UH SPORTS
English goes to NBA camp
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
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English will participate in the NBA Pre-Draft Camp at Chicago's Moody Bible Institute this week. After that, at least six NBA teams have requested to view English in private workouts.
"It's going to be a busy month," English said. "But that's what it's all about. That's what you have to do if you want to get your name called."
Since completing his junior season with the Rainbow Warriors in March, English has been preparing for the June 26 NBA Draft. He declared for early entry in April.
His first — and biggest — test begins Tuesday at the Pre-Draft Camp.
English, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, will be one of 65 prospects participating in the camp. Coaches and scouts from all 29 NBA teams will be present.
"That camp carries a whole lot of importance," English said. "Hopefully, it will go the way I want it to, and then everything else will fall into place."
The players are put through a series of individual drills and team scrimmages during the camp.
"I'm a game player," English said. "So the big thing for me will be making an impression during the scrimmages."
Regardless of how he does at the camp, English said he will travel to several cities later this month to showcase his skills for NBA teams.
Representatives from Toronto, Indiana, Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta and Philadelphia have scheduled workout dates for English.
He expects to add a few more stops within the next few weeks.
English departed Honolulu two weeks ago after completing his final classes at UH. After a brief stop home in Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland, English traveled to Toronto to train with Jay Triano, assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors and head coach of Canada's national team (English has been invited to try out for Canada's national team this summer).
"We're doing a lot of guard-oriented stuff — a lot of (dribbling) and shooting," English said. "It's the same stuff I was working on (at UH), just more intense."
He said the workouts last four to five hours a day, including weightlifting and running.
English said if he receives a positive grade at the camp and during his private workouts, he will not return to UH for his senior season. Otherwise, he has until June 19 to withdraw his name from the early entry list and return to UH.
English averaged 19.6 points per game and was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection last season. He set a school record with 89 3-pointers, and ranks No. 7 on UH's all-time scoring list with 1,259 points.
Camp openings
Less than 40 openings remain for the 2003 Rainbow Boys and Girls Basketball Camp. Instruction will be provided by UH head coach Riley Wallace and his staff, along with current and former players.
The camp is open to boys and girls of all skill levels, ages 5 to 17. Two sessions are scheduled: June 10 to 12 and June 13 to 15. Daily activities run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the UH-Manoa athletic complex. Participants can register for either or both sessions.
Entry fee is $150 per child, per session, and includes a T-shirt and basketball. For information, call 956-6501 on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Correction: The headline on a previous version of this story was misleading.
