English leaves good impression at NBA camp
By Blair R. Fischer
Special to The Advertiser
CHICAGO — After an impressive showing at last week's annual NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the buzz surrounding Carl English's play is getting louder.
Blair R. Fischer • Special to The Advertiser
Although English has another year of eligibility at the University of Hawai'i and has yet to retain an agent, he told The Advertiser last week he has decided to keep his name in the draft pool when the June 19 deadline to remove it rolls around.
University of Hawai'i's Carl English was one of 66 players invited to be evaluated at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp this week in Chicago. The NBA Draft is June 26 in New York's Madison Square Garden.
Some of the talk among NBA general managers, coaches, scouts, players and media at Moody Bible Institute gym has given English reason to be optimistic.
"To his credit, he's played both (the point guard and off-guard) well," said Houston Rockets scout Dennis Lindsey. "He's versatile enough so that he can handle the ball and, obviously, he can shoot the ball well."
In what amounted to his final season at Hawai'i, he averaged 19.6 points and set a school record with 89 three-pointers.
After three games at the Pre-Draft Camp, all won by English's Team 6, the former Rainbow Warrior shot 15 of 33 (45.5 percent) from the floor, including 5 of 11 (45.5 percent) from 3-point range.
Following English's first game, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Jerry Sichting was particularly enamored with his play.
"He really handled himself well out there today," he said, "so I've got him penciled in as someone to keep a close eye on the next couple days."
Although evaluation of English's play has generally been positive, skepticism remains because he lacks size with regard to where he is suited to play in the NBA. English is listed in the UH media guide as 6 feet, 5 inches, but was measured at 6-4 (without shoes) in Chicago.
English's height suggests he's a point guard but his play says he's a two guard. That discrepancy gave Sacramento Kings assistant coach Terry Porter cause for pause.
"He definitely can't play the one," Porter said. "He's more of a two, so it's just a matter of does he have the other skills he needs to defend twos and get his own shots off and things of that nature."
Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Johnson likes what he sees of English but watched him "struggle" playing the point guard position.
"He shoots the ball," Johnson said. "He's a tough kid."
The general consensus in Chicago was that English will hear his name called at the NBA Draft on June 26 at Madison Square Garden — the only question being when.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see him play with Toronto (as a second-round pick)," said Marty Blake, the NBA's director of scouting.
Playing for the Raptors would be a homecoming of sorts for English, who was born and raised in Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland.
"It'd be nice for him to be in Toronto," said Jay Triano, Raptors assistant coach and head coach of Canada's national team, "but at the same time (the Raptors) are gonna do what's right for the organization."
Triano is recruiting English to play for the country's national team during this summer's Pan American games.
"A lot of what he does here will depend on whether or not he's available for us in the summertime," Triano said.
As far as the NBA Draft later this month, Triano said he believes English "improved his chances" with his play in Chicago last week.
During the four-day Pre-Draft Camp, English was asked to compete in three 40-minute games, run through various drills, and have his strength and vertical leap tested.
"I wanted to come out here and show everyone that I could play," English said. "I think I've done a pretty good job of that so I'm pretty much (in the draft pool) now."
English was one of 66 NBA hopefuls at the camp, including 54 college seniors, nine underclassmen, two foreign prospects, and one high schooler.
