From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz: Ex-Syracuse star to attend training camp
Though the Jazz have not yet released a full roster for their five-day session, Gerry McNamara has accepted an invitation to train with them at their upcoming Boise-based camp, his agent confirmed Wednesday.
The former Syracuse point guard, Cougar followers might recall, torched BYU for nine 3-pointers and 43 points in the Orangemen's 80-75 come-from-behind win in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2004.
The 6-foot-2 McNamara was a teammate of Denver's Carmelo Anthony on Syracuse's 2003 national championship squad and finished his college career as one of Syracuse's all-time bests. He received Honorable Mention Associated Press All-American recognition as a senior in 2006.
McNamara went undrafted out of college and headed to Europe after playing for the Orlando Magic's summer-league team in '06. He most recently played professionally in Latvia after pit stops in Greece and the D-League.
"He's looking at it as an opportunity to play in the NBA and you take it from there. There are no promises, but you never know," Neff said. "He knows the odds are long, but he's just looking at it as a step in the process of maybe making the NBA down the road."
McNamara, Neff said, can take encouragement from the situation of one of his clients, Troy Hudson. He wasn't given much of a chance to make the Jazz in camp, either, but then John Stockton got hurt and he got an unexpected chance. Hudson's experience with the Jazz, the agent believes, later helped him land a job with the Los Angeles Clippers.
"It helped to be with the Jazz, so I think that's what I'm looking for," Neff said. "You never know what can happen out of these things. ... The Jazz have always liked Gerry."
McNamara will be on what the agent called a "make-good" contract and will be paid weekly for his time with the Jazz.
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor was unavailable for comment.
The Jazz training camp runs from Sept. 29-Oct. 3 at Taco Bell Arena on the campus of Boise State. Utah's first preseason game is Oct. 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
E-mail: jody@desnews.com
Recent comments
How Gerry has not made an NBA roster is unreal to me. His career he...
Chris | Sept. 3, 2009 at 3:21 p.m.
I totally agree with Jeff Gerry is a great player and any team would...
Kevin | Jan. 6, 2009 at 3:08 p.m.
Gerry is all heart and there isn't a team out there that couldn't use...
Jeff | Nov. 3, 2008 at 8:05 p.m.
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