Sometimes, the biggest recruiting "whiffs" are the ones that nobody had an eye on. These aren't guys who Kentucky was actively pushing for and, if they were, it wasn't to the same degree as other names on the Wildcats' radar.
On rare occasions throughout blue and white history, a few in-state names specifically went elsewhere and, in time, made whoever was over Kentucky at the time regret not giving them a call. Especially now, in an age of recruiting where just about no stone is left unturned, it's worth looking back on a few times that a name slipped through the cracks in the worst possible way.
3. D'Angelo Russell
Russell, who is the newest name on this list, is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. Russell didn't fly under the national radar by any means, given his status as a consensus five-star recruit. But, for whatever reason, John Calipari simply didn't bother with him in Lexington.
Say what you will about Russell's (still ongoing) pro career, but he'd go on to average nearly 20 points per game, paired with five boards and assists both, at Ohio State. He posted these numbers during the same season that Kentucky finished just short of insurmountable history, at 38-1 overall.
Kentucky had the legendary Harrison twins, sure, but it's tempting to wonder what Russell could have done in that all-time lineup.
2. Dave Cowens
When Dave Cowens (of Newport, KY) hit the collegiate scene in 1967, Adolph Rupp showed little to no interest in the home-state stud. Feeling snubbed by his local hoops powerhouse, Cowens decided to spurn the Bluegrass entirely in favor of Florida State, where he'd play through 1970.
Cowens would go on to average a ridiculous 19 points and 17.2 boards for the Seminoles, eventually being selected fourth overall in the 1970 NBA Draft. He'd go on to win an MVP, Rookie of the Year, and two NBA titles with the Boston Celtics on his way to a historic career as a pro center.
A historic career that started in Kentucky, practically next door to Rupp and his squad. It's worth mentioning that Cowens came through college in the middle of a 20-year championship drought for the Wildcats.
Rough, rough sledding.
1. Allan Houston
This top spot is a more classical whiff. Allan Houston was, in fact, recruited by Rick Pitino at Kentucky. But the Cats weren't exactly in top form at the time, as Pitino had just been brought in to rebuild the basketball program following heavy sanctions (and a postseason ban) from the NCAA.
Houston would initially commit to Louisville (his hometown) before following his father, Wade Houston, to SEC-rival Tennessee. Houston would go on to score 27 points in an upset win over the No. 2 Wildcats in 1993, making a mark on the school he shared a home-state with before further spurning Kentucky in the NBA.
The guard would go on to play in a whopping 839 NBA games, averaging 17.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across an illustrious career that cemented him as a searing "what could've been" in Kentucky hoops history.
A two-time All-Star over his 12-year professional run, Houston is the biggest in-state question mark ever to dodge the blue and white, all things considered. This is all assuming Travis Perry doesn't turn into a star at Dayton and make me regret his lack of placement here, of course.
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