Open Mic: UConn All-Time Lineup of Current NBA Players

UConn has been one of the most successful college basketball programs in recent memory.  They have produced the most NBA talent in the league to date out of any school.

Their coaching staff really gets their players NBA-ready, and that certainly is a nice sell in the recruiting process.  Do you want to develop your game and become a pro?  OK, then UConn is one of the best schools for you to attend.

Here's my UConn team that consists of players still playing in the NBA now.

C: Emeka Okafor

He was a defensive guru during his time in CT.  He altered a ton of shots for the opposing team and could take over a game on the defensive end alone.  He came into UCONN as a project and left a polished potential pro.

Okafor has yet to meet his full potential in the league, but I have confidence that he will only continue to get better.  Did I also mention that he is one smart dude?  He finished school at an accelerated pace, all the while notching a near-perfect GPA.

PF: Charlie Villanueva

He was a very highly-regarded talent when he chose to attend UConn.  He almost entered the NBA draft straight out of high school but found he wasn't quite ready yet.  He has all the tools to be a successful NBA player and has shown that if given the minutes he can excel, especially on the offensive end.

Villanueva is a combo forward that can play either SF or PF.  He has quick moves and a nice stroke on his jumper, but the knock on him is that he was a lazy player.  He left after only two years and was drafted in the first round.

SF: Rudy Gay

Jim Calhoun has called Rudy Gay the most talented player he had ever coached.  UConn very rarely gets high school McDonald's All-Americans, but Gay was a recent exception.  He brought his high-flying antics to Storrs and was part of a powerhouse team in his last season for the Huskies.

That team went on to get upset by Cinderella team George Mason in the NCAA tournament, and Rudy left campus following that season.  He has blossomed in the NBA so far as he enjoyed a nice breakout campaign last year.  He can do a bit of everything, including the highlight reel dunk.

It was just a shame he didn't stay at UConn long enough to reach his full potential.

SG: Ray Allen

Allen is simply one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history.  He has a smooth stroke and has a truly perfect jump shot form.  He recently was part of the Celtics' championship team and proved a key part to the team's success.

Allen was one of the first big superstars to come out of UConn and has not forgotten where he came from.  He is on campus in the offseason working out with the team and giving advice to younger players.

He started the tradition of UConn scoring guards—many have followed in his footsteps since.

PG: Ben Gordon

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