Air Force Grad Danny Nwaelele To Work Out For Spurs

[duncan228]

I have no idea who this guy is.
Should I?

http://gazetteafasports.blogspot.com/2007/08/nwaelele-to-work-out-for-spurs.html

The Colorado Springs Gazette's blog for Air Force Academy sports

Nwaelele to work out for Spurs

Recent Air Force graduate Danny Nwaelele’s NBA dreams aren’t dead.

I just spoke with J.R. Harris, Nwaelele’s agent, and Harris said Nwaelele has been asked to work out for the San Antonio Spurs Sept. 9-13. Harris said Nwaelele, who currently is stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, will be allowed to attend the workout.

“With Danny coming in this late, it’s always a good sign because it’s’ so close to veteran camp,” Harris said.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is an Air Force grad, and Harris hopes that will work in Nwaelele’s favor.

No matter how well Nwaelele does at the workout, he still will have to find a way around Air Force’s new policy regarding early release from service commitment for jobs with potential recruiting benefits. A policy released early this year states an airman who wants to pursue a professional sports career “Must have served on active duty for at least 24 months.”

[Holt's Cat]

As predicted in the draft thread for him.

[duncan228]

As predicted in the draft thread for him.

:oops
Thanks. Too many names for my mind to grasp.

[Solid D]

Article written prior to the draft. He was listed 6'5" at Air Force but later measured at 6'3". However, he is an excellent shooter and the Spurs do seem inclined to go with a small lineup look more frequently.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20070619/ai_n19327630

Nwaelele works out with Nuggets

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 19, 2007 by JAKE SCHALLER THE GAZETTE
DENVER - Nuggets vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman believes recent Air Force graduate Dan Nwaelele will "make a living playing basketball for a long time."

But standing in Nwaelele's way - at least for the next two seasons - is not only the highly competitive world of professional basketball but also his post-graduate military commitment to the Air Force.

"It's hard," said Nwaelele, who worked out for the Nuggets on Monday at the Pepsi Center with five other NBA draft hopefuls. "It's hard just waiting here and saying, 'I don't know what's going to happen.'"

An Air Force policy released earlier this year states an airman who wants to pursue a professional sports career "must have served on active duty for at least 24 months." But Nwaelele hopes to work out a deal that will allow him to play professionally immediately. Before the policy was in place, 2006 academy graduate Antoine Hood was able to play for the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League last season by applying for "excess leave."

Nwaelele likely would have the same opportunity, according to Nuggets staffers. Coach George Karl called Nwaelele "a well-coached kid that knows how to make shots," and added that while he wasn't sure Nwaelele would get drafted, "I think he's good enough to search out the possibility of playing in the league."

The possible two-year wait, however, would not be good for his chances, Karl said.

"What I've been told is it would hurt him if he had to go active (duty) now," Karl said. "There's no question there's a tendency in the NBA about being out of sight, you're out of mind."

Chapman was more optimistic, citing former All-Star center David Robinson, who served in the Navy for two years before starting his career with San Antonio.

"I don't think (it will hurt Nwaelele)," Chapman said. "This league is in desperate need of guys who can shoot the basketball."

Chapman said Nwaelele has "a world-class stroke," and "there aren't three or four players in this draft that you could compare to him shooting the ball."

Nwaelele previously worked out for the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers - a workout with the Chicago Bulls was canceled when other players had to back out on short notice. While Nwaelele's agent, J.R. Harris, attempts to set up more meetings with NBA teams, Nwaelele will be working out in Seattle. And hoping he won't have to put his professional basketball dream on hold.

"Hopefully (Air Force officials') minds are open to the opportunity this thing brings," Nwaelele said. "It looks good for the academy. It only brings positive stuff. Antoine's doing it, and he's doing a good job off and on the court."

Notes

Jacob Burtschi, who graduated with Nwaelele and worked out for the Phoenix Suns this month, said he doesn't have any more NBA tryouts set up. Burtschi said his agent, Bill Kent, has told him there are pro teams from Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain interested in him, but they are waiting to hear what happens with Burtschi's service time.... Nwaelele was listed at 6-foot-5 at Air Force, but he was measured at 6-3 on Monday.

Copyright 2007
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

[ShoogarBear]

He even has a name that will make the Spurs' FO more inclined to keep him.

[mardigan]

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=17061

[SpursWillOwn]

another melvin sanders?

[duncan228]

Thanks for the article Solid D.

[Darkwaters]

Any word on when the workout will be held?

[Holt's Cat]

from the initial post


Nwaelele has been asked to work out for the San Antonio Spurs Sept. 9-13.

[ChumpDumper]

another melvin sanders?More like another Von Wafer.

[Dex]

No matter how well Nwaelele does at the workout, he still will have to find a way around Air Force’s new policy regarding early release from service commitment for jobs with potential recruiting benefits. A policy released early this year states an airman who wants to pursue a professional sports career “Must have served on active duty for at least 24 months.”


Well, we saw with DRob how easy it is for a player to get around a military obligation. :rolleyes

[timvp]

More like another Eric Coley.

But yeah, this was expected. Pop is extremely close with the Air Force program . . . so bringing in Nwaelele isn't a shock at all. He's not really NBA talent but he'd be a nice story at training camp.

[Darkwaters]

from the initial post

lol, thanks. I completely just read right past that little tidbit.

[TDMVPDPOY]

wtf are they goin to search a long 3

[Solid D]

long 3

That opportunity may not come until they need other pieces. When Duncan retires...that is when "long 3s" will be growing on trees in the backyard and in the front yard.

The Spurs had their chance at a great 3 with Nocioni but the advance scout blew it with Chapu's birthdate.

Spurs have done fine without Odysseus, The Centaur, Cyclops, The Griffin, Hydra, Medussa, Nessy, Bigfoot, or the Long 3.

[Mister Sinister]

That opportunity may not come until they need other pieces. When Duncan retires...that is when "long 3s" will be growing on trees in the backyard and in the front yard.

The Spurs had their chance at a great 3 with Nocioni but the advance scout blew it with Chapu's birthdate.

Spurs have done fine without Odysseus, The Centaur, Cyclops, The Griffin, Hydra, Medussa, Nessy, Bigfoot, or the Long 3.
Any word on Leviathan or Fenris?