Top 10 Greatest Basketball Players who didn't make the NBA + Honorable My Worthy Mentions Picks
Everybody knows somebody who should have made it to the NBA. In this video you will learn about some of the famous players including streetball and/or former High School and College basketball stars who had a chance to make it to the NBA but did not make it. I've also included a list of HONORABLE MENTIONS of players which were posted to our Facebook Group page called GOATs with some names that you may know. If you know someone who should have made it to the NBA feel free to comment in the comment box below and I will be sure to add them to a future video.
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Top basketball players who did not make it to the NBA + honorable Mentions (tags)
OSCAR SCHMIDT, LENNY COOKE, Bob Kurland, Ronnie Fields, Raymond Lewis, Dimitris Diamantidis, Demetrius Mitchell, PEWEE KIRKLAND, SHEA COTTON, LEN BIAS, HANK GATHERS, Tito Maddox (Fresno State), Kenny Brunner, John Burrell, Brian Heinle, The Higgins Brothers, Andre Larry, Frank, Nitty Sessions, Shawn Tarver, Franklin Robinson (Big 3), Tony Bland (Univ. San Diego), Brian Burleson
Alex Carcamo, Ruben Douglas (Bell Jeff), Brian Hagens, Olin Simplis, Victor O’Garro, Tommie Prince, Sixx Johnson, Auty Williams, Nick Burwel (CA Juco), Nana Gbewonyo, Kelvin Gibbs, Tony Walker, Tony Madison (Pep), Dante Santiel, Stan Fletch, Khalid Morris, Junior Brignac (Cleveland), Shannon Johnson, Derrick Anderson Sr., Mike Farmer, Wade Whittaker, Jerome Payton, Mike Hamelin, Kevin Fletcher, Bronson Pitts, Cyril Feets Franklin, Ronnie Fields (Farragut HS with KG), Jamel Pugh (Compton HS) (tags)
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I guess we're not counting ABA players that never or only for a very short period played in the NBA. Like Mel Daniels and Roger Brown.
Excellent point.
Yeah this one is hard because of that transition but there are many out there of course.. Not easy to get all the background info on some of these guys since everything isn't online but Im working on the next video
I think Moses Malone was the first High school player to be drafted
Second or third. But the first STAR drafted from High School.
KG was the first…in 20 years after Moses Malone.
Ok is that true, going to try to find out,anyone know for sure?
Clifford Allen, 1986.... Never played a high school game, but Dick Vitelle wrote about him in SI and said he was the #1 player in the country... Tark the Shark offered him a ride, but he was a LA Crip, ended up murdering an old lady in a robbery and got sentenced to 90 years.
Sounds like a guy we need to check out.. Shit too bad he went out like that
Carson high
@@georgeleday6882Carson in 86?..football power then
He didn't kill an old lady in a robbery it was an older man.
Jerry West said that Raymond Lewis was the best player who never play in the NBA and Jerry Tarkanian said Raymond was the best basketball player he ever seen. There are two documentaries of Raymond.
Joe Hammond NYC Legend. Turned down the Lakers and Knicks. Check out his story. Like Pee Wee Kirkland, was getting more money in the streets at that time.
Skip Wise from Baltimore Dunbar high school.
Earl ManiGOAT
Sir, thank you for doing this!
Check on Reggie Harding who was drafted by Pistons in 1962 out of high school but he never played college basketball so had to wait 4yrs before the Pistons redrafted him again . So he's first to be drafted but Moses Malone was first high schooler to play pro ball starting in ABA .. But Daryl Dawkins was the first high schooler to go directly to NBA and play ..
Skip Wise BMORE LEGEND
Hook Mitchell was a beast and a underrated dunker created legendary dunks
He couldn't dribble or shoot. He only could jump.
#1 Earl The Goat Manigault
Esteban Weaver!! Used to give Shea Cotton era that work!! Couldn’t mention one without the other!!
Gonna check him out. @Esteban Weaver
Never heard of Weaver, where did he ended up going? However during that era was another kid who played at Fairfax and was mcdonalds All American about 6'8 or 6'9 big time and he never made it to renaldo?
@@dr.j.j.spinner7503 can't remember him but will look him up!
