Siena Men’s Basketball: Hasbrouck works toward shot in NBA

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Kenny Hasbrouck had his No. 41 jersey retired by the Siena College basketball program on Monday, and he gave a heartfelt farewell speech to over 400 guests at the team’s award banquet.

Hasbrouck isn’t quite ready to head off into the sunset, though.

Instead of winding down his playing career, he’s actually cranking it up with the hope of landing on an NBA roster, which isn’t likely to happen through the draft in June, but could come through an invit­ation as a free agent.

Hasbrouck has been working out and working on his game, and has hired agent Giancarlo Funiciello to shop his services around the league. So far, the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors have shown the most interest, Hasbrouck said.

“If I don’t get picked, I’ve still got a good shot,” he said.

Hasbrouck was the first alternate for the 57th annual Portsmouth

Invitational in Virginia three weeks ago, and made it to the tourn­ament, which draws eight teams of eight players each, when a player dropped out.

Despite suffering with the flu that week, Hasbrouck scored 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting with four steals in the first game, scored 14 points (5-for-11) in the second game and seven points in the third.

His teammates included Wes Matthews of Marquette, Jon Brockman of Washington and Ben Woodside of North Dakota State.

Matthews and Brockman were named to the all-tournament team.

“It went decent,” Hasbrouck said. “I think I did OK. The last game, nobody passed the ball. The team concept was definitely out the window for the last game. Everybody was thinking, ‘I’m just getting mine now.’ When I got it, I shot it.”

The Web site draftexpress.com, which ranks NBA draft prospects by class, doesn’t have Hasbrouck on its list of 80 players, which

includes Matthews (13), Brockman (20), and Woodside (36). Former Siena player Jack McClinton of Miami is ranked 23rd.

The Saints’ Edwin Ubiles, who is

not entering the draft, is rated

No. 40 on the junior list.

That hasn’t deterred Hasbrouck from treating the upcoming summer as an opportunity to make an NBA roster.

“I’m just working out, trying to polish my game, shooting-wise, dribbling-wise, trying to be ready for that call,” he said.

Funiciello, whose agency, GCF Sports Management, is based in California, has represented the likes of Rodney White, Jameel Watkins and Ajani Williams.

White, from UNC Charlotte, played in the NBA for Detroit, Denver and Golden State from 2001-05, and has played overseas in Spain, Italy, China, Puerto Rico and Israel.

Watkins, a former Georgetown player, has played professionally in the Philippines and China, and Williams made the Orlando Magic training camp roster in 2004 and the Atlanta Hawks’ in 2005, but did not make either team and is retired.

“It took me a while to pick an agent,” Hasbrouck said. “It’s just a big trust issue for me. I had a couple of meetings with a few of them. When it came down to it, I went with the guy I trusted the most, and the guy my coaches and trainer and parents trusted the most.”

At 6-foot-3, 194 pounds, Hasbrouck is undersized compared to most NBA shooting guards, and he comes from a mid-major program and conference that don’t get much attention from NBA scouts, although Siena has been to the second round of the NCAA tournament the last two seasons and played at the Old Spice Classic last November, which drew scouts from every NBA team except the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hasbrouck is facing long odds to get a hard look from the big leagues, but that’s his focus, not the prospect that he might wind up playing overseas.

“I’m not thinking that way yet. Until I don’t make it, I’m thinking NBA,” he said.

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Categories: College Sports