STORRS – The evidence is extensive. There’s only one step remaining in the process. Thursday night in Brooklyn, Shabazz Napier will hear his name called and then he will know where his professional basketball career is destined to begin. It’s all the final verification of a great decision Napier made a little over a year ago.
Based on one of the hot rumors that surfaced Wednesday, Napier’s presence might play a big role in how this highly unpredictable draft unfurls for every candidate. Napier’s name may be mentioned frequently as part of Miami’s plan to essentially re-recruit LeBron James and keep him in a Heat uniform.
The Heat learned Tuesday that James, a four-time NBA MVP, will opt out of his contract and become a free agent July 1. That doesn’t mean James is leaving Miami for any other club. The theory is that James is challenging Heat president Pat Riley to find the supporting cast he needs to lead the Heat to another NBA championship. After losing this year’s championship series to San Antonio, it has become clear that James thinks some restructuring is necessary and point guard is a major need.
And UConn fans well remember what James tweeted during the Huskies’ victory over Kentucky in the NCAA title game: “No way u take a PG in the lottery before Napier.”
Since Riley enjoys drafting four-year players who need little schooling and can make a smooth transition to immediately contributing in the NBA, there is speculation Riley will try his hardest to move up from pick No. 26 to draft Napier.
Shabazz Napier’s draft stock has risen in recent weeks (Ken Davis photo)
Napier isn’t worrying about that or any other rumor.
“When you play basketball, we all have aspirations of playing in the NBA, and especially being in the Green Room, getting your name called, shaking the commissioner’s hand,” Napier said Wednesday as the draft’s top prospects met with the media in New York. “It’s something that I always looked forward to, but took a lot of hard work. You have to dream big, but you have to try harder.”
The process that led Napier to this point began in the spring of 2013. That’s when he faced the decision to return to UConn for his senior season, or head to the NBA after a junior year that left the possibility he wouldn’t be drafted at all. In the end, Napier made a rather logical decision, opting to return to UConn. He won the national championship, was named first team All-American, and received his degree from UConn at graduation ceremonies in May. Now there’s no doubt he will be drafted – perhaps quite high.
UConn coach Kevin Ollie was asked Wednesday if anyone has ever made a better decision than the one Napier made after his junior year.
“I don’t think so,” Ollie said. “We sat at this table and we said, ‘These things can happen. If you come back, this is where you are putting yourself. You can do something that no one was ever able to do in the NCAA, winning bookend national championships.’ And that’s what happened – because he put the work in. He’s so smart and he’s not afraid to put the work in.
“His ‘why ?’ was, ‘I’m coming back to get my degree.’ He wasn’t taking electives, he was taking real required courses. He had big-time classes. It was unbelievable the things he was taking – labs, sciences, biology, chemistry. It was big-time stuff. And for him to do that, and lead his team … he is remarkable.”
Napier worked out with 10 NBA teams. Other teams that might possibly draft him include the Magic (pick No. 12), Timberwolves (13), Hawks (15), Bulls (16 and 19), Celtics (17) and Raptors (20). It became obvious that his stock was rising when he was invited to be one of the players in the Green Room, where players wait to hear their name called in the first round.
None of that is going to his head.
“Some people may think it’s weird, but it’s pretty amazing,” Napier said Wednesday. “For me, walking across the stage for my graduation is more important that winning a national championship. That put the icing on the cake for me. To have my degree [in sociology] … it’s definitely cool to be here, but I stayed four years so I could get my degree and I worked for that.
“It was just one step at a time and one day at a time. I worked my tail off continuously since I was a freshman. I always believed in myself to be able to be in this position. For it to be here now, it’s a special feeling.”
As Ollie said, now it’s a matter of which team needs a point guard – and what they are willing to do to get that floor leader.
“There are a couple of teams outside the lottery that need a point guard,” Ollie said. “He might slip into the lottery, who knows? I just know it takes one guy to love you. I think he has a lot of people that love him. It’s not about the lottery or the first round, it’s about staying. I want my guys to have staying power.
Ollie is extremely pleased with the progress being made by center Amida Brimah, who continues to rehab after postseason shoulder surgery. “Unbelievable,” Ollie said. “That kid is just working. And this is no exaggeration, he’s in here at midnight, working on his game. He can’t do contact yet, but man, he is doing an unbelievable job. He’s been cleared to do some things on the court with Coach [Glen] Miller. But he’s not waiting for Coach Miller. He’s so self-motivated.” Ollie said it will another month before Brimah is cleared for contact work. . . . Ollie expects forward DeAndre Daniels to be taken in the second round. Graduated senior Niels Giffey has had a few workouts with NBA teams and it is possible he could get signed as a free agent and head to a training camp. . . . Incoming freshmen Daniel Hamilton and Rakim Lubin have arrived on campus and will begin summer courses next Monday. Sam Cassell Jr. has been taking classes since June 2. . . . Ollie said Phil Nolan has his weight up to 230-235 pounds. “I’m excited to see Phil and Amida play together a little bit more.” . . . UConn’s new basketball practice facility is nearing completion. Soon the majority of the work will be on the interior. The Huskies will likely start using the practice court before the locker rooms are completely operational. Ollie said he expects to move in sometime in the next six to eight weeks. “It is beautiful; what a nice place,” Ollie said. . . . Ollie spoke to campers at Gampel Pavilion Wednesday as his first session of summer camp began. This session ends June 28. The other camp runs from Aug. 2-5. . . . . Ollie will not attend the draft with Napier in Brooklyn Thursday night. The coaching staff had set up a big day for recruiting before the NBA invited Napier into the Green Room. Recruit Steve Enoch, a 6-9 power forward from Norwalk, is schedule to make an unofficial visit to Storrs Thursday. Enoch is not a top 100 recruit but his stock has been on the rise. Ray Smith, 6-8, a five-star power forward from Las Vegas, is making a two-day visit. And Tyus Battle, a shooting guard from Edison, N.J., who is a top prospect from the class of 2016, is also expected to visit Storrs. . . . Chance Comanche, a 6-10 forward from Los Angeles, made his official visit to UConn Monday. Comanche’s mother, Melissa McKee, tweeted, “Many thanks to HC Kevin Ollie & the whole UCONN staff for hosting a fantastic Official Visit for my son Chance Comanche. #1stclasscoaches.”
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