I Just Want A Chance
6/28/2007 4:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dontaye Draper doesn't expect to be selected in today's NBA Draft, but the former C of C star isn't about to give up on his dream.
Tonight's NBA Draft doesn't hold much suspense for Dontaye Draper.
Draper, a former standout guard at the College of Charleston, doesn't expect to hear his name called during the two-round draft, but that doesn't mean his dream of playing professionally is over.
Draper has been busy since wrapping up his career with the Cougars, participating in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and working out for several NBA teams in an effort to play his way into a team's training camp.
"I've just been trying to show these guys I can play," said Draper, who averaged 16.3 points and 5.3 assists for the Cougars last season. "I just want the chance to prove myself."
Draper started his quest in early April at the tournament in Portsmith, Va., which showcases draft eligible players to the NBA's coaches and scouts.
"He didn't get an opportunity to display what he could do at Portsmouth," said Calvin Andrews, Draper's agent. "He had a couple guards playing ahead of him. But since then he has been working out very hard and done very well in his workouts based on the feedback."
After spending a month in Reno, Nev., to work on his game and his conditioning, Draper has had workouts with the Denver Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards.
A 5-11 point guard, Draper has been looking for ways to make himself stand out among the multitude of players bidding for the limited number of spots on NBA rosters.
"It has been tough," Draper said. "The workouts, there's a lot of running so you have to be in top notch shape. And then you've got to focus. They know I can score, but I've been concentrating on the little things to try and separate myself from the rest."
He has already impressed the Nuggets enough to earn a spot on their summer league team. From there, he hopes to wind up in a team's training camp and play his way onto an opening-day roster as a free agent.
College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins, who coached future NBA guards Mark Price, Kenny Anderson and Stephon Marbury while at Georgia Tech, believes Draper is talented enough to make it.
"During this past season, there were times that Dontaye Draper played as well as any point guard I ever coached," Cremins said. "When you look at some of the point guards I was fortunate enough to coach at Georgia Tech, it's a rather profound statement, but I meant exactly what I said. He had a stretch there where he was incredible. The problem he has is his size. The second thing is he just needs more consistency. I think he can play in the NBA, but some team needs to stay with him."
While the odds are long, Draper knows it can be done. Former South Carolina forward Tarence Kinsey took a similar route last year and recently finished his first season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
And if the NBA doesn't work out, Draper says he's prepared to pursue a playing career in Europe.
"Definitely," he said. "There are some great opportunities in Europe. I just want to keep playing."
As for tonight's NBA Draft, Draper says he's not sure if he'll pay much attention to it, but if a miracle happens and he hears his name called, he knows how he'll react.
"I'll just go crazy," he said.
By Charlie Bennett of the Charleston Post and Courier
