Trivia Time: Think Long and Hard About Lesser-Known College Teammates

December 5th, 2025 - 14:46

Time will tell if it's the end of the playing road for playmaker Chris Paul following his abrupt exit from the Los Angeles Clippers. Whatever happens when the dust settles and contractual protocol deadlines are reached, he remains one of four former college players to compete more than 20 seasons in the NBA, joining fellow lottery selections Vince Carter, Robert Parish and Kevin Willis.

You may have known this NBA longevity factoid, but it's doubtful you know or remember any of the names - let alone all of them - regarding individuals outscoring the far-reaching foursome as college teammates. If you're into trivia, give the following questions a long-and-hard try:

  • Who was college teammate outscoring eventual 22-year NBA veteran Vince Carter each of Carter's three seasons with North Carolina from 1995-96 through 1997-98 (5th pick overall as undergraduate in NBA draft) despite never leading the Tar Heels in scoring himself in a single campaign before averaging 5.8 ppg in his own seven-year NBA career?

SHAMMOND WILLIAMS (8.3/7.5; 14.1/13; 16.8/15.6)

  • Who was Centenary's leading scorer in 1974-75 when eventual 21-year NBA center Robert Parish averaged 18.9 ppg with the Gentlemen (25-4 record) before becoming 8th pick overall in 1976 NBA draft?

LEON JOHNSON (19.7 ppg)

  • Who was college teammate outscoring eventual 21-year NBA veteran Chris Paul in both of their seasons together with Wake Forest's NCAA tourney teams in 2003-04 and 2004-05 before Paul declared early for NBA draft and became 4th pick overall?

JUSTIN GRAY (17/14.8 and 16/15.3)

  • Who were the two non-NBA players finishing ahead of eventual 22-year NBA veteran Kevin Willis (11th pick overall in 1984 NBA draft) in scoring with Michigan State in 1981-82?

KEVIN SMITH (15.6 ppg) and DEREK PERRY (8.6 ppg) - Willis (6 ppg)