@@dr.j.j.spinner7503Renardo Sidney
U forget benji Chiraq highschool legend
3:23 watch the full story of Raymond Lewis LA Legend Documentary streaming now! Bets baller to come out of Los Angeles!
kzhead.info/sun/kpSzhaahoYp6aXA/bejne.htmlsi=KNyCW9WYsUcKhEuO
This vid was a decent attempt to share info about players who didn’t make the NBA, but the vid does show careless diligence on the creative side. Mainly with Len Bias. He didn’t play in the NBA but he did get accepted into the league as he was drafted. He just died before he got to play; Moses Malone should be the first but he was an ABA draft pick in 1974 then came to NBA after the merger, so actually Daryl Dawkins (Malone’s teammate & Bill Willoughby) were 1st in 1975…KG was next in 1995. Creatively this vid is ideologically tremendous, informally it lacks research. I’m definitely not tryna talk shit, just want to share info I’ve learned and know and want to make sure folks don’t pass on certain untruths. All in all, every player on this list and others none of us know about could be a part of the history that people should know as fans
Thank you for sharing and I am definitely following to see more of your creativity!🙌🏿
@@blackhalston2396 appreciate your passion fam. Im not trying to mess up anyone's story but part 2 is on the way (y)
Well I hate to be a wet blanket but peewee didn’t make the league because peewee wasn’t good enough. There’s a whole lotta good players that don’t quite have it. Great at street ball in the park but the NBA is a different story. If any of the aforementioned players was really good enough then they would have been there. The NBA, especially in those days, was strictly about production. Character was more or less optional
If you dion't mention Joe hammond, then you don't really know basketball, ask ANY hooper from the East coast. Kareem Abdul Jabbar tried to get the Lakers to sign him to a contract...
The Destroyer
@swish_crossovernation another player who I played with in college was Darryl Mcdonald, he is out of NY, but he had crazy handles and was somewhat tall for a point guard, I think 6'4 he never got a look by the pros I believe but is considered a playground legend in NY who dominated in Austrailia. Most guys coming from NY made their names in the playgrounds whereas guys westcoast such as Raymond Lewis got off through high school play and college as well as pro tryouts.
Big thanks fam! Definitely gonna look him up
I've been hearing about this guy
Reggie Harding never played a college basketball game! Drafted by Detroit Pistons twice! He couldn’t make a college team because he reportedly couldn’t read!
Thanks for that fam! Its wild some of the information that comes out regarding many of these players. These days you never hear about a talented player who didn't make it because of grades - very rare. Big up for the comment and thanks for your support of the channel!
I think that the NBA commissioner should compile a list of greatest players that never played in the NBA study these cases, and formulate a plan to never let a great player escape the NBA again. More great players equals more excitment and greater competition in the league which equals more fans watching the NBA games = more revenue for the NBA. In other words more greats players in the NBA means more money for the league. So, this should be important to Commissioner Silver.
I agree with your angle ! Good point Sir!
It’s sad to see how many guys on this list drugs hindered their potential. There may be three guys in this list who didn’t lose their chance around drugs in someway. Sad bro, for real.
True words is definitely sad when that happens. Some get left out due to sheer politics too
I was going to say kenny brunner but u put him on honorable mention and u put my boy tony bland we we're friends growing up plus we played together
Kenny Brunner was/is my guy! We hooped and used to workout together after college and also went to the D-League. Played against Tony Bland in College when he was at San Diego St. (after Syracuse) That game was live but they got us and he went to work haha That's whassup @ Nick Verando
Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby were the second and third high-school players to go to the league
This list is real.
Jason Works Los Angeles CA
Gonna have a look. Stay tuned for new uploads on this one fam! @S Whit
3 of the guards from Arkansas--Marvin Delph, Sidney Moncrief, and Ron Brewer. The group that played with Bill Cartwright at the University of San Francisco was great. I remember Chubby Cox had great handles. The Iowa guard--Roy Marble, the shooting guard who played at Pitt with Jerome Lane and Charles Smith--Demetrious Gore. Dwayne McClain and Gary McClain were pretty good when they helped to beat Patrick Ewing's Hoyas and Anderson Hunt off the Running Rebels team were pretty good.
Ernest Lee
What's crazy is the best player isn't even on here. Schea Cook is listed as #1 but he was the second best player in his class. Esteban Weaver was the #1 player and he was definitely better. I saw both of them play live and Weaver is still the greatest HS baller ever.
