THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606300247
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 50 lines
Before he pursues his MBA, Derrick Bryant wants a shot at the NBA.
It appears he'll get it.
Bryant, the former Norfolk State star, is mulling offers from several teams to appear in their rookie/free agent camps, he said Saturday at the Hampton Roads Pro-Am basketball league at Lake Taylor High. The invitations apparently are a result of his strong play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in April.
``It was kind of a shock to me,'' Bryant said. ``I didn't expect it.''
Bryant, who carried a 3.3 average at Norfolk State, has had his eye on a master's degree in business administration, and had planned to go to biz school, possibly at William and Mary.
Those plans are being put on hold, however, so Bryant can purse a pro basketball career.
``I have to do it now, while I'm in shape, and I'm mentally tough enough to do it,'' he said.
Bryant had 23 points and eight rebounds Saturday to help Crown Insurance to a 120-109 win over A&G Imports. He also played in the nightcap, scoring 18 points for Majestic Homes in a 131-110 win over Central Fidelity. In five games this summer, Bryant averages 26.8 points - with a high of 45 - and has been one of the league's steadiest players.
No surprise there. Bryant was Mr. Consistency in a four-year career at Norfolk State, where he grabbed 1,000 career rebounds, despite standing just 6-foot-3.
But while his strength and leaping ability allowed him to play inside at Norfolk State, Bryant would have to play on the wing in the NBA. Bryant showed signs of a perimeter game at the PIT, and he's continued to work on his ballhandling and shooting at the Pro-Am. Once loathe to take a college trey, Bryant knocked down two NBA-range 3-pointers Saturday.
Still, Bryant's in-between size makes him an NBA long shot, at least next season. A job overseas seems more realistic, and Bryant said he is considering offers to play in Spain, Belgium and Iceland.
``I'd like to establish my name in Europe, get known, then maybe get another (NBA) shot down the road,'' he said.
Time is on Bryant's side. He won't turn 22 until December.
``This is a good chance,'' he said. ``If I play overseas, there aren't too many places where you can make that kind of money coming out of school.''
Spoken like a true businessman.
Former James Madison star Clayton Ritter scored a game-high 35 points for A&G, while former Booker T. Washington star Michael Evans had 25 points for Crown. In the second game, former Norfolk State player Sean Bell and current NSU player Rodney Carmichael had 28 points for Majestic Homes. Former Old Dominion star Mike Jones led Central Fidelity with 29. by CNB