There’s no denying the best part of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions is watching the elite high school basketball talent in person. But if there was going to be a part 1A, it would be the, “I saw them when…” aspect.

Seriously. How many of you puffed out your chest during Kentucky’s amazing 2009-10 season? Why, not because you bleed Kentucky blue like Ashley Judd. Nope, it was because both John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins both dominated the T of C — and you saw it live Or maybe you didn’t, but they balled big time in your town.

It’s those type of moments that are indelible, forever creating memories and imprints on your basketball brains. And with that, we set out to put together a refresher course of the most successful T of C alums, past and present. Enjoy. And don’t miss the next Wall or Cousins. To get familiar with this year’s crop, click here for our Ultimate T of C Guide.

We’ll start with the NBA alums. Below that will be the college guys.

Current alums

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NBA

John Wall won the 2009 T of C and was the MVP.

John Wall

T of C school: Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.), 2008
College: Kentucky (one season)
Pro team: Washington Wizards
NBA Draft status: No. 1 pick in 2010 draft
2010-11 NBA stats: 15.4 points, 8.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds per game (23 games)

From the first dribble Wall took, we knew Wall was sensational. While ESPN’s high school rankings had guys like Avery Bradley No. 1, Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer had Wall No. 1. And he didn’t disappoint, helping Word of God win the 2009 T of C and securing MVP honors. After leading a Kentucky team full of freshman to the Elite 8 (nearly the Final Four), Wall was the No. 1 pick in the most recent NBA draft. And we got to see him before all of that.

As a junior, DeMarcus Cousins and LeFlore finished second in the 2008 T of C.

DeMarcus Cousins

T of C school: LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.), 2008
College: Kentucky (one season)
Pro team: Sacramento Kings
NBA Draft status: No. 5 pick in 2010 draft
2010-11 NBA stats: 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds per game (33 games)

The T of C is no stranger to big bodies, but Cousins’ grown-man frame was already full grown as a junior in high school. Currently, he’s 6-11, 270 pounds, but he was at least 240, if not more when he was 17. Cousins’ LeFlore team lost to Erving Walker and Ryan Pearson’s Christ the King team in overtime in 2008, but it wasn’t his fault. He led all scorers with 38 points, and for a guy who many wanted to portray as lazy, I’ll never forget interviewing him with tears in his eyes. Just because he’s eccentric, doesn’t mean he isn’t passionate about basketball. Still, those “character issues” helped Cousins fall to the No. 5 draft pick. Some said if it wasn’t for his Kentucky teammate John Wall, Cousins might have been the top pick.

Tyler Hansbrough's Poplar Bluff teams didn't win a T of C Tournament, but he ended up as one of college basketball's all-time greats.

Tyler Hansbrough

T of C school: Poplar Bluff (Mo.), 2004, 05
College: North Carolina (four seasons)
Pro team: Indiana Pacers
NBA Draft status: No. 13 pick in 2009 draft
2010-11 NBA stats: 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds per game (24 games)

Always known as a throwback player, well before he was winning a four-time All-American and national champion at North Carolina, Hansbrough was outworking HS players at Hammons Student Center, dunking on schools from at least 10 different states. He made his T of C debut in 2004 with a third-place finish, but it’s 2005′s championship game that T of C fans will remember. Hansbrough’s Poplar Bluff team lost 64-58 to Kickapoo, which is still the only local team to ever win the T of C.

Of course, after Hansbrough became one of college basketball’s all-time great and was the 13th pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2009 draft. While he is still known as one of the toughest players around, Hansbrough has been plagued by injury and hasn’t quite broken into the Pacers’ starting rotation.

Ekpe Udoh (left) was a surprise at No. 6 in last year's NBA draft, but he seemed to improve every year in college.

