By Michael Thompson, Contributing Writer

Every year college basketball players lead their team to glory and gain national attention along the way. However, not all of the NCAA stars flourish once they enter the NBA. Take a look at some of the players who flopped once they hit the national ranks.

Section: College Hoops Tourney

Sam Bowie may not be the most fantastic flop in National Basketball Association history, but he's seen that way in many circles. That's because he had the misfortune to be drafted ahead of Michael Jordan.

The Jordan-Bowie saga is among the tops in NBA draft lore, heading into the 2009 proceedings on June 25 in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

In 1984, Jordan was projected as a star, but not as an all-time superstar. His light had been sort of hidden under the bushel at the University of North Carolina under the team system when Dean Smith was coach.

Therefore, no eyebrows were raised when the Houston Rockets used the first pick for hometowner Hakeen Olajuwon. The Portland Trail Blazers came next, and they already had a Jordan-style player in Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, Olajuwon's former college teammate. The Blazers opted instead to take a fling with the 7-foot-1-inch Bowie, even though he had suffered troubles with shin splits at the University of Kentucky.

The Chicago Bulls happily took Jordan with the third pick, and gradually built a team with Scottie Pippin and others that won six NBA crowns.

Bowie wasn't that bad, averaging 11 points and 7.5 rebounds for his career, but those bad legs continued to plague him.

Jordan is also linked to a pair of other NBA fantastic flops.

Shooting guard Harold Miner from the University of Southern California was so athletic that he was known as "Baby Jordan," even though he was left-handed. The Miami Heat drafted Miner in 1992, but he never panned out, eventually cut by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the middle of his fourth season. Miner played five scoreless minutes in his final game. Oddly enough, he still managed to win a pair of NBA Slam Dunk championships.

Jordan was part of the Washington Wizards organization during 2001 when he recommended spending the top overall draft pick on Kwame Brown, a center coming straight out of high school. Brown never has found his groove, averaging four points and three rebounds. He now is seeking a rebirth with the Detroit Pistons.

The same Pistons in 2003 picked Darko Milicic, the player who is among the most fantastic flops of this decade. Cleveland took home-stater LeBron James with the top pick. Detroit, picking next, had an opportunity to snag Carmelo Anthony, but instead went for Milicic with plans to gradually mold the raw 7-footer. The plan never transpired, and Milicic now is a journeyman with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Like Sam Bowie, Kwame Brown and Darko Milicic, many of the NBA's most fantastic flops have been big men. They include LaRue Martin (Golden State 1972), Kent Benson (Milwaukee 1977), Joe Barry Carroll (Golden State 1980), Steve Stipanovich (Indiana 1983), Chris Washburn (Golden State 1986), Pervis Ellison (Sacramento 1989), Danny Ferry (L.A. Clippers 1989), and Michael Olowokandi (L.A. Clippers 1998).

A different kind of fantastic flop was yet another center, Jon Koncak (Atlanta 1985). By 1989, Koncak already had shown four years of mediocrity, but the Hawks still gave him a six-year contract for $13 million. Those dollars are peanuts these days, but at the time Koncak suddenly was being paid more than Magic Johnson, Larry Bird or Michael Jordan. He was given the nickname, "John Contract."