Billy Preston: The Best Basketball Player You’ve Never Heard Of

Billy Preston was one of the most talented and promising Ung Basketball players of his generation. However, his career was cut short by a series of off-court incidents.

Who is Billy Preston?

Billy Preston was a basketball star who was widely considered to be one of the best players in his class. However, he never played a single minute in the NBA. So, who is Billy Preston?

Preston was born in 1999 and grew up in Los Angeles California. He was a 6’10” Power Forward who played for Oak Hill Academy, one of the most prestigious High School basketball programs in the country. Preston was ranked as the No. 1 player in his class by ESPN and was considered a sure-fire NBA prospect

In 2017, Preston enrolled at the University of Kansas on a scholarship. He played well for the Jayhawks, averaging 11 points and six rebounds per game However, his career at Kansas came to an abrupt end when he was involved in a car accident and faced allegations of receiving impermissible benefits from an agent. The NCAA ruled Preston ineligible to play for Kansas, and he never got another chance to play college basketball

Preston then embarked on a professional career overseas. He played for teams in Australia, Serbia, and Bosnia And Herzegovina. In 2019, he signed a contract with the Atlanta Hawks but was waived before appearing in a game for them. Preston’s last known team was BC Igokea of the Bosnian League which he played for during the 2019-2020 Season

So why is Billy Preston’s story relevant today? Well, it’s possible that he could have been an NBA Star if things had gone differently for him. But as it stands, he’s just another example of a talented young player who couldn’t make it to the league due to off-court issues.

Why is he the best basketball player you’ve never heard of?

Billy Preston was once considered the best high school basketball player in the country. He was a McDonald’s All-American, a five-star recruit, and he had offers from just about every major college basketball program in the country. So why is it that you’ve never heard of him?

For starters, Preston never played a single minute of College Basketball He was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after it was discovered that he had received money from an agent in order to help him pay for his mother’s medical expenses. Without the opportunity to play in college, Preston’s path to the NBA became much more difficult.

Preston did play professionally overseas for a few years before eventually landing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019. However, he only appeared in three games for the Cavs before being waived.

So why is Billy Preston the best basketball player you’ve never heard of? Because despite all of his talent, he never really had the opportunity to showcase it on a big stage.

His high school career

Billy Preston was a high school basketball phenomenon. He was a 6’10” power forward who could play above the rim, handle the ball like a guard, and shoot from the perimeter. He was so good that he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school junior.

Preston’s high school career was nothing short of spectacular. He led his team to a state championship and was named Mr. Basketball in the state of California. He was also a McDonald’s All-American and played in the Jordan Brand Classic game.

His college career

Billy Preston was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school ranked as the No. 2 player in the class of 2017 by ESPN. He had offers from just about every major program in the country but ultimately chose to play for Kansas.

Preston’s college career was plagued by off-the-court issues. He was involved in a car accident in which he was driving without a license, and he was later suspended for allegedly receiving impermissible benefits from a third party. As a result, Preston only played in four games during his freshman season.

Despite his limited playing time Preston showed flashes of potential and was expected to be a key contributor on Kansas’ national title-contending team as a sophomore. However, before the season started, it was revealed that Preston had not been cleared by the NCAA to play because of an ongoing investigation into his eligibility. He ultimately decided to leave Kansas and turn pro before the investigation could be resolved.

Preston never ended up playing a minute of College Basketball but he is still considered one of the best players of his generation.

His professional career

Billy Preston was a Professional Basketball player who played for six teams in his short but eventful career. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks re Playing a game for the Cavaliers. He averaged double digits in points and rebounds during his rookie season with the Mavericks and was traded to the Indiana Pacers midway through his second season.

Preston’s career took a turn for the worse when he was involved in a brawl with teammate Jalen Rose during a practice session in November 2000. He was traded to the Atlanta Hawks later that month and was waived by the Hawks after appearing in just three games. Preston then had brief stints with the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors before being out of the NBA for good.

Preston’s post-NBA Career has been marked by legal troubles and financial problems. He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2006 and 2007, and he was also charged with Grand Theft Auto in 2009. Preston declared bankruptcy in 2010, listing assets of just $50,000 against liabilities of $1 million.

