Friday, June 30, 2006
The former Boardman High and Ohio State standout still likes his chances.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Terence Dials didn't hear his name called during Wednesday's NBA draft, but that doesn't mean his pro basketball dreams are over.
Dials, a Boardman High graduate and the Big Ten player of the year at Ohio State last season, will likely sign with an NBA team as a free agent in the next few days.
"My agent is contacting some teams and I'll be on a summer league team, which should give me a better chance of making an NBA team," said Dials, who is represented by Octagon, a sports agency based in the Washington D.C. area. "In three or four days, I'll know a little more."
Free agent best chance
Dials, a 6-foot-9 power forward, knew there was a chance he wouldn't be selected in the draft and said in the days leading up to the draft that his best chance might come as a free agent.
But he still held out hope that he would get selected.
"Anything's possible," Dials said Thursday. "I thought the first or second round was a reality, but there's a lot of guys who didn't get picked up that I played against. We're all going the same route now with free agency."
Dials averaged 15.3 points and eight rebounds a game to lead Ohio State to a 26-6 record and the Big Ten's regular-season title with a 12-4 mark last season.
He spent the months leading up to the draft working out for several teams. If he doesn't make an NBA roster, he could play in the National Basketball Developmental League, which is the NBA's minor league.
Teammates also waiting
Three of Dials' teammates also have hopes of becoming professionals.
Je'Kel Foster and J.J. Sullinger have been working out for teams, hoping for a summer-league contract, and Matt Sylvester likely is headed for Italy.
Sylvester grew up in Italy and maintains a passport and thus would not count against a team's cap of two Americans.