English takes
his best shot
at NBAA pre-draft camp will be his
best chance to show his stuff
Carl English often finished up practice sessions with the Hawaii basketball team by having a coach count down the final seconds of an imaginary game as he set up for the decisive shot.
Four ... drive to his left ... three ... crossover back to the right ... two ... pull up for a jumper ... one ... swish.
As he finishes up his final exams this week, English is also getting ready to take the biggest shot of his basketball career.
Shortly after completing his course work for the spring semester and earning his liberal studies degree this week, English will head home to Newfoundland, Canada, for a few days, then it's off to Toronto to prepare for the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago in early June.
The camp represents English's best opportunity to improve his stock before the June 26 NBA Draft in New York.
"It's a chance to show your skills and it's something I need to do," English said. "So I'm looking forward to going up there and proving myself once again."
English has a year of eligibility remaining at UH. But last night he entered his name in the NBA Draft following a junior season in which he averaged 19.3 points and 5.4 rebounds, and was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference first team.
English is among 31 college underclassmen and high school seniors who declared themselves eligible for the draft before Monday's deadline. But he said he hasn't paid much attention to the others who have jumped into a crowded draft pool.
"It doesn't concern me," English said. "In order to make it you have to play with the best of them."
Other WAC underclassmen who entered the draft are San Jose State forward Antonio Lawrence and Tulsa guard Jason Parker.
English hasn't hired an agent and has until June 19 to decide whether to keep his name in the draft or return to UH for his senior season. But he leaves the islands this week with a degree, intent on giving his professional basketball goals a shot. And if all goes well in Chicago and in the draft, English may not be back in Hawaii for a while.
"That's the plan," he said. "I'll come back and visit everyone I guess, but not within the next couple of years anyway."
Opinions vary on where English might be selected in the draft. Early projections had him going late in the first round or early in the second. Only those picked in the first round receive guaranteed contracts.
Since the end of the Rainbows' season English has been a regular in the UH practice gym, honing his skills in preparation for the Chicago camp June 4-9.
His outside shooting touch makes him a prospect, evidenced by his 162 career 3-point goals. But he's working on the other aspects of his game in hopes of impressing the NBA scouts at the camp.
"I'm just trying to get better every day," English said. "I'm fine-tuning everything; it's not about being a one-dimensional player anymore."
English said people around town have been wishing him luck in the draft since his announcement April 1. As he embarks on the next leg of his basketball journey, English said he'll take with him fond memories of his four years in Hawaii.
"It's just been a great experience for me overall," English said. "It's been a learning experience, something I'll treasure."
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