Fansided

Whatever happened to these 30 college basketball stars who flamed out in the NBA?

By Mike Phillips

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (R) of the Kentucky Wildcats greets NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) after he was selected number two overall by the Charlotte Bobcats during the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft at Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (R) of the Kentucky Wildcats greets NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) after he was selected number two overall by the Charlotte Bobcats during the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft at Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NJ – JUNE 28: Thomas Robinson (R) of the Kansas Jayhawks greets NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) after he was selected number five overall by the Sacramento Kings during the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft at Prudential Center on June 28, 2012, in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, the user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – JUNE 28: Thomas Robinson (R) of the Kansas Jayhawks greets NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) after he was selected number five overall by the Sacramento Kings during the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft at Prudential Center on June 28, 2012, in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, the user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

16. College basketball stars who flamed out in NBA: Thomas Robinson

The Jayhawks have had a few entrants on this list, including Robinson, who was one of the most beloved players in Kansas history. Robinson suffered an immense personal tragedy while he was at Kansas, losing two grandparents and his mother in the span of three weeks in 2011, and persevered to become a star for the Jayhawks.

The 2011-12 campaign was a breakout one for Robinson, who was named the Big 12 Player of the Year after averaging 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Robinson was the focal point of a strong Kansas team that went to the national championship game, falling to John Calipari’s loaded Kentucky squad featuring top NBA Draft picks Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

That strong season was enough for Robinson to go pro, where he was taken with the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings. Like several others on this list, Robinson landed in a bad situation with Sacramento, who gave up on him halfway through his rookie season by trading Robinson to the Houston Rockets.

Robinson bounced around the NBA for a few years but was never able to do more than crack the back end of a rotation, starting just 12 games in five years. It is fair to wonder whether Robinson was a bit overhyped after one strong year in college but the potential he displayed at Kansas indicated that there was plenty more that Robinson could have accomplished in the NBA ranks.