Stuckey realizes dream
It was a good six years ago, back when his Kentwood High School team was at the Eastern Washington University summer camp, that Rodney Stuckey’s childhood dream of playing in the National Basketball Association began to take shape.
“This is my goal, ever since I was little,” the best basketball player in EWU history said Wednesday afternoon. “I remember sitting here in ninth grade, 10th grade, in the team room talking to coach Burns.”
“A skinny 6-footer,” Mike Burns interjected.
“He said you’re going to be in this situation some day, you just have to keep focus, keep your head on straight,” the 6-foot-5, 206-pound guard continued. “The time is finally here.”
Stuckey is leaving Eastern after two record-breaking seasons to enter the NBA draft. The two-time honorable mention All-American declared for the draft last month, maintaining his eligibility by not hiring an agent. But after Stuckey said research indicated he would be a first-round, top-30 selection in the June 28 draft, he recently hired Goodwin Sports Management,
“With the help of coach Burns and all my family, and all the information we gathered, it felt like this was the right time for me to leave,” Stuckey said.
He would be the second Eagle to be drafted. All-time scoring leader Ron Cox was a sixth-round draft pick of Cleveland in 1977. The only Big Sky Conference player to be drafted in the first round was Montana’s Michael Ray Richardson, taken fourth by the New York Knicks in 1978.
Although the Eagles never reached their goal of making the NCAA tournament, Stuckey, who finished 303 points behind Cox, leaves with no regrets.
“None at all,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Not a lot of players get this chance to be in this situation. This is the best decision for me to do right now. I’m excited about the future and what it’s going to bring.”
Burns said they received valuable information from an NBA committee that advises underclassmen.
“Their take was he would be drafted 20 to 30,” he said. “They generally give very conservative information. Since then we’ve heard the middle of the first round, his stock is rising.
“NBA teams can’t make promises but I’ve talked to 12 or 13 teams and from 12 or 13 on down they’ve expressed an interest. Very few players in this draft possess his versatility. He’s a true combo guard. He has the size to play on the wing and he’s as good of passer as there is in this draft – but I’m biased.”
Stuckey is also confident after conversations with his agents.
“Basically my stock keeps rising, that’s what my agents are telling me,” he said. “All they’re hearing is good feedback from teams. This draft is kind of different. There are a lot of big guys out there but there are not a lot of combo guards like me. They have a lot of faith in me and I have a lot of faith in myself.
“Right now it’s just a matter of me working out and getting ready for these workouts. I will be ready. I’ve been working really hard these past weeks.”
Stuckey and his agents are unsure if he will participate in the week-long NBA predraft camp that begins next week in Orlando, Fla., but they are scheduling workouts with individual teams beginning June 5.
He has no preference where he would like to end up.
“It really doesn’t matter, I just want to get better,” he said. “It would be great to go to a good organization and while I’m there just learn from the best people that are on the court. There’s no ideal place I want to go. Whoever has interest in me, believes in my abilities, then hey, I’m all for it.”
Stuckey said he hasn’t spoken with Adam Morrison, who had a year of eligibility remaining when he left Gonzaga last year and was drafted by Charlotte. He does remain in contact with former summer league teammate Marvin Williams of the Atlanta Hawks, who left North Carolina after one season.
“He said it was a grind,” Stuckey said. “You have to get used to being on the road all the time and motivating yourself for games because it’s a long season.”
He is also confident the Eagles will be successful without him.
“It’s all about them playing hard every game, coming out and playing hard in practice,” he said. “If they do that, they’ll be contenders for the Big Sky tournament next year.”
Stuckey had an interesting twist on the memories he’ll take of his time at EWU.
“Just being around my teammates, they’re always fun to be around and being around the coaching staff, basketball,” he said. “Cheney is not the ideal place, but it worked for me. It kept me focused and it got me where I am right now and that’s in a good position.
“I just want to say thanks for all the support people gave me here at Eastern.”