Savovic to play in Europe

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sono Savo.

The Italian version of "I am Savo" may come into play soon for Predrag Savovic.

According to Marc Cornstein, Savovic's New York-based agent, the former University of Hawai'i basketball standout will turn down a chance to play in the NBA next season. Instead, Cornstein said he is currently in negotiations for Savovic with "a few of the top teams in Europe."

"He will be offered a significant guaranteed contract in Europe, so that's where he's going," Cornstein said. "The NBA teams could not guarantee that, and some of them even wanted him to go through the summer league first before signing."

UH head coach Riley Wallace said Savovic's best offer is from one of the elite teams in Italy. Savovic could make between $300,000 and $400,000 per season in Italy.

"It's a good deal for Savo because it's guaranteed money," Wallace said. "I still think he's suited for the NBA, but that's the NBA's loss."

Savovic, a 6-foot-6, 212-pound shooting guard, was not selected in the June 26 NBA Draft, even though he was projected to go as high as the first round in some mock drafts.

Cornstein said "about 15" NBA teams expressed serious interest in Savovic after the draft, but none could match the offers coming from European teams.

The Denver Nuggets made one of the strongest offers among the NBA teams, and Wallace said there was "no question" that Savovic could have made that team.

"Maybe even a chance to start," Wallace said. "He can score on anybody, and he has high character and is willing to do anything you ask of him to become better."

Cornstein said he thought Savovic's advanced age (26) was the deciding factor in the draft day snub. However, Cornstein said there is "a possibility" that Savovic could test the NBA market again in a year or two.

"We're going to keep the door open for the future in the NBA," Cornstein said. "But for now, the best place for him is Europe. That type of guaranteed deal is too hard to pass up."

Cornstein said he hopes to finalize a deal for Savovic by next week. European professional basketball leagues usually start in mid-September.

Savovic, who is originally from Yugoslavia, is the fourth-leading scorer in UH history with 1,414 points. He is also UH's all-time leader in 3-pointers with 178, and the only Rainbow Warrior to be selected to the All-Western Athletic Conference first team twice.

Savovic was traveling to Yugoslavia yesterday and unavailable for comment.