THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606090160
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 62 lines
A year after declaring for the NBA draft, Michael Evans has some pro basketball experience under his belt, but not the kind he wanted.
Evans, the former All-American point guard from Booker T. Washington High, played a handful of games for the Omaha Racers of the Continental Basketball Association. After being cut by the Racers, he landed with the Lehigh Valley Colonials of the Atlantic Basketball Association, a fledgling league that plays in high school gyms in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
It was a long way from the NBA, but Evans' agent, Andre Colona, said he's trying to keep his client from becoming discouraged.
``Mike is still working, still waiting for his chance,'' Colona said.
Attempts to reach Evans were unsuccessful.
Evans' next stop could be the Rocky Mountain Review, the NBA-sponsored summer league in Salt Lake City. Seattle and Golden State have expressed interest in putting Evans on a summer league team. A strong performance there could earn him an invitation to a free agent camp.
Evans was in a mini-camp with Seattle last summer. The Sonics, like other teams, felt Evans needed more experience. He had played just one year of junior college basketball after leaving Booker T. in 1992.
Evans played well in his first game with Omaha, scoring 13 points in 19 minutes. But his playing time diminished after a pair of veteran guards returned.
``I've tried to explain to him that the CBA is not a developmental league,'' Colona said. ``Those coaches are under pressure to win, and the teams have to put people in the stands.''
Colona has provided Evans with a personal trainer to try to duplicate the conditioning he would get by practicing with a team every day. He's also expected to play in the Hampton Roads Pro-Am before heading to Salt Lake City.
``If the NBA doesn't work out, I've spoken to the coach in Omaha, and I think he'll keep Mike this year,'' Colona said.
PRO-AM COUNTDOWN: The fifth season of the Pro-Am League begins Saturday. As in previous years, the free games will be held at Lake Taylor High. More information on the teams and players will be coming this week.
MOVIE TIME: If you look closely, you may be able to catch Hampton University coach Byron Samuels in the basketball movie ``Eddie'', which is now showing.
Samuels was an extra in the flick, which stars Whoopi Goldberg as a New York Knick fan who becomes coach of the team.
``I was a member of the Phoenix Suns in the scene where she dances with the cheerleaders,'' Samuels said.
Samuels happened to be in Charlotte, where the movie was filmed last summer. A friend knew someone on the production staff and asked Samuels to come out.
``I thought, `What the heck, I'll put on the uniform.' ''
PARLEZ-VOUS AAU: Boo Williams, director of Hampton Roads AAU basketball, took a U.S. All-Star team to France last month and went undefeated, winning a tournament championship in Paris.
Brian Bersticker of Kempsville, Jason Capel of Indian River, Ronald Curry of Hampton and Marseille Brown of Kecoughtan were on the team, which defeated Belgium for the championship. Curry scored 28 points in the title game.
AROUND THE RIM: Norfolk State assistant coach Mel Coleman is a close friend of new Dallas Mavericks coach Jim Clemons. It would not be a major shock to see Coleman in Dallas next season. ... Hampton University assistant Dip Metress has left to become head coach at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C. Metress is a Belmont Abbey graduate. by CNB