Top 50 Kentucky Wildcats Prior to John Calipari Era

Mar 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Chuck Hayes (left) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (right) on the bench against the Chicago Bulls at the Air Canada Centre. Chicago defeated Toronto 116-103. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

40. Chuck Hayes

Chuck Hayes made the right decision when he chose the Kentucky Wildcats over the Kansas Jayhawks in 2001.

Hayes was apart of the team with Keith Bogans and Kelenna Azubuike that got Kentucky got back on the map during his time at the University of Kentucky.

Hayes was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year his senior season, but was failed to be named an All-American, even with the push of the Wildcats athletic director. Hayes tied Alex Groza (who you will see within this slideshow) with the most career starts with 110.

If his collegiate career wasn’t enough, Hayes has had quite the NBA career. Going underrated in 2005, Hayes was picked up by Albuquerque Thunderbirds, who are a part of the NBA D-League.

After a season with the Thunderbirds, Hayes was picked up by the Houston Rockets, where he was from 2006-2011. When Hayes was first picked up by the Rockets, he was signed to a 10-day contract, mainly due to the Rockets being plagued with injuries. In his second game in a Rockets uniform, Hayes had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in a 109–108 double-overtime win against the Chicago Bulls on January 20. It didn’t take long for the Rockets to sign Hayes to a longer contract, on January 28, the Rockets announced they were signing Hayes for the rest of the season.

Hayes is known to be a better player off the bench than a starter. He’s had much more success coming off the bench, being a backup man over being the main man.

In 2011, after his tenure with the Rockets, Hayes was to signed a for year deal with the Sacramento Kings. However, the Kings voided the contract not even a month after, after his physical exam showed a heart abnormality in an echo test. Hayes went to the Cleveland Clinic for extensive tests on his heart, and issued a statement a few days later that cardiologists at the hospital had cleared him to play. To which the Kings resigned Hayes to another four-year deal, this time, making a little extra cash.

In 2013, Hayes was traded to the Toronto Raptors where he was up until 2015, when he signed another contract with the Rockets, but was cut shortly after.

It’s not abnormal to still see Hayes at NBA games or playing with a team. He’s had one of the most solid careers of anyone out of Kentucky.

Next: Mr. Indiana Basketball