Draft Rejects Struggle Rush, Jackson Scramble To Find A Berth

It’s a tough road trying to catch hold of a dream.

Just ask former UCLA basketball standout JaRon Rush and past Florida State star Randell Jackson, who as participants in the Heat’s weeklong Summer League tryouts that concluded Tuesday were hoping they had impressed the coaches enough to get a training camp invite.

Both Rush and Jackson will quickly tell you that the NBA dream these former high school phenoms carried as youngsters is nothing like the reality. That dream never involved bouncing around from team to team in the summer leagues trying to catch a break.

But that’s the plight left for guys like Rush and Jackson, who left college before their eligibility was up, declaring for the draft after their sophomore (Rush) and junior (Jackson) seasons, but ultimately were snubbed by NBA teams on their respective draft nights.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” said Rush, who was projected as a late-first rounder in last June’s draft before he showed up to pre-draft workouts reportedly out of shape, and with a poor jump shot.

“Things happen for a reason,” said Rush, who played in only nine games last season for UCLA because he was on suspension the rest of the time.

Rush missed 24 games because the NCAA suspended him for accepting $17,000 worth of improper benefits and payments when he was a prospective student-athlete. Poor grades, the violations and the debt he acquired while paying back $6,000 of that money forced him to leave college prematurely.

“I’m just trying to make the best of the situation I’m in,” said Rush, a 6-foot-7, 207-pound forward. “Right now, I’m all about working hard, trying to make it on a roster.”

Jackson knows all about that path.

After leading the Seminoles to an NCAA tournament win, Jackson surprisingly left FSU even though he wasn’t even projected to get drafted that year.

Jackson ultimately made the best of his situation, but it took time and 17 games with the CBA’s Fort Wayne Fury. Eventually, he broke into the NBA his rookie season with the Washington Wizards, who not only played him in 27 games but also started him in a couple.

Last season, he sat on the Dallas Mavericks’ bench for a couple of games after impressing Don Nelson during summer league play. This season, he’s looking for a new NBA home, this time one that’s more accepting of his slender frame and limited post-up game.

He performed well for the Heat in the three full days he participated before suffering a turf toe injury, said Heat assistant coach Stan Van Gundy. The injury ultimately forced the Heat to leave him off its Atlanta Summer League roster, but Jackson still feels he made a favorable impression.

As for Rush, who also won’t be playing in Atlanta with the Heat because he’s committed to play in the Boston Celtics Summer League that begins Monday, he said the Heat plans to bring him back for another workout in two weeks.

“My prospects are looking good,” said the 21-year-old who averaged 12.1 points at UCLA. “Miami has taken a hard look at me. Boston wants me, as well as New Jersey. Considering, things are working out well. Even though I wasn’t drafted, I’m proud of the situation I’m in.”