English to play
in just 1 leagueThe former UH star
turned down an invite
from Minnesota
Former Hawaii basketball standout Carl English lightened his summer schedule by declining an invitation to play with the Minnesota Timberwolves in this week's Pepsi Pro Summer League in Orlando, Fla.
English had planned on playing in two NBA summer leagues after going undrafted last month. English originally committed to playing for Minnesota in the Pepsi Pro Summer League, which opened yesterday, and with the Indiana Pacers in the Rocky Mountain Revue set for July 18-26 at Salt Lake Community College.
English's agent, Harold Cipin, said he will instead concentrate on performing in the Utah league.
"We re-evaluated where we were and decided it was in Carl's best interest to play in just one summer league ... and we decided the Utah league would be his best opportunity," Cipin said.
"He thanked the Timberwolves for inviting him to play on their summer league team, but had to decline."
English, a 6-foot-5 guard, is participating in the summer league in hopes of hooking on with an NBA club as a free agent when training camps open in October. He will play for a combined team made of players representing the Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers in the nine-team Utah league.
English could face former UH teammate Predrag Savovic when Indiana/Philadelphia plays the Denver Nuggets on July 20. Savovic is on the Nuggets' summer roster.
The Pacers' summer roster includes Miami product James Jones, the team's lone draft pick, and former Fresno State forward Hiram Fuller.
Cipin said the decision to pull out of the Orlando league was based on English's already hectic summer schedule. After leaving UH in May, English traveled to Chicago for the NBA pre-draft camp and had individual workouts with six teams ranging from Orlando to Los Angeles.
"It all boils down to trying to stay focused," Cipin said. "Between the Chicago camp, the workouts and the summer leagues, it was starting to add up."
English worked out for Indiana staff prior to the NBA Draft and participated in the Pacers' rookie/free-agent camp over the holiday weekend. Although he's planning on playing with the Pacers in the summer, English could end up signing with another team.
"We'll be talking to as many teams as we can and his goal is the same, he wants to play in the NBA," Cipin said.