Former Iowa State guard Dedric Willoughby, who spent the last five months attempting to prove to the National Basketball Association that he was a “next level” athlete, watched as the NBA draft left him behind.

While teammate Kelvin Cato was selected by Dallas as the 15th overall pick in the draft, only to be traded to Portland, Willoughby watched on.

Picked by some to go in the lower first round, and by many to go in the middle-to-late second round, Willoughby and all his collegiate achievements were passed by.

Willoughby, who saw little playing time in his first two seasons of basketball at the University of New Orleans, followed the UNO head coach Tim Floyd to ISU.

With a burning desire to win, a quick jump shot and endless hustle, Willoughby quickly built a reputation for himself as one of the premier basketball players in what was then the Big Eight.

Willoughby led the 1995-96 Cyclones to their first-ever Big 12 Tournament Championship, along with a trip to the NCAA tourney.

The Cyclones also returned to the NCAA in the 1996-97 campaign, only to fall short on a last- second shot by Cameron Dollar.

The following season, despite an injury-plagued first quarter of the schedule, Willoughby led ISU in scoring again, including a 36- point performance in a loss against then No. 1-ranked Kansas.

The Jayhawks were scorched with nine three-pointers by Willoughby, leaving many Kansas jaws dropped and Cyclone fans cheering in appreciation.

Even the Jayhawks had to pay respects to Dedric.

“He’s as good as anybody moving without the ball and getting and using screens. Put that with what kind of shooter he is, and it’s pretty lethal,” Kansas senior Jerod Haase said.

Former Jayhawk senior and current Utah Jazz point guard Jacque Vaughn spoke out on the impact Willoughby has in a game.

“Our philosophy is that one man can’t beat you. He almost did,” Vaughn said.

Kansas head basketball coach Roy Williams also spoke out on Willoughby’s abilities.

“There’s no man alive, including Michael Jordan that could have guarded him better on a couple of those shots. And he made them.”

Despite collecting a list of achievements which range from All Big 12 to Playboy Big 12 Standout, Willoughby was left behind.

As of right now, the world will never know if Jordan or any other NBA player can guard Willoughby’s hot shooting.

But the door is not closed on the former Cyclone standout.

Willoughby is a free agent and can test the market through NBA workout camps, the CBA and the European Leagues.