THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240631
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Rob Babcock, director of player personnel for the Minnesota Timberwolves, knows Mike Evans. He can tell you stories about Mike Evans.
``I worked for several years with Mike Evans,'' Babcock said. ``Of the Denver Nuggets.''
Uh, wrong Mike Evans, Rob. But that's OK. When it comes to Michael Evans, the former Booker T. Washington High star who made himself available for the NBA draft last week, most NBA executives are similarly uninformed.
``Michael Evans? I'm not familiar with the player,'' said John Nash, vice president and general manager of the Washington Bullets.
``I haven't really heard anything about him,'' said Ed Gregory, director of scouting for the Golden State Warriors.
``This is going to be a short call,'' said John Hammond, director of scouting for the Detroit Pistons. ``I don't know him.''
No surprise there. In their never-ending search for talent, NBA scouts cast their nets far and wide. But few, if any, have ever been spotted courtside at either Booker T. or Okaloosa-Walton Community College, the last two places Evans has worn a uniform.
Evans, 22, may not be on NBA radar screens now, but look for his profile to be raised considerably in about two weeks, when he attendsthe league's pre-draft camp in Chicago June 6 to 9.
``Everybody will know about him,'' said Marty Blake, the NBA's director of scouting.
It was Blake's arm that Evans' agents, Advantage International, had to twist to get Evans invited to Chicago, a four-day cattle call for 60 select players. With no college credentials to speak of, the camp will be Evans' one shot to show NBA scouts that he belongs in the league.
``It shows you how effective NBA scouting can be, and particularly Marty Blake,'' said Golden State manager Dave Twardzik, who added that it's nevertheless unusual for an unknown like Evans to be invited to Chicago. ``It's a great opportunity for him.''
And an opportunity is all Evans is seeking. After sitting out two complete college seasons, and with a semester to go before he would have been eligible to play at Norfolk State - his latest stop - the former Parade All-American decided it was time to get into ``the system.''
``All I need is an opportunity,'' Evans said. ``Now I've got it. Chicago's big. It doesn't matter if you've played college ball or not. If I do well, hopefully I'll get picked up.''
Chicago is huge.
``He better be in great shape,'' Gregory said. ``If he isn't, he's stupid. He better be in the best shape of his life.''
Evans, a 6-foot-2 point guard, will be run through two workouts a day for four days.
``It's his only chance but it's a legitimate chance,'' Babcock said. ``He'll do drill work, isolated one-on-one. Ball-handling drills, shooting drills, as well as full-court scrimmaging.
``In a period of four days, if you can play, it'll come out.''
Evans can play, or rather he could play with the nation's finest as a schoolboy sensation at Booker T. Had he qualified academically he might have been running the offense this year at Virginia. Had things gone as planned, he might be looking at NBA first-round millions next month, like his high school rival Joe Smith.
Now the best Evans can hope for is to be picked late in the second round. More likely he'll be a free agent. Even if he's picked, Evans may be looking at a year or two in the CBA or overseas before getting a chance to crack an NBA roster.
Still, Evans says he is not wasting time looking back.
``At times I get disappointed,'' Evans said. ``But I have to put that aside and keep focusing on what I'm doing.
``I've never gotten mad,'' he said. ``That's what kept me going. Most guys would have quit but I've never quit.''
Evans has been preparing for Chicago by working out at the Hunton YMCA with his friend Darren Sanderlin, a former star at Norfolk State who has been in NBA camps at Charlotte and Golden State. Evans has played ball in local tournaments but hasn't come close to experiencing the type of competition he'll see in Chicago.
Evans will get a taste of professional ball today when he tries out for the United States Basketball League's Jersey Turnpikes. If he makes the team, he'll have a few games under his belt before he heads to Chicago.
``He's a great talent,'' Blake said. ``And we're going to give him a chance to show he can play.
``I'll tell you this: He's one of the few kids who ever said thank you.''
Few have had as much riding on the invitation.
``All I really need is a chance,'' Evans said. MEMO: Staff writer Steve Carlson contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by BILL TIERNAN, Staff
Michael Evans prepares at the Hunton YMCA in Norfolk on Monday for
his June trip to a pre-draft camp in Chicago. Not playing college
basketball for the last two seasons has kept his game hidden.
by CNB