Ex-Vol Watson likely to sign as free agent with Spurs:(spurs third pointguard?)

[ducks]

C.J. Watson is to sign FA w/Spurs

Ex-Vol Watson likely to sign as free agent with Spurs:


Ex-Vol Watson likely to sign as free agent with Spurs
Plans to play in Utah summer league

By MIKE GRIFFITH, [email protected]
June 30, 2006

Former Tennessee point guard C.J. Watson is expected to sign a free-agent contract with the San Antonio Spurs, according to his agent, Michael Higgins.

"They've had a lot of interest in C.J. for a while,'' Higgins said. "We went through the teams that had interest in him and narrowed it down.''

Watson, who was not selected in Wednesday's NBA draft, worked out for 10 NBA teams: Houston, L.A. Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Sacramento, Minnesota, Detroit, Dallas, Toronto, Cleveland and San Antonio.

Higgins said the Spurs could be a good fit for Watson for a couple of reasons.

"Nick Van Exel retired, so they've only got Tony Parker and Beno Udrih at point guard,'' Higgins said. "Most all teams carry three point guards. Secondly, the Spurs' system requires guys that can hit open shots, so I know they like C.J.''

Watson showed his shooting touch at the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational, which featured 64 of the top outgoing collegiate seniors.

"After that, I got a lot more interest from teams,'' said Watson, who led his squad to the finals by averaging 16.3 points per game and hitting 56.7 percent of his shots and 71.4 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Watson scored 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and had three rebounds, two steals and an assist in one game.

Watson finished his UT career second on the Vols' all-time assists list with 577 and second in all-time steals with 198.

Higgins said Watson will start work as a free agent July 8 and play in the Utah summer league, along with other aspiring free agents.

"If C.J. plays well enough, teams will want to make a commitment,'' Higgins said. "Hopefully he'll be invited to veterans camp in October.''

Higgins said numerous scouts from overseas leagues also will be watching this summer, so if Watson goes unsigned by an NBA team his professional career can continue.

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/gvx_vol_basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_19596_4815050,00.html

[ducks]

"After that, I got a lot more interest from teams,'' said Watson, who led his squad to the finals by averaging 16.3 points per game and hitting 56.7 percent of his shots and 71.4 percent of his 3-point attempts.

[Leetonidas]

Sounds good.

[spurs=bling]

hmm.........

[rayray2k8]

Damn i thought it was EARL Watson. :lol
Yes I know hes under contract.

[Bob Lanier]

He's a career 73% free throw shooter, with a low of 65.3%. :fro

[boutons_]

"73% free throw shooter"

nice shooting touch! :)

[ducks]

why was he not drafted?

[Solid D]

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/tenn/sports/m-baskbl/04-05-action/a-watson_0020.jpg

Remember when "the other UT" buried the Longhorns last season? CJ was a big part of that. He is an excellent defender and actually rebounds pretty well for a guard.

Nice find ducks!

[RogerIsEatingASandwich]

sounds good.

[Solid D]

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/tenn/sports/m-baskbl/05-06action/a-watson_8742.jpg

Watson was one of 5 Finalists for the Chip Hilton Award. Gerry McNamara won the Award this year. Tim Duncan won the very first Chip Hilton Award in 1997.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032906aac.html

WATSON NAMED AS FINALIST FOR CHIP HILTON AWARD
The Chip Hilton Award is given to a senior who displays outstanding character

March 29, 2006

University of Tennessee senior guard C.J. Watson was one of five players named as a finalist for the 2005-06 Chip Hilton Award given to a senior that demonstrates outstanding character.

Chip Hilton Sports, with the endorsement of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the

2005-2006 finalists for the Chip Hilton Award:

Brendan Winters Davidson
Sean Dockery Duke
Keydren Clark Saint Peter's College
Jerry McNamara Syracuse
C.J. Watson Tennessee


The award will be presented at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

The Chip Hilton Award honors outstanding character demonstrated by a senior during the 2005-2006 season.

Past Chip Hilton Award winners have included such fine individuals as Tim Duncan, Juan Dixon, Hassan Booker, Shane Battier, Tim Hill, Eduardo Najera, Brandon Miller, Emeka Okafor, and Ronald Ross.


The Chip Hilton Award

Honors a graduating senior who demonstrates personal character on and off the court similar to that modeled by Coach Clair Bee's fictional hero, Chip Hilton. Character traits considered will include:


Athletic skill
Excellence of effort
Fair competition
Team spirit
Personal discipline
Respect of college/university and athletic leadership
Personal integrity
Service to others
Accountability to family, coaches, and college/university
Team leadership

[ChumpDumper]

Pretty efficient scorer. Hope he can hit the NBA three.

[ducks]

he is from the usa


wow

[Pistons < Spurs]

Info from the Orlando pre-draft camp: (from draftexpress)

First Impressions: Day 1

CJ Watson

CJ Watson played well in this first day to start off the pre-draft camp, picking up right where he left off at Portsmouth. Watson continued to play his solid defense and run the offense smoothly with few mistakes, but today he also showed the ability to create by penetration, which was his one major shortcoming in his showing at Portsmouth. Watson was able to take his defender off the dribble and create once in the lane, dishing out a few assists doing so in today's scrimmages. Watson's team here at Orlando is notably more talented than the one he led at Portsmouth, so his opportunities for assists should be more plentiful, if he chooses to take advantage.


