30 forgotten college basketball stars who flamed out in the NBA

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

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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22. College basketball stars who flamed out in NBA: O.J. Mayo

The 2007-08 college basketball season offered an intriguing debate for fans as to whether Beasley or O.J. Mayo was a better player. Mayo was stellar in his one season as a Trojan, averaging 20.6 points per game for USC, and took the Trojans to the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Beasley’s Wildcats.

The debate surrounding the pair continued through the NBA Draft, where he went right after Beasley, going third overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sent him to Memphis in a draft-day trade. Mayo came out of the gate hot, starting for the Grizzlies and averaging 18.5 points per game as a rookie, but he was eventually demoted to a sixth-man role in 2011.

That decision led Mayo to leave Memphis for Dallas, where he started for one year before winding up in Milwaukee. The Bucks were very disappointed in what they got out of Mayo, who was plagued by injuries as his production declined each of the next three years.

Mayo also got himself banned from the NBA for a drug violation, all but ending his career in the United States’ top basketball league. The good news for Mayo is that he was able to continue his career overseas but he never lived up to the immense promise he displayed in college for USC.