Wednesday Where Are They Now?: Wayne Turner

Ever wonder what happened to those college stars that couldn't catch on in the NBA? The guys that put up the great numbers or the guys that left early, and were never heard from again? Every Wednesday, we at BIAH will take a look at a former college star that never made it in the NBA, and we will update you on where he is playing or what he is doing. We're guessing the results will surprise you. To request a player, leave a comment in the comments section.

Wayne Turner, Kentucky

Despite being a McDonald's all-american coming out of tiny Beaver Country Day School, Wayne Turner never put up superstar numbers at Kentucky. In fact, he has mediocre career averages of 7.7 ppg and 3.3 apg. Turner was known more for his defense (UK career leader in steals), his play-making ability (4th all-time at UK in assists), and his leadership than for his scoring. But more than anything, he was a winner, as his three NCAA Finals appearances and two NCAA championship rings can attest. Turner is actually the NCAA's career leader in games played (he broke Christian Laettner's record of 148) with 151.

Turner's first season in Lexington was the 1995-96 season. Despite joining one of the most talented teams of all-time (nine guys from that team played in the NBA, and the back court consisted of Tony Delk, Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, Jeff Sheppard, and Anthony Epps), Turner was able to break into the rotation, averaging 14 mpg and 4.5 ppg and even starting eight games due to some injuries. Kentucky won the national title that year, the first of three consecutive title game trips for Turner and the Wildcats. Turner still was not a full-time starter as a sophomore, but he increased his averages to 22 mpg, 6.6 ppg, and 3.0 apg. He also developed into one of Kentucky's best perimeter defenders, using his outstanding quickness to harass opposing point guards as he helped guide a UK team that lost Delk, Sheppard, Antoine Walker, and Walter McCarty back to the Finals, where they lost to Arizona in overtime. Turner was named to the NCAA all-region team. Turner picked up his second championship ring as a junior, when he averaged 9.3 ppg and 4.4 apg and helped ease the tensions during Tubby Smith's first year, the first time UK had a black head coach. Turner's leadership to this team is exemplified by the fact that they were the first team in over 20 years to win a title without a lottery pick or a 1st team all-american (you have to love Wikipedia). Turner was named MVP of the SEC tournament and MVP of the South Region. As a senior, Turner averaged 10.5 ppg and 3.9 apg en route to being named 3rd team all-SEC, but Kentucky only reached the Elite 8 before being knocked out of the NCAA's.

Turner never really found a home as a professional. In the 1999-00 season, he landed with the Celtics summer league team and actually made the team, but only managed to play in 3 games before being waived. He eventually signed with the Cincinnati Stuff of the IBL for the remainder of the season. The next year he was on the Pacers summer league team then signed with Turkey's Kombassan Konya, but was cut before he played in any games. His next career choice took an interesting turn, as he signed with the Harlem Globetrotters. At the time, the Globetrotters had decided to start playing exhibition games against NCAA teams, and signed a couple of former college players (Alex Sanders from Louisville was another one) to try and compete. On Nov. 27th, 2000, Turner gained the dubious distinction of being on the Globetrotters team that had their 1,270 game winning streak snapped with a 72-68 loss to Michigan State.

In the summer of 2001 he played with the Knicks summer league team, then split the year between Fillattice Imola (Italian Series A, his best pro ball yet), the Dakota Wizards (CBA), and the Florida Sea Dragons. In 2002-03, it seemed like Turner had finally landed somewhere he could succeed. He signed with the Townsville Crocodiles of the Australian NBL, and proceeded to average 19.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 5.1 apg. But the night before Turner was to return to Australia for the 2003-04, he was arrested for gun possession and possession of a high-capacity magazine (he had a Glock 9mm with 12 live rounds in the car). There were two passengers in the car, each of which had an open beer and one of whom had weed. As a result, Turner had his passport taken away, and was cut by Townsville eight days later (NOTE: Does anyone know what ended up happening? I spent an hour trying to figure it out before giving up).

Over the next four years, Turner bounced around Europe and local minor leagues, playing a few games here and there. The highlight is probably when he signed with TEC Spirou Charleroi (Belgium) in 2005-06, where he played limited minutes but reached the ULEB Cup. In 2007-08, he went back to the Aussie NBL, where he signed with the New Zealand Breakers, but 11 games in he suffered a season ending injury. According to Australia Basket, Turner is currently unsigned for the upcoming season. Continue reading...