As expected, former three-time Advertiser State Player of the Year Derrick Low was not among the 60 players selected in yesterday's NBA Draft, but his dream of becoming the first Hawai'i-grown player to make an NBA roster since the 1950s is still alive.

Low — a 2004 'Iolani School graduate from Honolulu and standout at Washington State University — has been invited to play for the Dallas Mavericks' summer league teams in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City next month. Low's agent, Sam Goldfeder, notified him shortly after the draft ended last night and Donnie Nelson, Dallas' president of basketball operations, called Low at about 8:15 p.m. to personally extend the invitation.

The summer league teams generally consist of drafted and undrafted rookies, players who just completed their first year in the NBA, plus free agents and players from the NBA's Developmental League.

Low, a 6-foot-1 point guard who had a personal workout with the Mavericks on Tuesday before returning to Honolulu that night for the first time in 10 months, said he expects to leave Hawai'i next week to prepare for the leagues.

"For sure I would have loved to be drafted, but sometimes it works out better to be a free agent rather than being drafted in the second round," Low said. "There was some disappointment, but I didn't get too down. Now I have an opportunity to make the NBA through the back door, so I have to make the most of it."

Low had personal workouts with five NBA teams prior to the draft: the Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics.

"Donnie Nelson said, 'We selected you with the 61st pick,' " Low said. "He said they're looking forward to having me join them and he likes the kind of player I am, he said I know how to play basketball. He said he has me (labeled) as an NBA player, so I'm glad he has that trust and faith in me."

Goldfeder, a Beverly Hills, Calif.-based agent whose Excel Sports Management firm already has several NBA clients, said the Mavericks "are very excited to have" Low.

"With Derrick's talent and perseverance, especially his doggedness, he's always got a shot," Goldfeder said.

"He'll be playing in both the Las Vegas and Rocky Mountain Review leagues, so he'll have a long summer to show his wares. Derrick will always play hard, so that will always result in good things."

Low said he will trust in what has gotten him to this point, on the doorstep of realizing a childhood dream.

"I'm just going to play my game and do what I did in the (Dallas) workout, because I had to have left an impression with them," Low said. "I know I'm getting close (to the NBA), it's right in front of me now.

"It should be fun. I can't wait."

See Nakama's blog at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.