Not like Arenas was unknown.

Beachcat97 wrote:Didn't realize Kerr was so underrated coming out of HS.

Arenas, yeah. I remember he was a little off radar.

Did Kerr win Pac POY, though?

No, but he was 2x All Pac 10. Kerr probably would have if it wasn't for Sean Elliott.

He transferred in, but TJ McConnell was #348 nationally in 24/7 rankings and was a 2 time All Pac 12 player and should have won Pac 12 POY his senior year.

Merkin wrote:Wasn't Kerr's only other offer LBSU?

Didn't Ruben Douglas transfer from Arizona when Arenas was signed? Not like Arenas was unknown.

No, he transferred after practices started and it became obvious Gilbert Arenas was too damn good to come off the bench. Even then Douglas didn't want to transfer, but his dad forced his hand.

Steve Kerr played in the backcourt alongside Craig McMillan, who was Olson's first real top-ranked recruit at Arizona.

McMillan was the first McDonalds All American at Arizona.

The world if recruiting and rankings and all that was a little different in the early 80s compared to 2010 though. I think it's hard to make the comparison really.

Beachcat97 wrote:Today I was thinking about Derrick Williams. Has there been another player at AZ who arrived in college with so little fanfare but who went on to do such big things (Pac FOY, Pay POY, led us to the E8, #2 overall pick in '11 draft)? It's not to say that DW was completely off the radar coming into college. He was ranked #72 in his class by ESPN. Still, that's not exactly the kind of ranking that could've prepared us for what was coming. This guy absolutely killed it in his two seasons at AZ.

I'm wondering, then, has there ever been a player as surprising as (or more surprising than) DW at AZ, either under Miller or Lute? A guy whose performance as a college player so greatly exceeded his expectations?

Derrick Williams also became one of the most disappointing players in the NBA, at least for someone who was a Wildcats and TWolves fan like me. For some reason Williams thought he would try to become a wing player once he got to the league, though his best skills were that of an undersized PF(not a big issue in the modern NBA). He had one of the fastest second jumps I have seen from a player. His quickness as an undersized PF would've kept him in the league along with his stretch 4 ability. I maintain Williams would still be a very productive NBA player had he not gone down the road of trying to become an NBA wing.

Can I add a dark horse?

Kyle Fogg. IMO, Fogg might be the ex-Cat who did the most with the least and is continually overlooked. #180 in his class.

Tom Tolbert was at UCI, then a JC, and had a long NBA career.

Jud Buechler had a higher ranking as a volleyball player if memory serves, and also had a long NBA career.

Luke Walton was #71, and also did well in the NBA.

CopaCat wrote:

Beachcat97 wrote:Today I was thinking about Derrick Williams. Has there been another player at AZ who arrived in college with so little fanfare but who went on to do such big things (Pac FOY, Pay POY, led us to the E8, #2 overall pick in '11 draft)? It's not to say that DW was completely off the radar coming into college. He was ranked #72 in his class by ESPN. Still, that's not exactly the kind of ranking that could've prepared us for what was coming. This guy absolutely killed it in his two seasons at AZ.

I'm wondering, then, has there ever been a player as surprising as (or more surprising than) DW at AZ, either under Miller or Lute? A guy whose performance as a college player so greatly exceeded his expectations?

Derrick Williams also became one of the most disappointing players in the NBA, at least for someone who was a Wildcats and TWolves fan like me. For some reason Williams thought he would try to become a wing player once he got to the league, though his best skills were that of an undersized PF(not a big issue in the modern NBA). He had one of the fastest second jumps I have seen from a player. His quickness as an undersized PF would've kept him in the league along with his stretch 4 ability. I maintain Williams would still be a very productive NBA player had he not gone down the road of trying to become an NBA wing.

I feel you, Copa. Hey, I'm a Detroit Pistons fan. Imagine my disappointment with Stanley Johnson's first few years. He was also a lotto pick, and most expected him to be a solid 2/3 at the next level. Not so much.

D-Will got a little unlucky with the teams he played on. For the purposes of this thread, I'm not really talking about these guys as pro players, strictly their time at AZ. Williams was such a joy to watch in his two years. I remember that Solo was the guy most had pegged as our gem of that '09 class, and while it took him longer to blossom, Solo did turn into a very good college player. But D-Will just exploded out of the gate. No one saw that coming. And his performance vs. Duke in the S16 is as epic a performance we've seen an AZ player have in the tourney, ever.

Josiah Turner may be the most surprising player at Arizona... but not in a good way.

Alieberman wrote:Josiah Turner may be the most surprising player at Arizona... but not in a good way.

Oh, if we're going for least pleasantly surprising, there are plenty of candidates, Josiah being a good name to start with.

Kyryl, Bejarano, Chol, Sidiki, Pitts...and these are just some of the more recent ones.

Beachcat97 wrote:

Alieberman wrote:Josiah Turner may be the most surprising player at Arizona... but not in a good way.

Oh, if we're going for least pleasantly surprising, there are plenty of candidates, Josiah being a good name to start with.

Kyryl, Bejarano, Chol, Sidiki, Pitts...and these are just some of the more recent ones.

Emmanuel Akot, worst 5 star ever for Arizona.

Merkin wrote:

Beachcat97 wrote:

Alieberman wrote:Josiah Turner may be the most surprising player at Arizona... but not in a good way.

Oh, if we're going for least pleasantly surprising, there are plenty of candidates, Josiah being a good name to start with.

Kyryl, Bejarano, Chol, Sidiki, Pitts...and these are just some of the more recent ones.

Emmanuel Akot, worst 5 star ever for Arizona.

