Many of the undergraduates at Saint Louis University may be too
young to remember the on-court prowess displayed night in and night
out by arguably the greatest player in SLU’s recent history, Larry
Hughes.

Hughes, in his only season with SLU, took the Billikens to the
NCAA Tournament during the 1997-1998 campaign and led-them to a
first-round victory. Along the way, he garnered Freshman of the
Year honors both nationally and in Conference USA, after averaging
almost 21 points a game.

Billiken fans were filled with hope for the future. However,
Hughes bolted to “the league” and instead left the SLU faithful
hoping to watch one of their own blossom into an NBA superstar.

When Hughes was drafted eighth overall by Philadelphia, the
76ers were deemed to have one of the best young backcourts in the
NBA with Hughes, and Georgetown product Allen Iverson.

But Iverson would not share the ball, and Hughes was shipped to
Golden State in a three-team deal. When his contract expired,
Hughes left for Washington to play for the Wizards, where he still
remains today.

Blocked again by superstars, Hughes has yet to live up to his
potential as a star. Now, Hughes is third on the team in scoring;
however, speculations exist that he could potentially leave the
Wizards after this season and be sent into the NBA expansion
draft.

The Charlotte Bobcats are the newest franchise to be welcomed to
the NBA, and they start play in 2004-2005. Owned by BET founder
Robert Johnson, the Bobcats are looking to re-establish credibility
in a city scorned by basketball, after the Hornets left three
seasons ago. As is the case with all expansion teams, Charlotte is
looking for young athletic players, as well as financially sound
contracts, to fill their roster for next year. Hughes fits the
bill.

With one year remaining on his contract of $5.5 million, the
Wizards are eager to free up that money by letting him go.

However, expansion franchises have struggled notoriously in
recent years. The last two teams to enter the NBA were the Toronto
Raptors and the Vancouver–now Memphis–Grizzlies, in 1995.

Nine years later, the Grizzlies are just beginning to challenge
for a playoff spot. For the Raptors, it took five years to reach
the playoffs. Expectations are never high for expansion teams, and
justifiably so.

Still, there is one thing in common with each playoff run of the
last two expansion teams, and that is a young, emerging superstar.
The Raptors had second-year player Vince Carter, and the Grizzlies
have youngster Pau Gasol. Hughes could be that big name for the new
Bobcats and expedite their progression to playoff contenders.
Claims that Hughes can make that kind of impact are not
unwarranted.

Throughout his six-year career, Hughes has shown flashes of
brilliance. This season marks his most productive yet, averaging 19
points per game, five rebounds and three assists.

Hughes has done all this, despite playing a backup role for the
woeful Wizards. What he really needs is a change of scenery.

As hard as Hughes tries, he can not get out of the shadow of
Jerry Stackhouse and Gilbert Arenas. A move to the expansion
Bobcats would be the ticket for a kid who is still only 25 years
young.

The chance to start and be the main focus of a team’s scoring
attack is an opportunity that Hughes has never had before.

Billiken fans have been waiting to see Hughes succeed for years,
and with a new franchise on the horizon, they might get their
chance.

The citizens of St. Louis rarely have reason to delve into NBA
action, but next year with one of their best and brightest stars
making a potentially huge leap, folks in St. Louis may just pay a
little more attention to the NBA.