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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SALT LAKE CITY – MARCH 25: Wesley Johnson #4 of the Syracuse Orange in action against the Butler Bulldogs during the west regional semifinal of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Energy Solutions Arena on March 25, 2010, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – MARCH 25: Wesley Johnson #4 of the Syracuse Orange in action against the Butler Bulldogs during the west regional semifinal of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Energy Solutions Arena on March 25, 2010, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

25. College basketball stars who flamed out in NBA: Wesley Johnson

Syracuse has produced its fair share of NBA stars but Wesley Johnson wasn’t one of them. After initially committing to Iowa State and playing his first two years there, Johnson transferred to Syracuse, a move that paid off in spades for him.

Johnson was the Big East’s Player of the Year in 2010, averaging 16 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The Orange also had tremendous success as a team with Johnson, earning a top seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Butler in the Sweet 16.

That season would prove to be Johnson’s only one at Syracuse as he parlayed his success into being the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves were hoping that Johnson would turn into a star but he was never able to recapture the magic that he had for that incredible junior season at Syracuse, starting for two years before getting shipped out to Phoenix in a three-team trade.

Johnson ended up bouncing around the NBA for the next decade, failing to average double figures in points or more than 4.4 rebounds a game in any stop. The Timberwolves also have to regret this pick because they bypassed three future All-Stars (DeMarcus Cousins, Gordon Hayward and Paul George) to take Johnson in the lottery.