Oh man...hard to argue against Akot. And it pains me to say it, but Randolph would have to be among the least successful prized recruits we've had under Miller.

Merkin wrote:

Beachcat97 wrote:

Alieberman wrote:Josiah Turner may be the most surprising player at Arizona... but not in a good way.

Oh, if we're going for least pleasantly surprising, there are plenty of candidates, Josiah being a good name to start with.

Kyryl, Bejarano, Chol, Sidiki, Pitts...and these are just some of the more recent ones.

Emmanuel Akot, worst 5 star ever for Arizona.

This is before 5 stars, but Dennis Latimore's ranking was borderline 5 star. I think he was worse than Akot. I still think Akot can be a decent player. This is the only thing I could tell you about Latimore's career:

https://youtu.be/0-sAtBTBkpA" target="_blank

Yeah, Arenas was a major surprise. Not considered the jewel of the class, but became a starter by day one and an integral part of one of the program’s best ever teams. Overlooked in the NBA draft, but quickly became a star, with his NBA career derailed mostly by injuries (and the gun incident).

I seem to recall quite a clamor of “play Latti MORE”.

He was one of those guys that showed flashes and crowd wanted to see more of him but seems the staff didn’t see the same stuff.

midnightx wrote:Yeah, Arenas was a major surprise. Not considered the jewel of the class, but became a starter by day one and an integral part of one of the program’s best ever teams. Overlooked in the NBA draft, but quickly became a star, with his NBA career derailed mostly by injuries (and the gun incident).

What I always found ironic was that had he done the same thing with the guns in say Phoenix he wouldn’t have been breaking laws.

At least from what I remember.

Merkin wrote:Wasn't Kerr's only other offer LBSU?

Didn't Ruben Douglas transfer from Arizona when Arenas was signed? Not like Arenas was unknown.

Fullerton I believe. And Gonzaga late.

Douglas practiced with the '99-'00 team. Arenas dominated Douglas and it was clear his minutes would be slashed. He opted to transfer after missing the first exhibition.

Is TJ Mcconnell eligible? I know he was a transfer but did anyone expect him to come in and be the heart and soul of a couple great teams? I thought he would be a solid addition, but nothing compared to what he accomplished at U of A in such little time and continues to accomplish now in the NBA.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Can I add a dark horse?

Kyle Fogg. IMO, Fogg might be the ex-Cat who did the most with the least and is continually overlooked. #180 in his class.

Love this pick...and probably still underrated when we start to discuss some of the great cats who have played for us.

billk78 wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Can I add a dark horse?

Kyle Fogg. IMO, Fogg might be the ex-Cat who did the most with the least and is continually overlooked. #180 in his class.

Love this pick...and probably still underrated when we start to discuss some of the great cats who have played for us.

His final season was an all time kick-in-the-nuts year for the team. Elite Eight the prior year, top 5 recruiting class coming in... then Josiah and Sidki and Angelo all flame out, Natyazhko goes full kook, and Parrom gets shot and sits 75% of the season. Good seasons from Fogg, Solo, Perry, Bunnies, BLav all wasted.

Ivan Radenovic should be in the discussion at least.

Chin nuts too!

BibbysTowelDude wrote:Ivan Radenovic should be in the discussion at least.

Chin nuts too!

Wow. That was so long ago, his chin must be sagging down to his belt by now.

Remember when Radenovic went for 37 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists against Stanford in 2007?

One if the better games I've seen by an Arizona player in the 17 years I've been a fan.

ByJoveByJingle wrote:

BibbysTowelDude wrote:Ivan Radenovic should be in the discussion at least.

Chin nuts too!

Wow. That was so long ago, his chin must be sagging down to his belt by now.

Can Merkin retrieve that pic for us? It was taken in a Hooters.

How about a guy that comes in as a Freshman; scores four points and grabs a grand total of five rebounds while committing eight personal fouls; then as a Sophomore really pours it on with a total of 38 points, 21 rebounds and 20 personal fouls?

After that rather inglorious start I don't think that anyone in this wide world would have predicted that the Arizona Wildcats very first NBA first round draft pick would turn out to be Larry Demic (#9 overall by the NY Knicks).

Unheralded recruit, Josh Pastner, was undefeated in appearances throughout his playing career at Arizona....

On the disappointing side of surprising it would be hard to beat "the next Sean Elliott" Deron Johnson.

Radenovich...wow. Haven't thought about that name for a while.

He was actually pretty damn good.

Very nice start to Ivan's career, willing to give up half a year's eligibility too since he started mid season.

Longhorned wrote:

ByJoveByJingle wrote:

BibbysTowelDude wrote:Ivan Radenovic should be in the discussion at least.

Chin nuts too!

Wow. That was so long ago, his chin must be sagging down to his belt by now.

Can Merkin retrieve that pic for us? It was taken in a Hooters.

hahaha

Amazing, Merk.

Merkin wrote:Very nice start to Ivan's career, willing to give up half a year's eligibility too since he started mid season.

Longhorned wrote:

ByJoveByJingle wrote:

BibbysTowelDude wrote:Ivan Radenovic should be in the discussion at least.

Chin nuts too!

Wow. That was so long ago, his chin must be sagging down to his belt by now.

Can Merkin retrieve that pic for us? It was taken in a Hooters.

The fact that Merkin can retrieve this pic on a moment's notice from so long ago is just 1 of the many reasons why this community is so great.

The Serbian Sniper!

Thank you, Merkin.

Drunken Ivan's misapprehension that the hand on his neck belonged to the Hooter girl instead of Mr. Chinnuts will never stop being funny.