IRVING -- With seconds remaining in the first half of a Baylor basketball game two months ago, Rico Gathers showed why a future in the NFL might be more likely than one in the NBA.
The Bears had the ball out of bounds near Oklahoma's basket, looking for a quick catch-and-shoot. A three-quarters court pass to Gathers was executed perfectly. In one motion, the 6-6, 273-pound power forward out-jumped two defenders, caught the ball at its highest point, then quickly passed to an open teammate for a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Greg Gathers, Rico's brother and a former All-America defensive end at Georgia Tech, saw the play and immediately said to himself: "Man, he looked like a tight end going up and catching the ball.