Esteban Weaver does ring a bell and he might be on the list somewhere. I appreciate your comment and will look into that a bit more! thx fam
Joe Hammonds
If JOE " THE DESTROYER HAMMOND " IS NOT THE GOAT ON THIS LIST. You DROP THE BALL.....!
Jonathan hargett and taurean tHead moy need to be added to that list along with ed booger smith pewee Kirkland ed cota..Ronnie fields was a good one he out there looking lije vince carter when he was with the raptors or in high school with those dunks
Edgar Merchant...Northeastern High School, Detroit
What about Drew Joyce? He was Lebron's point guard in high school. I heard he was pretty nice too!
Probably can find some good footage of him too.. The problem is that most of the legends don't have anything online to reference. Thanks for the tip!
Billy the kid Harris 4get about it Legend
Got it (y)
Little guys who could ball--Mouse McFadden, Keith "Mister" Jennings, Jay Burson.--just some names who I thought of in the past. Oscar Schmidt was money. I remember Thunder Dan Majerle couldn't guard him and he was destroying the US as a one man show. He'd come down the court and launch it kind of like Caitlin Clark.
CURT SMITH DC PLAYGROUND LEGEND HIGHEST SCORING AVG IN URBAN COALITIONS
My teammate at Compton college amazing player
Joe Hammond was the Goat at Rucker Playground! He broke his own record scoring over 70 points twice. The second one some were saying he was washed up. Joe took himself out the game and could have scored More!!!
Hank Gathers (RIP) was Larry Johnson before Larry Johnson. He had muscle on muscle.
Miles Simon - Arizona, and Scotty Thurman - Arkansas,
Yessir. I played against Miles Simon one season in France Pro A. His team was loaded but we went at it. At that point I knew why he was chosen to go to Arizona in college because he was nice with it. Gonna have a look! Be on the lookout for future videos. Always good to hype up the ones who put in some work during their careers. I am all about that @Adubs916
Pee Wee Kirkland was offered a contract…… if I remember correctly……. It was less than the money he was already clocking
Sad Eyes Philly legend Ask Shaq
Sad was a beast.
I should be on here
Send some info: office@crossovernation.com
Dewhite Williams Buffalo NY , Providence College
Lin bias did made it to the nba
Facts but he was added to the list based on his talents. As you know of his story he died two days after he was selected so technically he didn't even get to practice. He is a legend we leave it that
RONALD CURRY NORTH CAROLINA
Ben Wilson
Skip Wise
Tyrone TopGun Gibson Dunbar High DC AllMet Ask The Shark About Him
Gonna check him out @rlthomas3971 ^^ thx and be ready for the next upload on this topic.
Hank Gathers ????
DEJAN BODIROGA, but he chose not to play
Curt trouble bone Smith Washington DC
WTH. So you're just gonna show clips and their names without any type of contents explaining who any of the players were.
Joe Joe Hunter DC Legend
And again sir..
Lol @ Lenny Cooke. He was a few years older than LBJ and got outplayed by him at ABCD. He was also a year old for his grade. Ronnie Fields was a 6'3" off-guard who couldn't shoot, dribble, create his own shoot or pass. Schea Cotton was a year old for his grade and peaked as a sophomore in HS. When he finally got to college he underwhelmed. Pro sports are littered with felons, woman beaters, murderers, etc... if you can play, you've got a spot. These dude's just weren't good enough. There's no shame in that, 'cause most aren't, it just is what it is.
Well not exactly… there’s players here that played against and WON against NBA players and legends at Rucker Park in Uptown NYC. 1 was offered contracts and played for a minute then quit- he was making millions hustling vs. a few thousand dollars in the NBA…. Another has a full movie about him and Kareem Abdul Jabbar is in the movie….. ohhhh they were good enough, they just had other things in life that happened
WILL JONES 🙏 ⚰ RIP UDC HEAD COACH
Kenny Brunner was a legend
Freeman Williams Buckets
Freeman Williams played several years in the league....
