What could have been?

A list of players who committed to play for Arkansas but did not make it to campus for one reason or another. How the Arkansas teams did without them and what could have been.

Are we missing someone? Tell us here.

 

 

Baseball:

Player: A.J. Burnett
Would have been at Arkansas: 1996-99 seasons.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 8th round in 1995.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: 39-20 in 1996 (0-2 in regional), 36-20 in '97 (no postseason), 38-21 in '98 (1-2 in regional), and 42-23 in '99 (1-2 in Fayetteville regional).
What he went on to do: Played for the Florida Marlins 1999-2005. Threw a no-hitter in the majors. With the Toronto Blue Jays from 2006-08 and the New York Yankees from 2009-present.

Player: Chris Davis
Would have been at Arkansas: 2007-08 seasons.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 5th round in 2006.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: 43-21 in 2007 (2-2 in Fayetteville regional) and 34-24 in 2008 (0-2 in regional).
What he went on to do: Made his MLB debut for the Texas Rangers on July 26, 2008.

Player: Torii Hunter
Would have been at Arkansas: 1994-97 seasons.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (20th pick) in 1993.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: 30-27 in 1994 (no postseason), 38-23 in '95 (0-2 in regional), 39-20 in '96, and 36-20 in '97.
What he went on to do: Played for the Minnesota Twins 1997-2007. All-Star in 2002 and 2007. With the LA Angels from 2008-present.

Player: Dustin Moseley
Would have been at Arkansas: 2001-04 seasons.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Drafted by the Cincinnati Red in the 1st round (34th pick) in 2000.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: 27-29 in 2001 (no postseason), 35-28 in '02 (3-0 in regional, 1-2 in Super Regional), 35-22 in 2003 (1-2 in regional), 45-24 in 2004 (4-1 in regional, 2-0 in super regional, 0-2 in college world series).
What he went on to do: Made his major league debut with the LA Angels on July 17, 2006.

Player: Yaron Peters
Would have been at Arkansas: 2001 & 2002 seasons.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Went to South Carolina (D Rule) instead.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: 27-29 in 2001 (no postseason) and 35-28 in '02 (3-0 in regional, 1-2 in Super Regional).
What he went on to do: The first baseman was named the 2002 SEC Player of the Year and was All-American. He broke the University of South Carolina records with 29 home runs and 95 RBI's as a senior in 2002 and led SC to the CWS.

Player: Lee Stevens
Would have been at Arkansas: 1987-90 seasons.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Drafted by the California Angels in the 1st round (22nd pick) in 1986.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: 51-16-1 in 1987 (4-0 in regional, 1-2 in CWS), 39-23 in '88 (0-2 in regional), 51-16 in '89 (4-1 in regional, 1-2 in CWS), and 47-15 in '90 (0-2 in regional).
What he went on to do: The first baseman played for California from 1990-92, Texas from 1996-99, Montreal from 2000-02, and Cleveland in 2002. Batted .254 with 144 homeruns and 531 RBI in 1,012 major league games.

Player: Vance Wilson
Would have been at Arkansas: 1994-96 seasons.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 44th round in 1993.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: 30-27 in 1994, 38-23 in '95, and 39-20 in '96.
What he went on to do: Played for the New York Mets from 1999-04 and Detroit from 2005-08.


 

 

Basketball:

Player: Andre Iguodala
Would have been at Arkansas: 2002-03 season and 2003-04 season.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Went to Arizona after Nolan Richardson was fired in 2002.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: The Hogs went 9-19 in '02-03 and 12-16 in '03-04.
What he went on to do: Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1st round (9th pick) of the 2004 NBA draft.

Player: Al Jefferson
Would have been at Arkansas: 2004-05 season to 2007-08 season.
Why he didn't come to Arkansas: Drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1st round (15th pick) of the 2004 NBA draft.
What Arkansas did when he could have been playing: A team that was lacking a strong inside presence went 18-12 in 2004-05. Went 22-10 in 2005-06 and 21-14 in 2006-07.
What he went on to do: With the Boston Celtics from the 2004-05 season to the 06-07 season. Traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2007.

 

 

Page created: 9/19/05

Page last updated: 5/22/09