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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DURHAM, NC – MARCH 05: ESPN College GameDay host Jay Williams spins a basketball ahead of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 5, 2016, in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – MARCH 05: ESPN College GameDay host Jay Williams spins a basketball ahead of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 5, 2016, in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

7. College basketball stars who flamed out in NBA: Jay Williams

In fairness to Jay Williams, describing him as a flameout isn’t really accurate to the circumstances of his NBA career. With that being said, the fact that Williams never lived up to the hype he generated during his college career at Duke makes him a logical entrant in the Top 10 of this list.

Few collegians had as decorated an amateur career as Williams, who was the floor general for a string of excellent Duke teams. Williams was a two-time All-American and the National Player of the Year as a senior in 2002, a strong follow-up to his performance as a junior on the Blue Devils’ national championship winner that is still regarded as one of the best college basketball teams ever assembled.

Expectations were through the roof for Williams when he was taken with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. The franchise had been searching for their next superstar following Michael Jordan’s second retirement and Williams looked like he would be the team’s point guard for the next 15 years.

Williams flashed some promise during his rookie season but a devastating motorcycle accident in the offseason essentially ended his basketball career. The accident kept Williams from ever suiting up in a game again, although he did land on his feet as a basketball analyst at ESPN.