Ekpe Udoh

T of C school: Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.), 2007
College: Michigan and Baylor
Pro team: Golden State Warriors
NBA Draft status: No. 6 pick in 2010 draft
2010-11 NBA stats: 2.8 points, 2.5 rebounds per game (13 games)

I won’t try to hide it, but when Ekpe Udoh was playing for Santa Fe in the T of C, he was an project that a college hadn’t committed to. He looked stiff and not overly athletic. After going to Michigan as a late commit, he lingered during Tommy Amaker’s final Wolverine season and never really fit into John Beilein’s system. He transferred to Baylor, and by the end of his career, because an athletic, versatile shot blocker-meets-dunker-jump-shooter who nearly helped the Bears reach the school’s first final four. His final shock to the national hoops system was when Golden State selected him No. 6 overall, making him a part of T of C history when he was one of four T of C alumni to be drafted in last year’s top 7.

Greg Monroe was thought to be a T of C dud, but the Detriot Pistons didn't agree.

Greg Monroe

T of C school: Helen Cox (Harvey, La.), 2008
College: Georgetown (two seasons)
Pro team: Detroit Pistons
NBA Draft status: No. 7 pick in 2010 draft
2010-11 NBA stats: 5.4 points, 5.4 rebounds per game (34 games)

Monroe came to the T of C with a ton of hype. He was ranked as Rivals.com’s No. 1 player, was a 7-footer with the ability to block shots, shoot and pass. However, it didn’t translate well, but provided Waynesville with one of the better local squad moments. The Tigers beat Monroe’s team 63-60, painting Monroe as a soft, yet skilled, big man. He has similarly underwhelming results at Georgetown, never becoming a dominant force for the Hoyas. Still, the NBA couldn’t deny his tantalizing skill set and the Detroit Pistons took Monroe with the No. 7 pick in the most recent NBA draft, after spending two seasons in Washington, D.C.

Lamar Odom was one of the T of C's early NBA alums. That happened before he married a Kardashian.

Lamar Odom

T of C school: Christ the King (NYC), 1996
College: Rhode Island
Pro teams: Current, LA Lakers; LA Clippers and Miami Heat
NBA Draft status: No. 4 pick in 1999 draft
2010-11 NBA stats: 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game (37 games)

Unless you were an early T of C watcher, you missed Odom balling at Hammons Student Center. Still, take our word for it. He helped Christ the King win the 1996 T of C by a margin of 22.3 points per victory.

Of course, this was all before he became a two-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers, an all-star and a married member of the Kardashian family. Not a Hall of Famer, but Odom has scored more than 11,000 career NBA points.

Kickapoo's Anthony Tolliver now belongs with the T of C's NBA alumni

Anthony Tolliver

T of C school: Kickapoo, 2003
College: Creighton
Pro teams: Current, Minnesota Timberwolves; San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors
NBA Draft status: Undrafted
2010-11 NBA stats: 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds per game (20 games)

In a nice twist, one of Springfield’s own can be now placed amongst the T of C NBA alumni. After bouncing around the NBA and then the Developmental League, former Kickapoo and Creighton big man Anthony Tolliver caught on with the Golden State Warriors, averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over a 44-game span. It served him so well, he had multiple multi-year offers to mull over before choosing the Minnesota Timberwolves.

And before you think AT is simply a feel-good story for NBA undrafted free agents, he gained infamy when he spoofed LeBron James’ The Decision, with his own YouTube production — The Decision, Part Deux. AT’s been out with an injury, but returned Friday with 10 points.

As for T of C history, Tolliver’s Kickapoo team finished third, losing to eventual champ White Station in the semifinals.

Mario Chalmers didn't have a great T of C, but Kansas and Miami aren't complaining.

Mario Chalmers

T of C school: Bartlett (Anchorage, Alaska) 2005
College: Kansas
Pro team: Miami Heat
NBA Draft status: 2008 second round
2010-11 NBA stats: 5.7 points,1.9 assists per game (32 games)

If you remember correctly, Chalmers was one of the top names in the 2005 T of C. But you’ll also remember how the rest of his team wasn’t really any good and how Mizzou fans reveled in the future Kansas Jayhawks’ eighth-place (!) finish.

That might have been the last time they laughed at Chalmers. The Alaska native went on to hit THE shot that sent Kansas and Memphis to overtime during the 2008 national championship game, helping the Jayhawks win the whole the thing. (I still would have fouled. Sorry, Calipari.)

