I like most of the choices that everyone has made, but the more I read this thread, the more that I think each of these guys really were/are appreciated by the fans. Most just didn't receive the accolades that other players received. Oscar is an exception to that.
Most under appreciated Cat of all time
- Thread starter SamePooter
- Start date
Yeah I will take the bully as well. Most of the elite guys have an edge to them.
This right here and it was what I came here to post if you hadn’t. Darius was mocked and called Diappearius along the way but by the time he fully rounded into form he was a huge and vital part of that 2012 team and championship, very much celebrated as he deserved.
Edwards otoh kept everything in stealth mode. And as appropriate for his stealth brand that dude was a NINJA, deceptively awkward-looking physically with his skinny, bony build, lanky arms, and long neck, but viciously silky with the ball. Was a joy to watch from the day he got on campus, and never got the mainstream spotlight hype he deserved.
Chuck Hayes. People didn’t even see him really as a star but every team he was on won.
I would say either Perry Stevenson, Darnell Dodson or Daniel Orton. I know I’m missing many others, but those guys always gave us a solid second wave of minutes
Finding one definitive answer to an “all-time” question is tough for a program with a history as long as ours. I’d like to submit Jamal Murray for an under appreciated list though. He unfortunately played for a team that had no frontcourt and didn’t make a deep tournament run, and was far overshadowed by Ulis as far as fan adulation on that same team. I also never really see him mentioned among Cal’s star guards over the years. Pretty wild for a guy who was an All-American scoring 20 per game and shooting 40% from deep before going on to be an NBA champion and all star.
MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED GUY ON EACH TEAM IN CAL ERA
2010 - Darnell Dodson
2011 - Darius Miller
2012 - Marquis Teague
2013 - Julius Mays
2014 - Dakari Johnson
2015 - Trey Lyles
2016 - Skal Labissiere
2017 - Isaiah Bricoe
2018 - Wenyen Gabriel
2019 - Reid Travis
2020 - EJ Montgomery
2021 - Olivier Sarr
2022 - Sahvir Wheeler
2023 - Antonio Reeves
2024 - Tre Mitchell
2010 - Darnell Dodson
2011 - Darius Miller
2012 - Marquis Teague
2013 - Julius Mays
2014 - Dakari Johnson
2015 - Trey Lyles
2016 - Skal Labissiere
2017 - Isaiah Bricoe
2018 - Wenyen Gabriel
2019 - Reid Travis
2020 - EJ Montgomery
2021 - Olivier Sarr
2022 - Sahvir Wheeler
2023 - Antonio Reeves
2024 - Tre Mitchell
Eric Daniel’s was the first name that came to mine when I saw the thread title.
Ed(RIP)wasn't underappreciated, his teams just didn't win enough.
S16 as a fr.
EE as a soph
1st rd as a Jr.
S16 as a Sr.
He was regarded as one of the best or the best player on the team all four years.
There was never much of a love affair between Joe and the fans.
He was overrated coming out of HS and actually tried to leave the team at Christmas break his fr.year.
He scored a lot of points but his teams didn't win big and he had a reputation of not showing up in big games.
Because he wasn't a star but was definitely treated like one from the fans.
BBN loved the hell out of Chuck Hayes
That's a good one for sure. Mine would be Erik Daniels. Guy was just efficient and dependable.
Great minds. Just posted the same before I saw yours. He's coaching girls at Dunbar.
Wayne Turner (most NCAA tournament wins in school history with 16 games)
3 Final Fours/2 Championships)
Doron Lamb (2 seasons- 2 Final Fours/1 Championship
Winners win. Turner is w/o doubt the correct answer.
3 Final Fours/2 Championships)
Doron Lamb (2 seasons- 2 Final Fours/1 Championship
Winners win. Turner is w/o doubt the correct answer.
Jasper can be a legit miller comp. Not a poor man. But he may do it elsewhere
By far pat Riley. That guy should have been a face of uk sports like Jordan is to UNCheat. How great would it be to go get your coach and have pat Riley there to help pitch it? If a we need a recruit have shai visit them or make a call? Both of these guys are vastly under appreciated for what they could do to help UK. Shai may end up being a long time diamond but these new coaches need to lose the ego and reach out to these guys especially Riley.
It did t have a BB or FB subject line tag so I'm going to leave these four here.
UK was first in the league.
UK was first in the league.
Wayne Turner led three title run teams, won two, and still isn’t in the rafters.
Turner was awesome and a key contributor but Anthony Epps more so led the '96 and '97 teams as primary starter at PG.
and was really goodPeople getting on Oscar when he averaged 30 and 16 in his 3 tournament games here has always sat wrong with me. He deserved to be on winning teams.
I will say that Darius Miller is the most forgotten Kentucky born player. Everyone will list about 20 Kentucky boys they love, forgetting Miller is also one from Maysville,
I was a huge Epps fan but that many mentions for a guy who averaged 6.2 ppg and 3.9 assists would seem to indicate that he is not actually under appreciated.
I’m not saying Jasper can’t have success like Miller but it won’t be the same style. Miller was a tank. Jasper is a twitchy freestyle shooting guard.
When I think of Miller I think of Alex Poythress. Body wise not playing style. Just big athletic dudes. Jasper reminds me of a twitchier Brandon knight kind of guy
Plenty of good answers. But, without the improvement of Marquis Teague later in the 2012 season I don't think we win #9.