7. Jay Williams, Chicago Bulls
Drafted: 2nd Overall Pick, 2002
College: Duke, 2-Time All-American
Jay Williams should have been D-Rose long before the latter even entered the NBA. They had the same playing style, same handle, same shot and played with the same reckless abandon. While at Duke, Williams was unstoppable. He led the Dukies to the 2001 National Championship, after receiving almost every honor a college player can get. He decided to skip his final year at Duke and declare for the NBA Draft.
The Chicago Bulls picked him with the 2nd overall pick in 2002 to pair him with a young nucleus of talent they were stock-piling. His rookie season was not horrible as he averaged 10 points and four assists per game, so his future was on the upswing.
One offseason mistake though, cost him his basketball career. He violated his rookie contract by riding a motorcycle, crashed without a helmet and thus missing any shot he had of building on what could have been a pretty good pro career. Unfortunate.
Next: Bobby Hurley