whatever happened

Loren Woods: Whatever Happened to That Guy?

Matthew Ryter — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:27:56 -0700

Whatever Happened to That Guy??..

Loren Woods (Arizona)

Loren Woods started his collegiate basketball career at Wake Forest. He played two seasons at Wake. Woods, a big man, transferred over to “Point Guard U” to play for Arizona and Lute Olsen. He had to sit out the 1998-99 season because of transfer rules, but joined the Wildcats for the next two seasons. His first year with the Cats was his best. Woods averaged 15.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4 blocks a game. Arizona received a No. 1 seed in 2000 and lost in the second round to Wisconsin. In the 2001 tournament however, Arizona reached the finals, where they lost to Duke. Woods was selected in the second round of the 2001 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 7’2” center was expected by many scouts to be a first rounder, but teams questioned his character. Well, Woods then decided to prove critics right by getting into a scuffle with Brandon Haywood during a summer game in 2001. He bounced around the NBA from 2001-2006 playing for the Wolves, Raptors, Heat, and Kings.

Where is he now? After being waived by the Kings in 2006, Woods left to play overseas. He joined a Lithuanian squad, Zalgiris Kaunas. From there it was on to Turkey’s Efes Pilsen. He tested the NBA again with two 10-day contracts with the Houston Rockets. Woods is now currently playing for CAI Zaragoza.

Related rant: After reading Paul Shirley’s Can I Keep My Jersey? (highly recommend it) I realize the pay may be better overseas, but if you’re not accustomed to that lifestyle it’s almost not worth it. I’d take a 10-day contract, play some meaningless minutes, and be a cheerleader (not an actual cheerleader with pom poms) for an NBA team over playing in a foreign country. I give these guys all the credit for trying their careers overseas and awaiting a phone call from an NBA squad. Even after a 10-day contract they have no idea where they will be when that’s up. Do you hope for another 10-day contract? Or sign long term overseas where you’re not as happy? Give up the dream? How can you? All you know is basketball…

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Darius Washington, Jr.

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God Shammgod: Whatever Happened to That Guy??

Matthew Ryter — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:38:09 -0700

What Ever Happened to That Guy???

God Shammgod (Providence)

God Shammgod’s birth-given, legal name is…God Shammgod. He was known as Shammgod Wells, using his mother’s surname in high school. He played his high school ball at LaSalle Academy in Manhattan where he teamed up with Ron Artest. God was named to the McDonald’s High School All-American team in 1995. After high school, the baller formally known as Shammgod Wells, reverted back to his legal name, God Shammgod and enrolled at Providence College. Providence, a Catholic college, now had God on their side. In 1996 he broke the Big East freshman assist record (which has since been broken) and was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team. He helped lead the Friars to the Elite Eight in 1997 where they lost to eventual champion Arizona. Shammgod dropped 23 points and 5 assists against Arizona and future NBA player Mike Bibby. God is most notably known for his handle. He has a crossover named after him; it’s literally known as the Shammgod…take a look. If you go and youtube the word “Shammgod” you can even find the Knicks Danilo Gallinari trying to pull off his move in a summer league game. Everyone who has ever touched a basketball knows what the “Shammgod” is. I just thank God err…the real God (for those of you who believe in him) that his name wasn’t something ridiculous. (i.e. Dick Butkus) “You just got Shammgod’d!” sounds much better then “You just got Dick Butkus’d.”

Where is he now? After his sophomore season, God decided to test the waters and enter the NBA draft. The Washington Bullets drafted him in the second round, 46^th overall. God graced the NBA hardwood for exactly 20 games. It was then that God decided to spread his word and his game all over the country. (How am I doing on God/Biblical references? Count’s currently at 3.) In 2000 he played in the CBA, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. In 2001 he played in Poland, the USBL, and a summer league with the Dallas Mavericks. From 2001-2003 he bounced back and forth between the Zhejang Horses of the Chinese Basketball Association and Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. Shammgod averaged an eye-popping, water walking (Count: 4), 27.1 points per game with the Zhejiang Wanma Cyclones of the Chinese Basketball Association. In 2007 he arrived back in the states, under the name Shammgod Wells, playing for the IBL’s Portland Chinooks. After a year here, he traveled back overseas playing for Al Kuwait SC, the Zhejiang Wanma Cyclones, and most recently in Croatia for the club Cedevita Zagreb. He has been recently seen playing in Summer League games in the Tri-State Classic.

Fun Link: Slam Online caught up with God himself where he showed them some moves and drills.

