NBA Hopefuls Gladly Hit The Road
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By DERON SNYDER
Former Georgetown guard Jason Clark dribbled down the middle of the Wizards’ practice court Tuesday and delivered a pass to former Syracuse guard Scoop Jardine, who pulled up for a mid-range jumper. A Wizards assistant retrieved the rebound and passed to Clark, who started toward the other end as his running mate switched sides. Jardine pulled up for another jumper and the process was repeated, again and again and again.
Such is life for players such as Clark and Jardine, criss-crossing the country for team workouts in the final weeks before the NBA draft. The Wizards were the third and seventh stop, respectively, for Clark and Jardine, who were joined by Matt Gatens (Iowa), Bernard James (Florida State) and Darius Miller (Kentucky).
“I have eight more [workouts],” said Jardine, who as a fifth-year senor led Syracuse to the Elite Eight this year. “I just got in from Memphis last night and I’ve got Detroit tomorrow. You’re on the road a lot, living out of a suitcase, but I cherish this time because there’s nothing like it.”
That’s the proper attitude and really the only approach for players in his position, fighting for a shot to be drafted June 28. Perhaps one of them will be selected by the Wizards, who hold the third, 32nd and 46th picks. But none of them is a candidate for No. 3 overall, which would make life so much sweeter and easier. Instead, they’re forced to scratch and claw if they make it into the draft at all.
