'Tis the season for Caroll-ing
I don't imagine Jaycee Carroll has hired a realtor and started shopping for a home in northern New Jersey yet, but the former Utah State star's professional debut could not have gone much better.
On Monday night in the Orlando Summer League, Carroll finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the Nets' 88-74 win over the Magic.
After hearing how Carroll struggled during some of his pre-draft workouts and watching him go undrafted, I admit that I'm a little surprised at how well he played.
Of course, that's my mistake.
Folks have been doubting Carroll since his days at Evanston (Wyo.) High School. But he went to Utah State, became the school's all-time leading scorer, worked his way into an NBA training camp and came through with the kind of performance in New Jersey's first game that will undoubtedly get him second looks from the Nets, other NBA teams and the legion of foreign scouts who attend the summer leagues.
In two weeks, Carroll will be back in Utah.
The Nets' summer league team is also scheduled to play in the Rocky Mountain Revue, where Carroll's bid to earning an invitation to veteran's camp will continue.
While he remains a long shot to play in the NBA, it seems silly at this point to bet against him.
Carroll has beaten the odds throughout his career, and he might just end up being one of those players who can carve out a niche in pro basketball by being a character guy in the locker room, blending smoothly with his teammates, accepting whatever role comes his way and -- of course -- making open jump shots.
Trust me. There are some players who were taken in the first round of the draft who can't make open jump shots.
Another player who had a nice debut in Orlando was point guard Kevin Kruger. He spent last season starring for the Utah Flash of the D-League and, now, he is playing for the Magic in the summer league. Against the Nets, he scored 12 points.
Kruger's chance of sticking with the Magic improved considerably a few days ago, when free-agent Chris Duhon signed with New York after narrowing his choice to the Knicks and Magic.
Like Carroll, I wouldn't be surprised at anything Kruger accomplishes. He's small, but he's a good long-range shooter and owns the kind of basketball I.Q. needed to quarterback an NBA team. (His father is UNLV coach Lon Kruger).
Looking around the league at some of the players who are now their team's No. 2 or No. 3 point guard, I believe Kevin Kruger is absolutely capable of filling such a role, in the right situation.
-- Steve Luhm
On Monday night in the Orlando Summer League, Carroll finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the Nets' 88-74 win over the Magic.
After hearing how Carroll struggled during some of his pre-draft workouts and watching him go undrafted, I admit that I'm a little surprised at how well he played.
Of course, that's my mistake.
Folks have been doubting Carroll since his days at Evanston (Wyo.) High School. But he went to Utah State, became the school's all-time leading scorer, worked his way into an NBA training camp and came through with the kind of performance in New Jersey's first game that will undoubtedly get him second looks from the Nets, other NBA teams and the legion of foreign scouts who attend the summer leagues.
In two weeks, Carroll will be back in Utah.
The Nets' summer league team is also scheduled to play in the Rocky Mountain Revue, where Carroll's bid to earning an invitation to veteran's camp will continue.
While he remains a long shot to play in the NBA, it seems silly at this point to bet against him.
Carroll has beaten the odds throughout his career, and he might just end up being one of those players who can carve out a niche in pro basketball by being a character guy in the locker room, blending smoothly with his teammates, accepting whatever role comes his way and -- of course -- making open jump shots.
Trust me. There are some players who were taken in the first round of the draft who can't make open jump shots.
Another player who had a nice debut in Orlando was point guard Kevin Kruger. He spent last season starring for the Utah Flash of the D-League and, now, he is playing for the Magic in the summer league. Against the Nets, he scored 12 points.
Kruger's chance of sticking with the Magic improved considerably a few days ago, when free-agent Chris Duhon signed with New York after narrowing his choice to the Knicks and Magic.
Like Carroll, I wouldn't be surprised at anything Kruger accomplishes. He's small, but he's a good long-range shooter and owns the kind of basketball I.Q. needed to quarterback an NBA team. (His father is UNLV coach Lon Kruger).
Looking around the league at some of the players who are now their team's No. 2 or No. 3 point guard, I believe Kevin Kruger is absolutely capable of filling such a role, in the right situation.
-- Steve Luhm
10:32 AM
| 
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home