10 biggest Indiana basketball NBA Draft busts of all time
By Joey Loose
Kirk Haston. 2. player. 170. . F. Charlotte Hornets
2. Kirk Haston (2001 Round 1 Pick 16)
Honored as Tennessee’s Mr. Basketball back in 1998, Haston had a fantastic high school career in Lobelville before committing to Bob Knight and the Hoosiers. He’d play three years at Indiana, with his junior year coming under new head coach Mike Davis after Knight’s resignation.
A 6’9 forward, he had a significant impact with the Hoosiers late in his college career, being one of their most impactful players at the turn of the century. In that final season, he averaged 19.0 points and 8.7 rebounds, claiming First Team All-Big Ten honors.
With Haston known for his shooting ability as a big man, he was taken 16th overall by the Charlotte Hornets, who may have reached by drafting him at this position. Whatever they expected out of Haston did not come to pass.
He’d play in just 27 games across the next two seasons, collecting just 32 points and 27 rebounds in his entire NBA career. The former Third Team All-American simply did not translate to a successful NBA weapon.
More successful forwards Zach Randolph and Gerald Wallace were taken a few picks later and Hall of Famer Tony Parker went with the 28th pick in that year’s draft. Haston barely made any impact in the NBA, continuing his career in the G-League and overseas. After some time coaching at the high school level, he’s currently in the Tennessee House of Representatives, where he’s worlds removed from his time in the NBA.