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Thursday, April 27, 2000
Cockett, Itoman
By Al Chase
off to WNBA tryouts
Star-BulletinFormer University of Hawaii players Nani Cockett and BJ Itoman left today for a weekend tryout camp conducted by the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association.
Itoman was invited two months ago. Cockett received her invitation after Tuesday's WNBA draft.
"Basically I'm going in with the attitude I have nothing to lose," Itoman said. "It is an opportunity and I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself."
Cockett also looks at the tryouts as another opportunity. Both players are approaching the weekend in a similar manner - just do the best they can.
"I hope something good happens up there. If it's meant to be, it will happen," Cockett said.
"I thought Minnesota might be a good team for Nani, but they filled a lot of holes in the draft," said Erica McKeon, the agent for the two ex-UH players.
Minnesota coach Brian Agier selected guards with two of his three, first-round picks.
"Nani was invited by the Sharks, but the deadline passed, so I called (Sharks' head coach) Michael Cooper Tuesday and he was very positive," McKeon said.
Cockett has two years of international experience, first in Israel and last winter in Switzerland.
This past season she helped Pallacanestro Femminile Bellinzona reach the championship game of the Swiss Cup.
Last fall McKeon arranged for Itoman to play in Spain. However, the team sponsor couldn't come up with the money to cover travel expenses.
Then, a team in Iceland offered Itoman a contract a month ago.
But she decided to stay home and continue working out following arthroscopic surgery on her left knee last winter.
"I understand where BJ is coming from," McKeon said.
"Now she is going to L.A. without international experience. I don't think that is a negative, but it could have been a plus."
The Sparks' first choice in the draft was Nicole Kubik, a 5-9 point guard from Nebraska. L.A. used its fourth and final pick to select Nicky McCrimmon, a 1994 Southern Cal graduate.
Cockett, a 1998 UH grad, and Itoman, who finished her collegiate career in 1999, are among 38 players invited to the tryouts at Loyola Marymount
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
