Utah State basketball: Carroll signs on with Nets

When his name was not announced during last week's NBA draft, Utah State's Jaycee Carroll wondered where he might get his shot at making a roster.

The best fit, after mulling over a handful of free-agent offers, is with the New Jersey Nets. Phoenix and Toronto also extended invitations.

"We spent two or three days talking, negotiating, who is making the best offer," Carroll told the Uinta County Herald, his hometown newspaper.

"More importantly, which situation was the best for us and would provide the best opportunity for me to become a player, a full-time member of that team."

Carroll joined the Nets on Tuesday to begin practicing with the team as it prepares for next week's 5-game summer league in Orlando.

"I think the thing that was a little surprising is that he is a deceptively good athlete," Nets director of scouting Gregg Polinsky said after Carroll worked out for the team on June 16. "When you say athlete, that's thatis all relative, but I think from what he's heis been cast to be to what he is, he leans more on having more athleticism in certain areas than we realized before. With the way he shoots the basketball, not only the Nets but also a number of teams have to look at him if it's itis a need they have to address."

Carroll will play in the Utah Jazz-hosted Rocky Mountain Revue at SLCC in late July. The all-time leading scorer in Utah State history, Carroll was the WAC player of the year and a two-time honorable mention All-American. His size — a 6-foot-2 shooting guard — and age — he's 25 — worked against him despite his credentials and having led the NCAA in 3-point shooting last season.

"I can see myself coming in and being a guy that spots up and knocks down some open 3-pointers," Carroll told media after his Nets workout on June 16. "I could spread the court so there are driving lanes for some of the guys that are drivers to finish real strong. I see myself developing into a nice combo guard who can distribute the ball and get other guys open at the same time."

Carroll tried out for 11 NBA teams in pre-draft workouts.

Still, he is hoping to impress the Nets or another team enough to be offered a contract for the upcoming season.

"I'm trying to get a guaranteed contract that would be a full-year contract," Carroll said. "We're going there with that mentality."

Carroll will be competing for a spot on the roster that already has guards Vince Carter, Maurice Ager, Devin Harris, Marcus Williams and Darrell Armstrong as well as second-round draftee Chris Douglas-Roberts out of Memphis.

The Nets games from the Orlando summer league will be webcast on njnet.com and orlandomagic.com.

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E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com