Now, Chalmers finds himself coming off the bench for the Miami Heat, but likely will have a nice seat for the playoffs, as long as he can stay employed in South Beach.

Way back in 1992, Erick Dampier was just a "little" 7-footer. Now he can't stay retired. Too valuable

Erick Dampier

T of C school: Lawrence County (Miss.), 1992
College: Mississippi State
Pro teams: Current, Miami Heat; Others, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks
NBA Draft status: No. 10 pick of 1996 draft
2010-11 NBA stats: 1.5 points, 3.5 rebounds per game (18 games)

While the No. 10 pick in the draft should probably average double-digit scoring more than twice in his career, it’s hard to say that Erick Dampier hasn’t been a good pro center. There just aren’t many 6-foot-11, 265-pound guys that can run and jump. And after not latching on with a club after last season, the Miami Heat signed him during the season. Not bad to be wanted by LeWadeBoshBron, right?

In case you need a refresher course, Dampier helped Lawrence County win the 1992 T of C, beating Parkview 73-57 in the championship.

Stanley Robinson?

Huffman (Ala.) forward Stanley Robinson (T of C ’06) was drafted in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, but was waived in November. It looks like he was with the Houston Rockets’ NBDL franchise, but contracted Staph Infection.

Retired NBA alumni

• Alonzo Mourning — 15 seasons, future Hall of Famer; T of C, Indian River, 1987
• Larry Hughes  — 12 NBA seasons, 10,230 career NBA points; T of C, CBC, 1997
• Anthony Bonner — T of C, Vashon, 1985; College, Saint Louis; NBA, Sacramento Kings and NY Knicks
• Jayson Williams — T of C, Christ the King, 1985; College, St. John’s; NBA, NJ Nets
• Todd Day — T of C, Hamilton (Memphis, Tenn.) 1988; College, Arkansas; NBA, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns
• Anthony Peeler – T of C, KC Paseo, 1985 and ’88; College, Missouri; NBA, LA Lakers, Vancouver Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves
• Speedy Claxton — 7 yr. NBA vet; T of C, Christ the King 1996; College, St. John’s

Former T of Cers Blake Ahearn (DeSmet and Missouri State), Obi Muenelo (Santa Fe and Oklahoma State), Perry Stevenson (Northside, La. and Kentucky) are on NBA D-League rosters. Others cup of coffee NBA alums like Ryan Robertson, Loren Woods, etc., can be found here, under the Pro Alumni tab.

College

All Kyle Singler has ever done is win.

Kyle Singler

T of C school: South Medford (Ore), 2007
College: Duke
2010-11 NCAA stats: 17.4points, 5.9 rebounds per game (14 games)

All Kyle Singler has ever done is win. Before he helped Duke win the 2010 National Championship, Singler helped South Medford beat the T of C field, including a very talented Lake Howell squad with future Florida Gators Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons.

Now, Singler is the face of Duke’s national championship defense, with an inside-outside game that frustrates defenders and is a coach’s matchup nightmare. When he was balling at Hammons Student Center, you could tell Singler was going to be a quality player. And don’t be surprised when he’s an 8-to-10 year NBA vet.

After all, he did turn them down after being a surefire first-round pick. He wants to win again.

Memphis' Joe Jackson was a revelation in the 2009 T of C.

Joe Jackson

T of C school: Memphis White Station, 2008-09
College: Memphis
2010-11 NCAA stats: 10.5 points, 4.1 assists per game (15 games)

Not many teams are good enough to get two cracks at the T of C, but not every team is Memphis White Station. Armed with good guards, the best was Joe Jackson, who if you saw on the street wouldn’t get anyone’s attention.

But when he was in that green uniform, he turned into a superhero, knifing through defenses, burying 3-pointers and even dunking, all looking like he weighed 100 pounds, tops.

He was the MVP of the 2009 T of C and helped White Station to a tournament championship. He decided to stay at home and help coach Josh Pastner and the Memphis Tigers rebuild. He’s proving people wrong there, too.