Day 2



CJ Watson4 points, 2-5 FG's, 6 ast, 3 TO

Watson followed up on his impressive scrimmage yesterday with a very solid game today, running his team's offense well and dishing out a ton of assists and nice passes doing so. Watson's court vision was on full display both on the break and in the halfcourt, as he threw a flurry of assists in a variety of ways, including on drive-and-dishes, something his game has lacked in the past. Watson used some impressive ball-handling today, using spin moves and a low dribble to get past his man and into position to create for himself or his teammates. He didn't create for himself much here today, and failed on the few attempts at floaters he had. He did hit one long two pointer, on which he exhibited his picture perfect shooting stroke.

Defensively, Watson played great man-to-man defense on his opponent, Gerry McNamara, when he had the ball, but often gave him too much space without the ball, leading to the red hot McNamara hitting a bunch of spot-up three pointers. Aside from sticking his man without the ball, though, Watson did a good job on the defensive end of the court, never letting his man get past him when matched one-on-one and constantly playing up on him. Watson and his team did have problems dealing with screens, though, as he often got caught trying to go through them while his teammates didn’t step out to hedge the path of his opponent, letting him get into the lane at times.


Day 4



CJ Watson

Watson had an uncharacteristic game for him, taking shots off the dribble often and forcing his penetration game offensively. He wasn’t able to create many easy baskets with his drives, and wasn’t hitting his shot very much coming off the dribble. His team also didn’t accomplish the ball movement and flow that a team run by him is normally accustomed to. Watson got to the line with his drives on a few occasions, but most of the time it was by bail-out fouls, in that he really never had a clear shot at the basket on his driving attempts.

Defensively, Watson played solid man-to-man defense on Darius Washington, not letting him penetrate into the lane or get off any shots off the dribble, but as he did with Gerry McNamara earlier in the week, Watson gave Washington a lot of space without the ball, resulting in him hitting some open spot-up threes off of ball movement.

[T Park]

Training camp fodder.....

[Kori Ellis]

Since the Sonics aren't keeping Mike Wilks, I think the Spurs will probably get him back for the 3rd PG.

[TDMVPDPOY]

height plz..

[Kori Ellis]

Watson is 6'2.

[TDMVPDPOY]

is there a profile?

[grjr]

is there a profile?

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/tenn/sports/m-baskbl/other/watson-classread22.jpg

[polandprzem]

Maybe he can cover Jason Williams.
ehh interesting offseason

[TDMVPDPOY]

#32 C.J. Watson | G
Full Name: C.J. Watson
Birth Place: Las Vegas, NV
Height: 6-2
Weight: 176 lbs.

Position: Guard
Class: Senior
PPG 15.3 | APG 3.9 | RPG 3.1

Season Averages
SEASON MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P% PPS
2002-2003 35.8 9.1 4.2 5.5 2.9 1.90 1.2 .2 2.0 .426 .653 .364 1.40
2003-2004 33.9 11.5 4.2 5.0 2.5 1.99 1.6 .1 1.9 .418 .796 .411 1.34
2004-2005 34.9 11.9 3.3 5.0 3.1 1.61 1.9 .0 2.3 .410 .757 .375 1.39
2005-2006 31.9 15.3 3.1 3.9 2.1 1.86 2.0 .1 2.6 .467 .878 .422 1.57

[polandprzem]

#32 C.J. Watson | G
Full Name: C.J. Watson
Birth Place: Las Vegas, NV
Height: 6-2
Weight: 176 lbs.

Position: Guard
Class: Senior
PPG 15.3 | APG 3.9 | RPG 3.1

Season Averages
SEASON MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P% PPS
2002-2003 35.8 9.1 4.2 5.5 2.9 1.90 1.2 .2 2.0 .426 .653 .364 1.40
2003-2004 33.9 11.5 4.2 5.0 2.5 1.99 1.6 .1 1.9 .418 .796 .411 1.34
2004-2005 34.9 11.9 3.3 5.0 3.1 1.61 1.9 .0 2.3 .410 .757 .375 1.39
2005-2006 31.9 15.3 3.1 3.9 2.1 1.86 2.0 .1 2.6 .467 .878 .422 1.57


Not that bad. Hopefully he will be better then Wilks.

[Solid D]

is there a profile?


http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/tenn/sports/m-baskbl/other/watson-classread22.jpg

:lol @ grjr

Good one! Either that or nice timing with the pic.

[Quadzilla99]

He has decent athleticism according to his NBA combine numbers. I'd much rather see the Spurs sign Darius Washington though who I think has more potential.

[Solid D]

Whoever the Spurs sign...the qualities the PG should have:

1) the ability to defend and pressure the ball
2) ability to bring the ball up & enter the offense under pressure
3) shoot w/ confidence when he gets the ball back late in the shot clock

[ShoogarBear]

I predict if he hits 71% of his three-pointers with the Spurs, they might keep him.

[timvp]

Looks like Taquan Dean will be on the Spurs' summer league team.

[Solid D]

Looks like Taquan Dean will be on the Spurs' summer league team.

Thanks for the insight! Nice scorer, not so great size.

[ducks]

I want this guy
he can shot

[ducks]

and play d

[wildbill2u]

From the Draft Express write up it sounds like his game detiorated from his first camp to the last and daily thereafter.

So I'm not too optimistic. There's always a rookie phenom in training camp who the fans love and the coaches cut.