Posted on: Sunday, May 27, 2001

Basketball
Hawai'i's Ostler invited to NBA camp

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Temperatures were in the mid-90s last week in West Valley City, Utah.

"Hot as hell," according to former Hawai'i basketball star Troy Ostler.

Yet, Ostler was on cloud nine after receiving an official invitation to the NBA Pre-Draft Camp.

"I made the cut," said Ostler, who has been training in his hometown for the last month. "That means I get to show what I can do against the best of the best."

Ostler is one of approximately 65 players who will participate in the camp, which will be held June 5-8 at Chicago. Only the top players eligible for the June 27 NBA Draft receive invitations.

"I have everything to gain," he said. "All the guys who are projected to be high draft choices are pretty much set. This is my chance to show that I deserve a shot as well."

Ostler will be the first Hawai'i player to participate in the camp since Anthony Carter in 1998.

Ostler, who is 6 feet 10 and 215 pounds, averaged 15.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season. In two seasons, he blocked 88 shots, which is the third-best total in school history.

He was hampered by a severely-sprained left ankle midway through last season, although he said the injury is "100 percent" healed.

Ostler has been training seven days a week at Salt Lake Community College, where he played before enrolling at UH.