Chandler Parsons

Chandler Parsons

T of C school: Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.), 2007
College: Florida
2010-11 NCAA stats: 10.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game (15 games)

Like most 6-7 high school “guards,” Parsons was surprisingly athletic for his slender frame and lacked the awkwardness of a tall lanky forward. He wasn’t the type of kid that wowed you at the high school level, but he has turned into a nice college player at Florida.

Sure, the Gators haven’t had the success his predecessors had, even struggling to get to the tournament, but his resume is filled with SportsCenter highlights. The bulk of them are game-winning shots and we’ve pasted them below. That clutch ability should get him NBA money after he finishes his senior season.

And honestly, of the three Division I players from his Lake Howell team, Parsons ended up being the most well-known of the three.

Erving Walker is an all-time favorite.

Erving Walker

T of C school: Christ the King, 2006, 2008
College: Florida
2010-11 NCAA stats: 14.4 points, 3.3 assists per game (16 games)

If you saw Erving Walker play live in the 2008 T of C, you’ll never forget it. As we’ve mentioned earlier, the T of C has been kind to the point guards, especially the sub-6-footers. And at 5-8, Walker put on a show, hitting 3s, driving to the bucket and finishing, as well as dishing to open teammates.

Walker was the 2008 MVP and Christ the King won yet another T of C title. He’s taken that same big-shot bravado to Florida, escaping the cold of New York City. Now a junior, he regularly scores in double-digits for a nationall-ranked Florida teams. And everyone who saw him here in Springfield, smile.

Truck Bryant is an underrated player.

Truck Bryant

T of C school: St. Raymond, 2007
College: West Virginia
2010-11 NCAA stats: 12.3 points, 3.5 assists per game (13 games)

When you come up with a list of the best guards in T of C history, Darryl “Truck” Bryant doesn’t readily come to mind. But when you make up a list of the most underrated college guards in the country, Truck should be there.

As a sophomores, Bryant was injured and not 100 percent during West Virginia’s Final Four run a year ago. However, as a junior, he’s putting together a nice season for the reloaded Mountaineers. He’s bigger than you think at 6-2, and has a strong body that absorbs contact well. Plus, he might have one of the best nicknames in all of sports. Truck? Really? Cool.

St. Raymond isn’t in the T of C this year, which is unfortunate, because that means no NYC point guard, and no potential for another Truck Bryant.

Syracuse's Fab Melo dropped 30 pounds before his freshman season.

Fab Melo

T of C school: Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) 2009
College: Syracuse
2010-11 NCAA stats: 2.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 11.4 minutes per game (16 games)

When he was here in the T of C last year, it was hard not to smile at Fab Melo. His sense of humor was infectious (which you can see from our interview with him last season), and his ability to block shots made it tough on opposing defenses. His offense wasn’t overly impressive, but when you’re a legit 7-feet tall, there’s a reason he ended up at Syracuse.

Unfortunately for Melo — and for us — he’s only getting 11.4 minutes per game and hasn’t turned into an on-the-court factor. The good news is the Orange is 15-0 and one of the top teams in the country. Melo has time to become a star, which should happen, because his personality is already superstar quality.

He’s actually gained more notoriety for getting former Syracuse star and current Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to joke about changing his name to Car Melo, so he can get his commonly referred nickname “Melo” on the back. And to take it a step further, you have to think that Fab Melo went with No. 51 just to tweak Car Melo, who was 15 at Syracuse, right?

CJ Leslie might be a one-and-done college freshman.

C.J. Leslie

T of C school: Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.), 2009
College: N.C. State
2010-11 NCAA stats: 10.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 24.0 minutes per game (15 games)

When Word of God came to the T of C in 2008, the Holy Rams were billed as the John Wall show. And while Wall was out of this world, Leslie was the one who saw his stock skyrocket the most. It was a reflection of his entire junior season that saw him grow into his 6-8 frame.

That’s the thing I remember the most about Leslie, his ability to leap off the floor. He flirted with Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke, but eventually ended up in his hometown at N.C. State, where he’s the second-leading scorer.

Because of his height and the ability to play both the 3 and the 4, Leslie is on many NBA draft lists and is a candidate to be a one-and-done freshman. He looks like he may be another NBA lottery pick for T of C alums.

