THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506080579
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHICAGO LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
Michael Evans was hoping that someone was paying attention Tuesday night at the NBA's pre-draft camp at Moody Bible Institute. Watching his crisp passes. His physical defense. His frequent dives to the floor.
``Did you see me running the offense?'' he asked.
Standing shirtless outside a locker room, an ice pack on his left knee, Evans couldn't stop smiling. Even if most of the 300-odd NBA types on hand seemed to be doing more socializing than scouting - it was just a practice session, after all - it was Evans' first taste of pro ball. He wanted to savor it.
``I'm ready!'' he said. ``This is me right here.''
Twenty-four hours later, inside the same locker room, Evans was considerably more subdued. Nursing a sore elbow, he managed a weak smile.
``I did all right,'' he said. ``I'll come back strong tomorrow.''
Evans' line for the evening: No points, one assist and four turnovers in 13 minutes.
Not the kind of debut he expected after his strong showing Tuesday.
At the start of practice, there was no telling the kid with just one year of junior college experience - Evans - from the pedigreed players around him.
Matched mostly against Broderick Anderson of Texas, Evans was nearly turnover-free running his team's offensive sets. On defense, he dove into the passing lanes, deflecting passes from Norfolk State's Corey Williams, Brent Barry of Oregon State and Anderson.
In short, he looked like he belonged. It's something he's believed all along, but was relieved to find out.
``I'm picking my spots right now,'' he said afterward. ``Just trying to fit. Just hustling and diving.''
Evans arrived here Sunday and, like everyone else, was run through about a dozen physicals from various clubs. He quashed any doubts that he might not be in shape by scoring a 21 on a treadmill test, the highest number possible.
``We knew he'd be in shape,'' said his agent, Andre Colona of Advantage International. ``He's been doing nothing but play ball for two years, he just hasn't been doing it on a team.''
Like all agents, Colona is not permitted to attend the camp. The information he gets comes from Evans or his contacts inside the camp.
He and Evans have a routine. After each day's session, they meet in Evans' hotel and talk strategy for the following day.
On Tuesday night, Evans told Colona: ``I was the only one diving today. Maybe those other guys aren't as hungry as I am.''
Colona asked Evans who the other point guards in his group were. The answer: Anderson, Travis Best of Georgia Tech and Corey Beck of Arkansas.
``I was the biggest point guard there,'' Evans said.
``Where'd they play Barry?''
``Shooting guard,'' Evans said. ``Tyus Edney got hurt.''
``That's bad for him, but good for you.''
Colona was glad to see Evans so happy, but worried when he heard Evans wasn't shooting much.
``He has to be head and shoulders above the other guys because he hasn't played a lot,'' Colona said. ``He has to look for his shot because he hasn't been on TV for four years like Travis Best.''
Colona's first goal is to get Evans invited to work out for some teams after the camp. That's realistic. Teams have nothing to lose by bringing in a player for a day or two. For Colona, and Evans, the best scenario would be for Evans to be selected in the second round. Colona thinks Golden State, which has four second-round picks, could be a possibility.
Whether Evans can play his way into the second round is anybody's guess. Most executives, like Washington Bullets assistant general manager Chuck Douglas, haven't seen Evans play and won't make an evaluation on one game.
``Ask me at the end of the week,'' Douglas says.
Evans got to bed early Tuesday and was out the hotel door by 8:15 Wednesday, headed for another practice. Again, it went well.
Game time Wednesday afternoon found Colona outside the gym like a nervous parent. He tried to get in but was turned away.
Evans didn't start but got in with about eight minutes left in the half. A smile on his face, he crouched low to guard Anderson.
But Anderson seemed quicker than at practice, and the other players have raised their intensity levels, too.
A couple minutes in, Evans took his first shot, blowing by Anderson and heading to the basket. But his lefthanded layup was blocked by 6-10 Bryan Collins of Southwest Louisiana. His next shot was a short runner in the lane that he also missed.
The second half started with Beck playing the point for Evans' team. Evans didn't get in until seven minutes remained.
His best moments were a couple penetration moves that drew the defense to him. He made a nice lookaway dish to Chris Carr of Southern Illinois, who was fouled. But his lookaway feed to Anthony Pelle of Fresno State found nothing but air because Pelle wasn't expecting it.
``They weren't ready for them,'' Evans said of his errant passes.
Old Dominion's Petey Sessoms, playing on the other team, agreed. He told Evans not to get discouraged.
``I think he tried to do too much,'' Sessoms said. ``He had excellent passes but the guys weren't used to playing with him.
``I tell you what, for him not to play four years of college and still be here, to be where he's at, it's still an accomplishment.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Michael Evans fared well in practice Tuesday and Wednesday, but
struggled in game action.
Staff photos by LAWRENCE JACKSON/
Michael Evans watches and waits his turn at the NBA pre-draft camp
in Chicago.
Norfolk State's Corey Williams, far left, and ODU's Petey Sessoms,
far right, watch the action at the pre-draft camp.
by CNB