:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34881215/20140306_jla_cs3_002.0.jpg)
Prior to the NBA Draft, former Pitt recruit and UNLV big man Khem Birch looked like a better bet to be selected than current Panthers Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna. Despite performing well in some workouts, by the end of the night on Thursday, Birch went unselected.
Birch was the a highly-touted recruit in Jamie Dixon's class of 2011 recruiting class. He didn't last at Pitt, however, and transferred to UNLV ten games into the 2011-2012 season, drawing criticism from even his own prep coach. When he left, Birch blasted his former teammates and said that he did not feel welcomed by the program. He went as far as to claim that players "pouted" when they did not get what he wanted and he eventually transferred when he did not get what he wanted.
Birch played two seasons at UNLV and left a year of eligibility on the table for a chance at the NBA. But his basketball future is now somewhat in question after going undrafted since his collegiate career is now over. Birch can still go on to an NBA career and will likely get a look by someone over the summer. But for now, his decision to leave early looks like it was a mistake.
