The diminutive Earl Boykins bounced around the CBA for two seasons and to five different NBA teams before finding a home in Denver. Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

As a couple dozen prospective Cinderellas get sized for shoes in the NCAA tournament, I decided to pick a five-pack of NBA Cinderellas, guys who would've been considered long shots to make the jump to NBA stardom after their college careers.

But what constitutes a college career? These days it would be two years, tops. For that matter, what constitutes a true Cinderella? Phoenix's Steve Nash, for example, is a better point guard than most expected, but he was the 15th pick in the 1996 draft. Speedy Claxton might be a candidate, right? He's turned into a solid pro after four years at a fairly obscure college, Hofstra. But Claxton was no secret -- the Philadelphia 76ers took him at No. 20 in the '00 draft. So what does that leave you?

Well, first you eliminate the All-Star high schoolers (Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Amare Stoudemire, Jermaine O'Neal et al). Then you eliminate the talented internationals who didn't play college ball (Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, et al). Then you eliminate the guys who did play in college but were expected to make it (Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Grant Hill, et al). After you've crossed those off your list, you have to do some looking.

I finally decided that my five-pack of Cinderellas had to meet the following criterion: Be either undrafted or a second-round pick -- preferably from a little-known college or university -- and be a recognized NBA player, someone who has appeared at one time or another in the top 25 of a worthy category.

So here they are.

(And go Pacific! They're my Cinderella this year.)

SMALL FORWARD: Michael Redd, Milwaukee

Cinderella qualifications: The 43rd pick of the '00 draft (albeit after his junior season); recognized as a shooter despite severe doubts initially about his ability to score in the pros; his scoring average went down every year at Ohio State from a high of 21.9 as a freshman to 17.3 as a junior.

NBA bona fides: Enjoyed a breakout season last year with 21.4 points per game; '04 All-Star Game appearance; one of the most feared 3-point shooters in the game.