Pee wee played for the bulls my guy but quit fast asf cause trap money was more then a nba contract then
U have to put Sydney he played in coach Carter
Yeah his name is Sidney he is a Venice Beach legend LA basketball street legend like he said he was so good they put him in coach Carter he is the main BALLER at the champion ship game
Sindney faison actor reel type that in
I'm on it. It's nice that you bring that up because I met his father at one point during my college career and he was a real nice guy. Saw Sidney play and we worked at kids basketball camp at CSUN one summer. I'll add him to the next video. Thanks for watching fam! Share this :)
No Benji Wilson?
SAMUAL SHORT ALLMET LEADING SCORER
Maddox played sum games
Yeah I think I remember some games with the Rockets and maybe the Wolves (need to fact-check) @Lorenshyne
You have to hire a producer who will mix the video/sound such that we can hear you. When you get to the "honorable mentions", it gets really bad. The music is just a nuisance - too loud.
Thanks for your message. There was a mix-up with the original background sound and Copyrights. This was one of my earlier videos and never really got to handle that problem and I apologize for the bad quality. I will keep this in mind for future projects and thank you for supporting our channel!
@@sw1shTV The content was great....I'll give you a follow!
@@user-ej2pw1ho4b 🔥💯💯💯
Joe Hammond New York Legend drop 50 on Dr J in a half
That was Earl Manigault
That was neither ! .. I personally know, two of the coaches from that game, own books talking about that game, and personally know, a few members of the NYC Basketball HOF, who were at that game .. Folktale, that is what that is .. Facts.
Joe came in at Half-time. Out scored Dr. J, lost the game but Won the MVP. That's just one of the games and why he was known as " THE DESTROYER "!!!
Did Ronny break his neck or get bad grades? It can't be both that prevented him from the NBA. You can't play in the NBA with a broken neck, or at least I doubt anyone would sign him with a broken neck, unless he was really good even though he has a broken neck (but not if he got bad grades.)
I think it was first grades, then later an accident if I can remember correctly but I'll have a look (y)
The only reason Joe and Pee wee Kirkland didn't play in the NBA. Was due to the limited amount of Money they Offered!!!
Wow
JOE HAMMOND
Nick Galis?
I'm on it @Randy Choi.. Let's have a look!
1:51 Defensive Goaltending rules in the NCAA (and later the NBA) were far more due to George Mikan - though Kurland is mentioned as an *additional* contribution to why the NCAA rule was instituted.
This video is so bad I don’t know where to begin 😂
Still getting views so.... thx for watching hahaha
Soul in the hole Ed ( Booger) Smith
Len Bias
Richie Campbell Buffalo NY Up North Better then Jordan
Legend from my crown heights neighborhood was Joseph Bourn reportedly broke down Tiny Archibald one on one. Still around.
Dude turn the music down please
7:15 KG wasn't even CLOSE to being the first NBA player (or PRO player, the ABA counts!) out of High School to have a dominant career. Reference your own comment about Moses Malone.
Garnett was NOT the first high schooler drafted into the NBA !!
We know that...
Kenny brunner, tommy prince, I was coaching at Inglewood Paul Pierce was playing for us, those guys were good players but not phenomenal players they did not even make the mc donalds team i would say guys coming out of LA like Evan Burns and Chris Sandle those guys or Elridge Hudson was not mention or Dwayne Polee, those two no one can compare to them no one! John Staggers in my opionion had more potential but not on the level on Hudson or Polee both burger boys, these two definitely should have been in the nba.
Kenny Brunner is mentioned in Honorable Mentions as we all know why he didn't make it at the end of the day although he was a killer. Also happens to be my guy! We can make these videos for days!
@@sw1shTV My dad is pretty cool
Kenny Brunner is my dad. Good to see this nowadays
@@SpiderPanda who is your dad
@@SpiderPanda man I saw your dad clown high school teams that tried to press, he had amazing ball handling skills and passing skills that made him standout.
How did you forget Joe Hammond The Destroyer..he was better than Pee Wee...was signed by Lakers but like Pee Wee opted to sell drugs for more money
This dude story be right the facts be wrong…Len bias was in his dorm not in the house..pew wee Kirkland played for norfolk st for 2 years and never had a 60 pt game…Kevin Garrett was not the first high schooler in the nba(Moses Malone). But appreciate the video.
Actually Reggie Harding 7.0' drafted in 1962 and 1963, played 4 years in the NBA in the 1960's (Pistons and the bulls), was the first player drafted out of high school into the NBA. highpoint, he started at center for the pistons in 1964. Moses Malone was drafted into the ABA in 1974, before the NBA/ABA merger in 1976. In 1975 both Darryl Dawkins (Sixers) and Bill Willoughby (Hawks) were drafted out of High School into the NBA before the NBA/ABA merger.