Yes, Ben Hansbrough is still in college.

Ben Hansbrough

T of C school: Poplar Bluff (Mo.), 2004-05
College: Notre Dame
2010-11 NCAA stats: 15.8 points, 3.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds per game (17 games)

While he will forever be known as the younger brother of Tyler Hansbrough, Ben Hansbrough has put together quite the long distinguished college career. After attending Mississippi State, Ben transferred to Notre Dame after two years. (Rumors flew that Hansbrough seriously entertained coming to Missouri State…) With the Fightin’ Irish, he has flourished.

Always player larger than his 6-3 frame, Hansbrough is Notre Dame’s leading scorer (15.8)  amongst five player that average 9.8 points or more, and a big reason the Irish have broken back into the Top 25.

My first memory of Ben Hansbrough was his Mules team coming down on a 2-on-1 break. He was on the left side and the guard drew the defender, passed it to Ben, who planted both feet and dunked. He’ s a very underrated athlete, and made a name for himself with that play.

Korie Lucious has had an up-and-down Spartan career.

Korie Lucious

T of C school: Rufus King (Milwaukee, Wisc.), 2005
College: Michigan State
2010-11 NCAA stats: 7.0 points, 3.9 assists (15 games)

Though only 5-foot-11, many thought Lucious fit Michigan State coach Tom Izzo’s mold of the shorter, yet stronger and quick point guard. Sure, he’s been stuck behind star Kalin Lucas, but when Lucas went down during last year’s NCAA Tournament, Lucious became a star.

He was the one that hit the big 3 to beat Maryland in the NCAA Tournament, staving off elimination. And recently, he hit another buzzer-beating 3 to beat Big 10 foe Wisconsin.

Rufus King’s team wasn’t overly special, but Lucious has become a steady, if not clutch Division I player. And, he’s just a junior.

Other active college players

• Maurice Miller, Georgia Tech — Now a senior at Georgia Tech, Miller has developed into a starting guard for the Yellow Jackets. He played for Raleigh-Egypt out of Memphis, Tenn. Miller was always steady, never spectacular.
• Will Sheehey, Indiana — A very athletic player, Sheehey is a part of Indiana’s rebuilding process. He played with Fab Melo at Sagemont and ended up on the losers consolation side of the bracket. He’s averaging 9.4 minutes per game.
• 

  Former McEachern (Ga.) guard Trae Golden hit the game-winning free throws to beat Missouri State earlier this season.

  Trae Golden, Tennessee — Yes, the kid who hit the game-clinching free throws for the Volunteers is a T of C alum, playing for McEachern (Ga.) in 2009. He’s averaging just more than 15 minutes per game.

• Ferrakohn Hall, Seton Hall/Memphis — After being recruited out of White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) to attend Seton Hall by former coach Bobby Gonzalez, the 6-9 Hall annnounced last week he was transferring back home to play for Memphis. He will sit out next year, but have two years of eligibility remaining.
• Ray Shipman, Florida — One of the studs at Monsignor Pace (Fla.), which came to the T of C in 2008. Now, he’s a role player off the bench that gets more than 13 minutes per game.
• Verdell Jones, Indiana — The slender wonder out of Champaign (Ill.) Central has become the second-leading scorer for the rebuilding Hoosier at 12.1 points and 3.8 assists per game. He’s a junior, and yes, he’s still 6-5 and “185″ pounds.
• E.J. Singler, Oregon — While his brother went on to Duke and national fame, the younger E.J. Singler has emerged as Oregon’s second-leading scorer at 11.4 points, adding 6.3 rebounds per game. The Singlers played at South Medford (Ore.) in 2007.
• Rakeem Buckles, Louisville — A big-bodied post player for Monsignor Pace (Fla.), Buckles is Louisville’s leading rebounder at 7.5 points per game. As a 6-7 sophomore, he also scores 8.2 points per game. However, last month he broke a finger and should be back soon.

For a list of former D-I players who never made it to the NBA, click here and go to History and NCAA Alumni List. Thansk to Patrick Dailey and BassProTofC.com for the research help.