Don’t disrespect Fred VanVleet (+video)

Call it overlooked, ignored or disrespected, Fred VanVleet often seems to find himself on the short end of the hype. By now, he’s used to it. Regardless of whether or not the “chip on the shoulder” cliché is true, VanVleet normally comes out on top. A look at some of those situations.

VanVleet played at Rockford (Ill.) Auburn, a school without much previous success in a city not well-regarded for turning out talent.

Doubters: Everybody who worships Chicago talent.

Solution: VanVleet earned All-Illinois honors as a senior in 2012 and worked his way to No. 138 on the Rivals.com national rankings for the class of 2012

VanVleet lacked eye-popping athletic ability and size.

Doubters: College coaches who watched him and passed, which included most schools in Illinois. He chose WSU over Northern Illinois and Kent State.

Solution: VanVleet committed to WSU in July 2011 and said, “I understand the opportunity that’s there (at WSU). I’m interested in what they’re building there.”

Auburn entered the 2012 Illinois playoffs without a starter taller than 6-foot. The Knights hadn’t played in the state tournament since 1975.

Doubters: Most of the state.

Solution: Auburn finished third in Illinois Class 4A. The Knights knocked off 31-0 Maywood Proviso East along the way to avenge an earlier 75-56 loss.

Kansas’ Kelly Oubre told reporters he took a nap watching Wichita State’s 2015 NCAA Tournament win over Indiana.

Doubters: The NCAA selection committee seeded Kansas No. 2 and Wichita State No. 7.

Solution: “I probably wouldn’t have said that publicly, because I like to show respect to the other team,” VanVleet said after WSU’s 78-65 win. “But he can sleep all he wants to now.”

Team USA coach Mark Few didn’t put VanVleet on last summer’s Pan Am Games team.

Doubters: Coaches chose Maryland’s Melo Trimble and pro Bobby Brown as its point guards.

Solution: VanVleet, while happy that teammate Ron Baker made the team, called getting cut an embarrassment. Team USA settled for a bronze medal and both Marshall and Baker believe VanVleet’s presence could have improved that outcome.

The Cousy Award did not include VanVleet on its list of 10 finalists for the nation’s top point guard.

Doubters: A group of voters who attracted the anger of coach Gregg Marshall. “To leave him off that list, I don’t know what you’re doing,” Marshall said. “I don’t want to say anything else, because it wouldn’t be very positive.”

Solution: VanVleet wasn’t on the list of five finalists announced earlier this month. He is, however, still playing in the NCAA Tournament.

When asked about VanVleet and Baker, Vanderbilt guard Wade Baldwin said, “I didn’t know who they were until (Sunday), when they told us about their team. I’m not really familiar with them at all. But I will be — I was last night. I will be a lot today.”

Doubters: Baldwin could have made something up.

Solution: The Shockers defeated Vanderbilt 70-50 on Tuesday in the First Four.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Don’t disrespect Fred VanVleet (+video)."