Savovic returns to tutor English

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Denver Nugget Predrag Savovic, left, guards former UH teammate Carl English during a workout on Thursday. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

But it was mostly new ideas that English was seeking from his former University of Hawai'i teammate.

"There was a time when we'd keep going for hours — neither of us wanting to back down," English said. "But this is different. I'm on a mission to get where he's at and he's here to help me get there."

English is hoping to be one of the 58 selections in the June 26 NBA Draft. He declared for early entry into the draft after completing his junior season with the Rainbow Warriors in March.

Savovic just completed his rookie season with the NBA's Denver Nuggets. He went undrafted last year after his senior season at UH, but signed a guaranteed free agent contract.

"I've been looking up to him since I first came here (in 1999)," English said of Savovic. "It gives me motivation as well. I'm looking at him as an example that I can make it (to the NBA), too."

Savovic arrived in Honolulu last week. On Thursday, he and Denver teammate Nikoloz Tskitishvili conducted a private workout for English at UH's Gym II.

Savovic mostly wanted to prepare English for the NBA Pre-Draft Camp at Chicago, June 3-6. Representatives from every NBA team attend the camp to review the top draft prospects.

"There are so many drills they make you do," said Savovic, who participated in the Pre-Draft Camp last year. "Most of it is basic. Dribbling, layups, a lot of footwork drills. But the key is to be in shape for it. It's only going to help him to know what to expect."

Savovic is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard originally from Yugoslavia; English is a 6-5 shooting guard originally from Newfoundland, Canada.

Savovic holds UH's record for 3-pointers in a career (178); English holds UH's record for 3-pointers in a season (89).

"Everybody is big and it's not enough just to shoot," said Savovic, who averaged just 3.1 points per game during an injury-plagued rookie season. "You have to do so many other things to be successful in the NBA. I'm still working on things every day myself."

After the basic drills, English and Savovic engaged in a 45-minute game of one-on-one (Tskitishvili, a 7-foot forward who also just completed his rookie year with the Nuggets, sat out of the one-on-one session).

For the most part, it was a push.

"It was pretty much a scoring fest," English said. "We both score at will, just like before."

Savovic said the players at the Pre-Draft Camp are required to play one-on-one games, and defense is often more valuable than offense.

"I would say defense is the biggest aspect (English) needs to work on," Savovic said. "On offense, he has the raw skills. He has the talent. He just needs to keep polishing it and working at it."

Every few minutes during their scrimmage, Savovic would stop play to "coach" English. Tskitishvili also offered pointers.

"They were just telling me what it's like in the league; what stuff will work and what won't," English said. "The main thing is I need to get bigger, get more physical."

English said he has been lifting weights four times a week and playing basketball every day since UH's season ended.

He has not signed with an agent, so there is still a possibility that he could return to UH for his senior season. If it appears his draft prospects are slim, English has until June 19 to withdraw from the early-entry list.

"I think somebody will take a chance on him," Savovic said. "If it's this year or next year, I don't know."