Lost That Finger Feeling: Clark Missed Out on Earning Championship Ring

April 7th, 2021 - 10:51

Tristan Clark was on top of the world when leading Baylor in scoring and the nation in field-goal percentage midway through his sophomore season in 2018-19. But an injury to his left knee curtailed a once-promising career and cost him a chance to earn some championship bling. Numerous other players have also been denied because they transferred before NCAA playoff title run. A striking number of original Duke recruits are on the following alphabetical list of transfer players denied receiving an NCAA championship ring because they left a school subsequently capturing a national crown:

Transfer Player Alma Mater Original College (Title Year)
Mohamed Abukar San Diego State '07 Florida (2006)
Ryan Appleby Washington '08 Florida (2006 and 2007)
Craig Bardo The Citadel '87 Indiana (1987)
Larry Bird Indiana State '79 Indiana (1976)
Mario Boggan Oklahoma State '07 Florida (2006)
Adam Boone Minnesota '06 North Carolina (2005)
Bob Brannum Michigan State '48 Kentucky (1947)
Delray Brooks Providence '88 Indiana (1987)
Rakeem Buckles Florida International '14 Louisville (2013)
Chris Burgess Utah '02 Duke (2001)
Deward Compton Louisville '48 Kentucky (1947 and 1948)
Olek Czyz Nevada '12 Duke (2010)
Doug Davis Miami (Ohio) '02 Michigan State (2000)
Darnell Dodson Southern Mississippi '13 Kentucky (2012)
Micah Downs Gonzaga '09 Kansas (2008)
Dylan Ennis Oregon '17 Villanova (2016)
Bob Fowler Iowa State '80 Kentucky (1978)
Alex Galindo Florida International '09 Kansas (2008)
Michael Gbinije Syracuse '16 Duke (2015)
C.J. Giles Oregon State '08 Kansas (2008)
Mike Giomi North Carolina State '87 Indiana (1987)
Danny Hall Marshall '78 Kentucky (1978)
Kenny Harris Virginia Commonwealth '94 North Carolina (1993)
Scott Hazelton Rhode Island '05 Connecticut (2004)
Derek Holcomb Illinois '81 Indiana (1981)
David Huertas Mississippi '10 Florida (2007)
*Karl James South Alabama '91 UNLV (1990)
Taylor King Villanova '12 Duke (2010)
Jack Kramer UAB '91 Michigan (1989)
Darrell Lorrance Missouri '47 Kentucky (1947)
Billy McCaffrey Vanderbilt '94 Duke (1992)
Malcolm McMullen Xavier '50 Kentucky (1948)
Mike Miday Bowling Green State '81 Indiana (1981)
Danny Miller Notre Dame '03 Maryland (2002)
Alex Murphy Florida '16 Duke (2015)
Semi Ojeleye Southern Methodist '18 Duke (2015)
Crawford Palmer Dartmouth '93 Duke (1992)
Stacey Poole Georgia Tech '14 Kentucky (2012)
Jarred Reuter George Mason '19 Virginia (2019)
Rodrick Rhodes Southern California '97 Kentucky (1996)
Clifford Rozier Louisville '95 North Carolina (1993)
Marty Simmons Evansville '88 Indiana (1987)
Oliver Simmons Florida State '00 Kentucky (1998)
Will Smethers Bowling Green State '51 Kentucky (1949)
Roscoe Smith UNLV '15 Connecticut (2014)
Alex Stephenson Southern California '11 North Carolina (2009)
Rasheed Sulaimon Maryland '16 Duke (2015)
Barry Sumpter Austin Peay State '87 Louisville (1986)
Andre Sweet Seton Hall '05 Duke (2001)
Jared Swopshire Northwestern '13 Louisville (2013)
James Thues Detroit '05 Syracuse (2003)
Jeff Tropf Central Michigan '79 Michigan State (1979)
Jason Webber Central Michigan '00 Michigan State (2000)
DeShaun Williams Iona '04 Syracuse (2003)
Elliot Williams Memphis '12 Duke (2010)

*Played for a junior college between four-year schools

NOTES: McCaffrey and Palmer played for an NCAA champion with Duke in 1991 and Huertas did with Florida in 2006. . . . King played only one season for Villanova in 2009-10. . . . E. Williams left Memphis after 2009-10 campaign when he declared early for the NBA draft. Likewise for Smith at UNLV following 2013-14 season.