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Trajan Langdon

Carl Krauser

Khalid El-Amin

Darius Washington, Jr.

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Trajan Langdon: Whatever Happened To That Guy?

Matthew Ryter — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:22:44 -0800

What Ever Happened to That Guy???

Trajan Langdon (Duke)

Trajan Langdon earned the nickname the “Alaskan Assassin” for his ability to shoot the rock. Langdon first started killing his opponents, with his jumper, in high school. He set Alaska’s 4A High School Record of 2,200 career points and was also named Alaska’s POY 3 times. He played in the McDonald’s All-American game where he also won the 3-point contest. Langdon then enrolled at Duke and took his game with him. When he graduated, he set the Duke record for most career 3-point field goals. J.J. Redick went on to break this record in 2006. At Duke he was a three-time All-ACC player. He was a Naismith and Wooden Award finalist in his junior and senior seasons (teammate Elton Brand won both awards in 1999). Some Duke fans and most Connecticut fans may remember Langdon for traveling with about 6 seconds left in the 1999 NCAA Championship game. However, Langdon dropped 25 points, including a clutch 3 to cut the UConn lead to 1 with about a minute left in that 77-74 loss to the Huskies. Without him, Duke probably wouldn’t have even been in that game. Langdon was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft. He played with the Cavs for three years. On November 2, 1999, he became the first Alaskan in play in the NBA.

Where is he now? After the NBA, Langdon continued his professional career in Europe. His first stop was in the Italian League where he played for Benetton Treviso. After Italy, he played for a year in Turkey and followed that up with playing a year for Russia’s Dynamo Moscow. He currently plays for CSKA Moscow. CSKA Moscow won the Euroleague in 2005-06 and 2007-08. The Alaskan Assassin was named the MVP of the 2007-08 Final Four.

Fun Fact: Langdon was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.

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God Shamgod (Providence)

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Carl Krauser

Khalid El-Amin

Darius Washington, Jr.

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Carl Krauser: Whatever Happened To This Guy?

Matthew Ryter — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:32:22 -0800

Whatever Happened to This Guy??

Carl Krauser (Pittsburgh)

Carl Krauser, a Bronx native, was known at Pitt for his trademark symbol after he would either score or make a play. Krauser would put his hands over his head in the shape of an “X” to represent his hometown. He graduated from Pittsburgh in 2006 becoming the first Panther in school history to surpass 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. Krauser received the John Wooden Award during his junior campaign in 2005. To go along with the Wooden Award, he was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award and a Naismith All-American. Prior to the 2006 season, Krauser entered his name into the 2005 NBA Draft. He never hired an agent and eventually removed his name to retain his college eligibility. During the ’06 season, Pitt with the help of Krauser, earned a No. 5 seed but lost to No. 13 Bradley in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This was Krasuer’s final game in a Panther uniform.

Where is he now? Krauser played in Germany for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in 2006-07 averaging 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 34 games. Here’s a highlight from that Germany team. Last year, he played in the Continental Basketball Association for the Pittsburgh Xplosion. And now he's moved on to Romania, where he plays for CSU ASESOFT PLOIESTI. In his last game on February 28th, Krauser plaued 18 minutes.

Fun Fact: Krauser was 2-0 as an amateur boxer.

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Trajan Langdon (Duke)

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Khalid El-Amin

Darius Washington, Jr.

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Darius Washington Jr: Whatever Happened To This Guy?

Matthew Ryter — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:29:00 -0800

Whatever Happened to This Guy??

Darius Washington Jr. (Memphis)

Darius Washington declared for the 2006 NBA draft after his sophomore season. He signed with an agent two days before the draft. Not a smart choice because draft day came and went and his name was not called. Since he had signed with an agent, he lost his college eligibility.

Although leading Memphis to a No. 1 seed and an Elite Eight appearance in the ’06 NCAA Tournament, he’s remembered for missing two clutch free throws in the Conference USA championship game against Louisville. Washington was fouled while shooting a 3 with no time left on the clock. The Tigers were down 2 and needed to win the game to make the tourney. Washington hit the first, but his next two rimmed out. It’s painful to watch but here’s the clip.

Where is he now? He signed with the Spurs in 2007 and was assigned to the D-League where he played for the Austin Toros. In December of 2007, DWJ was called up to the league due to an injury to Mr. Tony Longoria Parker. Washington was waived by the Spurs later that month. He was on the Chicago Bulls roster this past preseason but was waived before the season started. Washington now plays for Ural Great Perm of the Russia-A Super League.

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- Khalid El-Amin (Connecticut)

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