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We come across two types of ex-athletes here at Lost Lettermen. Those that love re-living the glory days, and those that avoid talking about it like the plague. There’s really no in between. As a site dedicated to tracking down the current whereabouts of former stars, we’ve compiled of the Top 10 Disappearing Acts for the most untraceable college basketball players ever.

10. Bill Spivey (Kentucky)

Kentucky’s Bill Spivey was implicated in the 1951 CCNY point shaving scandal although there was never evidence of him committing a crime. That didn’t matter to the NBA, who blacklisted Spivey.

Crushed emotionally Spivey, destroyed his body playing basketball into his 40s. Late in life he became a recluse, making his last public appearance in 1991 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kentucky’s 1951 national championship – which he had to be coaxed to do. He eventually moved to Costa Rica without his wife, where he sadly died alone on May 5, 1995.

9. Walter Berry (St. John’s)

“The Truth” was a national player of the year award winner and a member of St. John’s 1985 Final Four team before he practically disappeared from the basketball landscape by playing in Greece from 1989-2000.

He played with 12 different teams during that span. While playing overseas. Since his return to the states he’s laid low, only publicly appearing to get his jersey retired in 2006 and to celebrate the 75th anniversary of college basketball at the Garden last December. He resides in New Jersey.

8. Ralph Sampson (Virginia)

Sampson left Virginia a legend but three knee surgeries (and admittedly trying to come back too soon) derailed his pro career in 1992 when he was just 32. A brief stint in coaching was the last most people saw of him.

Since then he’s gotten in trouble with the law for failing to pay child support and pleading guilty to mail fraud in 2006; the latter resulted in a two month jail sentence. He’s laid low since, living in Atlanta. Last summer he spent five weeks training with his son, Ralph Sampson III, who currently plays for Minnesota.

7. Mookie Blaylock (Oklahoma)

Type “Mookie Blaylock” into a search engine and most of the hits bring up stories about Pearl Jam. That’s because the famous rock group was originally named “Mookie Blaylock.” Their debut album “10” is named after Blaylock’s number. That’s about the most press the former Oklahoma Sooner receives these days, having disappeared after a successful 13-year NBA career.

All the Atlanta Journal-Constitution could say about him in 2008 was he “still lives in metro Atlanta with his family and keeps a very low profile.” Low indeed.

6. God Shammgod (Providence)

You’d think that with a name like God Shammgod you’d be very easy to find. Well you’re better off looking for God himself than God Shammgod. And with that name and a cult-like following, plenty of people are looking for the former Friars star.

The man who reportedly taught Kobe Bryant his crossover spent much of his professional career in China and last played with the International Basketball League’s Portland Chinooks in 2009. Slam Magazine was the last to locate Shammgod in 2008 in New York and they even filmed him showing off some of his ball handling skills, which is better than anyone in Lochness could capture:

5. Bryant “Big Country” Reeves (Oklahoma State)

It was difficult finding Bryant “Big Country” Reeves with the Vancouver Grizzlies, basketball’s black hole that Steve Francis infamously wanted no part of. His inability to curb his appetite and weight problems helped cut his NBA career short.

Not surprisingly, “Big Country” went for the open range after his NBA career, buying 300 acres of land and building a 15,000 square-foot house (basketball court included) in Gans, Oklahoma, his hometown. He still resides in his rural paradise.

4. Anderson Hunt (UNLV)

Anderson Hunt was a two-time Final Four player, as well as a national champion and Tournament Most Outstanding Player. But after leaving early, his impressive resume didn’t get him drafted. He played semi-pro ball and overseas instead.

Hunt was arrested for marijuana possession in 1993 and embezzlement in 2002. There was even a wild rumor that he worked as a cook at the Burger Palace inside the Imperial Palace in Vegas. Today he resides in Detroit and claims to work in real estate.

3. Chris Washburn (NC State)

Former NC State standout Chris Washburn was one of many examples of the pervasive drug culture in basketball in the mid to late 80s. His rampant drug use eventually led to his banishment from the NBA in 1989 and a permanent spot on “Biggest Busts” lists.

Ten years ago he checked himself into rehab in Houston and got clean. He was helping coach a 17-and-under AAU team from the Dallas area last summer. When reached by USA Today, he would only say he is in the “mortgage business.”

2. Jimmy Walker (Providence)

The former Providence star helped lead the Friars to a No. 3 ranking his sophomore year and is widely considered the greatest Friar ever. He was also named an NBA All-Star twice.

After his retirement Walker was arrested in 1983 and sent to prison for 90 days for failing to file federal income tax returns. Later in life he disappeared, hiding in plain sight in Kansas City. He was back in the news when it was revealed he was the father of Fab Five star Jalen Rose.

Though they spoke briefly in the past, the two never met in person. When Providence Journal writer Bill Reynolds finally got Walker on the phone in 2000, he told the star, “I’ve been looking for you for 20 years.” In 2007, Walker passed from complications due to lung cancer.

1. Harold Miner (USC)

Harold Miner has become the Keyser Soze of basketball, always talked about but never seen. Not even the USC athletic department or the L.A. Times can reach him. Blogs are constantly gossiping about Baby Jordan’s whereabouts (i.e. here, here and here), with rumors including: working at a Los Angeles Jack-In-The-Box, the witness protection program, a cop in the LAPD and an ordained minister.

The truth appears to be much less exciting; he works in real estate in Las Vegas. Let’s hope this drastically overdramatic montage isn’t the last we ever see of him:

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