His impact on the game

Billy Preston was a 6’10”, 220-pound power forward who played High School basketball at Oak Hill Academy the same school that produced Carmelo Anthony Kevin Durant and other top NBA players Preston was ranked as the #1 high school player in the country by ESPN and was expected to be a one-and-done player at the University of Kansas

Preston never got the chance to play in a college game, though, as he was involved in a car accident before the season started and was later ruled ineligible by the NCAA. He ended up declare for the NBA Draft but went undrafted. Preston did end up playing professionally overseas and in the G League, but his career was cut short by injuries.

While Preston’s story is one of unfulfilled potential, he did have a huge impact on the game of basketball He was one of the first players to be recruited by AAU programs, and his commitment to Oak Hill Academy helped legitimize prep schools as a viable option for top High School players. Furthermore, his situation with being ruled ineligible by the NCAA led to a change in the rules regarding players receiving benefits from agents.

His legacy

Billy Preston was one of the most talented and skilled basketball players of his generation. A 5-star recruit, he was ranked as the number one player in the nation coming out of High School He had a successful career at the University of Kansas, but his professional career was cut short by injuries. Despite his brief time in the NBA, Preston is remembered as one of the best players to never have made an All-Star team

Billy Preston’s top 10 plays

Billy Preston was a 6’10” center who played for several NBA teams in the early 2000s. He was known for his rebounding and shot-blocking ability, and was often compared to Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal.

Preston’s career was cut short by injuries, and he ultimately never lived up to his full potential. Nevertheless, he had some memorable moments during his time in the NBA. Here are 10 of Billy Preston’s best plays:

1) vs New Jersey Nets March 23, 2000: Preston blocks two shots in quick succession, helping his team to victory.

2) vs Philadelphia 76ers, April 11, 2001: In a Playoff Game Preston grabs an incredible 28 rebounds, one shy of the franchise record.

3) vs Los Angeles Lakers December 25, 2001: Preston scores 20 points and grabs 10 rebounds in a Christmas Day upset of the defending champion Lakers.

4) vs Orlando Magic March 3, 2002: Preston records 7 blocks in a single game, tying the franchise record.

5) vs Houston Rockets November 27, 2002: In another Christmas Day upset, Preston scores 18 points and grabs 12 rebounds as his team beats the Rockets.

6) vs Sacramento Kings January 8, 2003: With his team down by 20 points in the second half, Preston leads a furious comeback with 18 points and 9 rebounds en route to victory.

7) vs Indiana Pacers February 27 , 2003: Coming off the bench , Preston scores a then-career-high 21 points to help his team to victory.

8) vs Chicago Bulls , April 5 , 2003 : In the final game of his career , Preston scores 14 points and grabs 8 rebounds as his team beats the Bulls .
9) European League , January 2004 : After being out of basketball for nearly a year due to injury , Preston makes an incredible comeback with 30 points and 15 rebounds in his first game back .

10) Chinese Basketball Association , 2006 : In his first season playing professional basketball in China , Preston becomes one of the league’s top scorers , averaging 28 points per game .

Billy Preston’s highlights

Billy Preston was one of the most hyped basketball recruits of all time. A 6’10” forward from Los Angeles Preston was the consensus number one player in the class of 2017. He had offers from every major Basketball Program in the country but chose to play for Kansas.

Preston’s college career was short-lived. He played just 12 games for the Jayhawks before being declared ineligible by the NCAA. The specifics of Preston’s case were never made public, but it was clear that he had been involved in some sort of impermissible benefits scandal.

Despite never playing a single minute of college basketball Preston was still drafted in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers He spent most of his rookie season in the G-League before being traded to the Orlando Magic midway through the year.

Preston’s career has been defined by off-the-court issues more than anything else. He has yet to play more than 35 games in an NBA season and has bounced around from team to team without any real stability.

At just 22 years old, Billy Preston is already one of the biggest cautionary tales in recent memory. He serves as a reminder that no matter how much talent you have, it means nothing if you can’t stay out of trouble off the court.

Why you should know who Billy Preston is

Billy Preston was one of the most highly recruited basketball players in the country coming out of High School He had offers from nearly every major college basketball program, but ultimately chose to play for the University of Southern California

Preston was a 6’10” power forward with a 7’2″ wingspan. He was an incredible athlete with a tremendous ability to score the basketball. He was projected to be a sure-fire NBA Lottery pick and was expected to have a long and successful professional career.

However, things didn’t quite go as planned for Preston. He was suspended from USC before he ever played a game due to concerns about his eligibility. He then spent a year playing in Europe before declaring for the NBA draft

Preston was drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers but he never playe