THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 6, 1995 TAG: 9506060374
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHICAGO LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
Petey Sessoms is getting to be an old pro at the business of becoming a young pro.
After a strong performance at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, the former Old Dominion star was rewarded with the privilege of again having his every move scrutinized by NBA scouts, at the Desert Classic in Phoenix.
Sessoms played well in Phoenix, too, almost assuring himself of getting drafted June 28. Little wonder then, that on Sunday night he was taking a confident, worry-free approach to his final casting call, the NBA's Pre-Draft Camp, which runs today through Friday at the Moody Bible Institute.
``This is my third one of these,'' said Sessoms, who had just touched down from Paris, where he had spent two weeks playing with a team of other NBA hopefuls. ``I just plan to come in and play my game, like I've been doing.''
Sessoms is one of four local players in Chicago this week. They range from the surest of sure things - lottery prize Joe Smith - to the longest of long shots - former Booker T. Washington star Michael Evans.
Also on hand is former Norfolk State star Corey Williams. Together they form the largest contingent of South Hampton Roads players ever to make it this far on the NBA's circuit of auditions.
And while every man must look out for himself, there are ties that bind the four players.
Sessoms and Evans are friends from their days as high school rivals. So are Evans and Smith. Evans and Williams practiced together at Norfolk State, and all four have played in the Hampton Roads Pro-Am summer league.
Their presence speaks well of the quality of South Hampton Roads basketball over the last five years. Sessoms, from Portsmouth's Cradock High, was Tidewater player of the year in 1991. Evans, of Booker T. Washington, won the award in '92 and Smith, of Maury, in '93. Williams is not a native but was a Division II All-American at NSU.
``That shows you the talent we have here,'' Sessoms said.
Their paths have converged in Chicago, but it's here that they'll start to diverge as well. Each came here with the same general goal - to improve his stock in the eyes of NBA executives. But because their stocks varied so widely heading into the camp, Chicago means something different for each of them.
Smith, the near-consensus player of the year in college basketball as a sophomore at Maryland, won't be playing in Chicago because he doesn't need to.
``Traditionally, the top 10 players haven't played,'' said Chris Wallace, director of college and international scouting for the Miami Heat.
Smith, a 6-foot-10 forward, is expected to be the first or second player chosen. So while he was here over the weekend to be weighed and measured by NBA officials, it was little more than a fitting session for the jersey he'll be holding up on draft day.
Sessoms, on the other hand, has a little more at stake.
``I think he'll be drafted, regardless of how he does in Chicago,'' Wallace said.
The question is where he'll be picked. Sessoms' performance in Chicago will go a long way toward determining that.
``Hopefully I can improve my stock. That's my main goal,'' said Sessoms, who is projected as a second-round pick.
Williams, a 6-8 forward, is playing in his second NBA pre-draft event. He didn't distinguish himself in his first one, in Portsmouth.
While Williams showed in Portsmouth that he belonged on the floor with the other players, he did little to separate himself from the pack, said Chuck Douglas, assistant general manager of the Washington Bullets.
The Heat's Wallace said sometimes small-college players do better the second time around.
``Lindsey Hunter (from Jackson State) didn't play well in Phoenix, but he really tore it up in Chicago,'' Wallace said. ``It takes some guys a while to adjust.''
Williams didn't earn an invitation to Phoenix and is a long shot to be drafted. He's been home in New Jersey preparing for the camp, said Andy Miller, who works for Williams' agent, Eric Fleischer.
``We've stressed to Corey over and over that this is like a four-day job interview,'' Miller said.
Because he's at least been seen by NBA scouts, Williams is a step ahead of Evans. The former Parade All-American point guard is so unknown to NBA types that his pre-draft bio - issued to scouts and media here - is just half a page. The other 75 draft prospects listed each have a full page.
``That's why we have the Chicago camp. It's tailor-made for people we don't know,'' said Rob Babcock, director of player personnel for the Minnesota Timberwolves. ``It's his chance.''
Evans, who has not played organized ball since 1992-93, has been preparing for Chicago by working out in Norfolk and in Northern Virginia, home base of his agents, Advantage International.
Evans' first encounter with professional ball came last week, when he tried out for the Jersey Turnpikes of the United States Basketball League. The Turnpikes didn't keep him, but general manager Dan Lundy said he was impressed.
``Probably his best bet would be a year of CBA ball,'' Lundy said. ``He's the type of guy who's going to develop. He's got a lot of good attributes.''
Lundy said Evans was beaten out by a better player.
But Andre Colona, Evans' agent, said Evans didn't play for Jersey because the club knew he was leaving for Chicago.
Whatever the reason, Evans missed a chance to play three tune-up games against professional competition. Still, he's confident that he's ready for Chicago.
``I feel like I can play at the (NBA) level. All I really need is a chance,'' he said. ``Chicago - that's big right there.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
PETEY SESSOMS\ Position: Small forward < Height: 6-7 < }
Weight: 190
School: Old Dominion
Outlook: Sessoms is a probable second-round pick.
COREY WILLIAMS
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 210
School: Norfolk State
Outlook: Williams will have to play his way into the second
round.
MICHAEL EVANS
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
School: Okaloosa-Walton Community College
Outlook: Evans is a probable free agent.
by CNB