THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510290160
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
In a handful of NBA tryouts, Michael Evans had about three days to erase the past three years and convince general managers he's the same talent who was named a Parade All-American at Booker T. Washington High in 1992.
It wasn't nearly enough time. Evans has too much rust, the general managers too many doubts.
``Mike needs a whole year under his belt,'' said Evans' agent, Andre Colona.
Evans is hoping that year can start today, when he reports to training camp with the Omaha Racers of the CBA, the NBA's minor-league affiliate.
Far from discouraged, Evans says he can't wait. After more than two years away from organized basketball, he simply wants to play on some team, any team.
``This is what I've been waiting for,'' he said. ``I just want a chance to play.''
Since leaving Booker T., Evans has played just one year of junior college basketball, in 1992-93. He enrolled at the University of New Orleans, then Norfolk State, but didn't play at either school. In a surprise move, he made himself available for the NBA draft in June.
Evans didn't impress at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago and went unselected. He did show enough potential to be picked by the Racers in the sixth round of the CBA draft. He also worked out for the Philadelphia 76ers and attended Seattle's free-agent camp. Both teams told Evans a year of CBA ball would do him good.
``Seattle said they're going to keep an eye on me, and could look at me again down the road,'' Evans said.
The first step is making the Racers, who will bring four other point guards into camp, said Eric Chapman, the team's assistant coach and director of player personnel.
Colona said the fact that Evans was drafted should give him an edge: ``We think he's got a 99 percent chance. He's the only point guard they drafted.''
But Chapman said being drafted isn't necessarily an advantage.
``Mike's got a lot of untapped ability, and we're hoping we can push the right buttons,'' Chapman said. ``But almost everybody who comes into our league has something to prove, and Mike certainly falls into that category.''
A point in Evans' favor is that the CBA has no guaranteed contracts, Chapman said. Unlike the NBA, players are cut or kept based on ability, not on how much money the team has invested in them.
``If he outplays the other guys, he'll make it,'' Chapman said.
If he does, and if he excels, he could get a midseason call up to the NBA. Between 25 and 30 CBA players are called up each year, for a minimum of 10 days.
``He has a job now, and that's what he needed. Even if he doesn't make the NBA, he could have a job for the next 10 or 12 years.''
In a handful of NBA tryouts, Michael Evans had about three days to erase the past three years and convince general managers he's the same talent who was named a Parade All-American at Booker T. Washington High in 1992.
It wasn't nearly enough time. Evans has too much rust, the general managers too many doubts.
``Mike needs a whole year under his belt,'' said Evans' agent, Andre Colona.
Evans is hoping that year can start today, when he reports to training camp with the Omaha Racers of the CBA, the NBA's minor-league affiliate.
Far from discouraged, Evans says he can't wait. After more than two years away from organized basketball, he simply wants to play on some team, any team.
``This is what I've been waiting for,'' he said. ``I just want a chance to play.''
Since leaving Booker T., Evans has played just one year of junior college basketball, in 1992-93. He enrolled at the University of New Orleans, then Norfolk State, but didn't play at either school. In a surprise move, he made himself available for the NBA draft in June.
Evans didn't impress at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago and went unselected. He did show enough potential to be picked by the Racers in the sixth round of the CBA draft. He also worked out for the Philadelphia 76ers and attended Seattle's free-agent camp. Both teams told Evans a year of CBA ball would do him good.
``Seattle said they're going to keep an eye on me, and could look at me again down the road,'' Evans said.
The first step is making the Racers, who will bring four other point guards into camp, said Eric Chapman, the team's assistant coach and director of player personnel.
Colona said the fact that Evans was drafted should give him an edge: ``We think he's got a 99 percent chance. He's the only point guard they drafted.''
But Chapman said being drafted isn't necessarily an advantage.
``Mike's got a lot of untapped ability, and we're hoping we can push the right buttons,'' Chapman said. ``But almost everybody who comes into our league has something to prove, and Mike certainly falls into that category.''
A point in Evans' favor is that the CBA has no guaranteed contracts, Chapman said. Unlike the NBA, players are cut or kept based on ability, not on how much money the team has invested in them.
``If he outplays the other guys, he'll make it,'' Chapman said.
If he does, and if he excels, he could get a midseason call up to the NBA. Between 25 and 30 CBA players are called up each year, for a minimum of 10 days.
``He has a job now, and that's what he needed. Even if he doesn't make the NBA, he could have a job for the next 10 or 12 years.'' by CNB