My brother Micheal "Big Mike" Johnson, compared to vast majority and you can include Shea Cotton, he displayed a lot of nba star potential so much they wanted to sign him out of high school. He is considered if not the best player ever to come out of the city of los angeles, which he atteneded Crenshaw High School and was City Player of the Year, in addition to being made all city every year of high school. He signed with UCLA however, after recruiting him since middle school and giving him two cars by Popa G, sam gilbert, as an 11th grader. After graduating he faced off high school standout Darren Daye took the kids lunch and was a no factor as he received player of the year in the city and MVP of the city championship in 78. Accepting a scholarship offer from UCLA and could not get in due to poor grades he played at oxnard before going to UNLV and starting for tark. They had a lot of NY guys there Sidney Green and Richie Adams, he started and whenever someone asked who was the best player, they said clearly without reservation Micheal Johnson. After playing for tarkanian for 3 years he did not get drafted due largely because he had schzophrenia that led to drug addiction that ended up finding himself in and out of prison along with being murdered by the police. He played overseas for many years but dominated college centers and power forwards patrick ewing, sam bowie and micheal cage who could not hold a candle stick to Micheal Johnson as he could jump like zion and probably ten times stronger with ridiculous game. People marveled at his size and what he could do that other big man could not. Besides my brother, I would say I played with in college at Texas A&M Darryl Mcdonald, he had way more game than some of the guys you mentioned.
Heard about Big Mike. Will be interesting to have a look at the other guys you mentioned! Thx sir
@@sw1shTV The absolute best would start with Micheal Johnson, I tried to get footage from UNLV if you can help that would be cool. But Brunner was good but I honestly did not think he was a sure lock for the nba. He was short guard, not an outstanding shoot, but he was extremely quick. The absolute best would Dewayne Polee and Elridge Hudson, both would have done well in the league. EL was like Lebron James probably get the nod over Polee, a 6'7" point guard who just dominated.
@@dr.j.j.spinner7503 Im going to make a photo-video as well. Like I said in the description we all know somebody who should have made it and that I am honestly happy to learn more! Thx fam #100
@@sw1shTV Swiss, he let legends have it, such as Sam Bowie he had 30 pts against him, Micheal Cage he used to destroy him, any other highly ranked player UNLV played against he would tear them apart. One of his most noted game came against Darren Daye, a nba star for the Boston Celtics and UCLA, when they were in high school dropped 42 pts and 20 rebounds in city championship enroute to being named the MVP.
Hook Mitchell
Bo dukes
This thing has so much wrong information. Lol
Thx! Feel free to correct misinformation.
Benji wilson cause he was killed but he would of made it if it wasnt for that...
The most horrible background music ever
thanks for that! Didn't know that the sounds were scrambled like that. Fixing this right away!
Joe Hammond
where is Joe Hammond from? Did he also play college ball?
@@sw1shTV Drafted from the Streets of Harlem, New York to the NBA. He dropped out of school in 9th grade. Did not play in college.Rucker Park legend.Pulled up to a game at halftime and dropped 50 on Dr. J..He was only 6'4"
@@fmcc63 big thanks! gonna look more to see what I can find online.
Missing LENNY COOKE. Rated better than Lebron in 2001-2002
He's the 2nd one in the video! Thanks for supporting
Check out Joseph Whitfield from Deep Creek high school during late 70s early 80s.
He shot better than 50% from 30ft before the 3 point shot was introduced to NBA, college and high school. Went to Virginia State in CIAA then transferred to Norfolk State and was blackballed for smoking weed in the dorms. Still humbled today but wasn't a drug addict.Please look him up. You can find history of him starting with Chesapeake Virginia and CIAA COLLEGE Virginia State. He makes Steph Currys shot looks easy., 6'4 225, long arms,handle like Pete Maravich and the peak of his jump shot was 10ft. Could shoot both left35%,and right handed 50% jump shots.I haven't seen anything close to his shot other than Steph. Again please research him basketball junkies.
Ben "Benji" Wilson...Simeon High School, Chicago: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Wilson_(basketball)