If talent alone defined former Iowa Hawkeye Pierre Pierce’s career, you would certainly see his number on a banner in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. He probably would have been a first round pick and making millions of dollars in the rotation for the NBA team.

He was arguably the best guard in the Big 10, playing against guys like Maurice Ager, Alando Tucker, Luther Head and Dee Brown. He certainly was one of the best players in Hawkeye history and had the skills to make it to the next level.

Instead, Pierce all but ruined his career when he served a year in prison for his second sexual assault charge in 2005. It was two years after he originally was charged for third-degree sexual assault, but pled guilty to a lesser charge, essentially getting a second chance.

Even with the first charge, which enters a lot of grey-area and is more debatable than the second, he could’ve been a mid-late second round draft pick.

Yet after blowing both of his chances, Hawkeye coach Steve Alford kicked Pierce off the team before he was officially convicted, facing pressure from fans and the Athletic Director who believe he was too soft the first time around. That move still angers some people who claim that racist Iowans were too aggressive in prosecuting Pierce.

Partially true, although Pierce agreed to a no-tolerance policy with the university and had no problem with the university’s action (however I do think that some of the public backlash is at least somewhat racially motivated).

Since Pierce’s departure, Iowa hasn’t been the same starting with its 7-9 conference record during the 2004-05 season.

UI bounced back the very next season earning the No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, but lost in an embarrassing upset to 14th seeded Northwestern State. Alford would have one more year where he failed to get the Hawkeyes into the NCAA or NIT and resigned for a coaching position at New Mexico.

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