He was expecting one and done talent, which they both were as they played one year and were actually drafted by the NBA, Rashad in the lottery.
Now if you said you expected NBA 10 year career or NBA HOF, they fell short.
That they didn’t stick? That’s a different story and I don’t think that had anything to do with UNLV. I thought both would have benefitted from 2-3 years of college hoops but Rashad was one and done whether he ended up here or elsewhere, that was his plan the entire time. Perhaps that’s why Blue Bloods didn’t go hard after him. But UNLV is supposed to say no? Come on. Rashad was flawed. He had a really good stroke. But that was it. Handle soft, defense softer, work ethic even softer. I was surprised he was picked as highly as he was with all the flaws. Great kid, low drive.
As for Zimm, I believe they were far more flexible to a couple of years, especially with the injury. But everything blew up at the school and it probably seemed best to just go league. Had it been like it’s now, my bet is Zimm would have transferred and played a year elsewhere but I cannot speak for him or the family. That’s just my gut feel. But given the rules back then, you had to sit out a year to transfer. With the mess that UNLV created with the midseason firing, it kind of forced the hand. Nobody worth anything was going to play for Menzies … that was pretty well evident. They all bolted aside from Poyser and Green who were benchers that defaulted into starters with Menzies.
So it’s not as cut and dry as everyone seems to think.
NBA Fringe guys that stay multiple years are the best. Especially if you can get three out of them. The first year will be the toughest, obviously.
NBA fringe guys that leave after one year … it seldom works out well for the school, the fans, the player. It worked out for Derrick Jones, even though he went undrafted. Though he was more stay in school another year camp type but UNLV’s poor decisions/execution impacted that one as well.
