The impression Greivis Vasquez made in his NBA workouts was solid, and his message was perhaps the best quote of the pre-draft circuit after his run with the Wizards: “Let’s make that clear. Greivis Vasquez is not going overseas. He’s not playing in Europe. I would rather get my education and get my degree if it comes to be going overseas. I want to work hard to make it to the point where I will be a pro one day. But it’s not going to be overseas right now.”
On Sunday, Vasquez was named to the preseason All-ACC first team. He finished second in the ACC preseason player of the year balloting, 19-15, behind Duke’s Kyle Singler, but he actually got more All-ACC votes, appearing on 45 of 48 ballots while Singler was on 43.
Maryland was picked to finish fifth, behind Duke and UNC (a first-ever tie for 1st in the 41-year history of preseason voting), Clemson and Georgia Tech.
The last Maryland player to be named to the All-ACC first team at the end of the year was Steve Blake in 2002-03, which ended a run of five straight years in which at least one Terp earned that honor.
While we’re here, a reminder that Vasquez also had a great quote about the position he plays after his Verizon Center workout: “I’m going to do whatever the coach wants me to do, but I’m a point guard. I’m a 6-5 point guard. It’s not me trying to be cocky or anything like that. It’s just me telling people the position that I play. Some people get confused because I’m 6-5, that I’m a three guard or a two guard. I want to lead the team. The best part of my game is my passing abilities so. Let me run a team. Let me lead a team. Don’t make me score 40 points, 20 points a game.”
NBAdraft.net currently has Vasquez projected at 37th overall in the 2010 draft, just outside the first round. It’s pretty clear the Venezuelan is probably not cool with that. Nothing like ample motivation for him individually and for the Terps as a team. What does that all add up to? We can’t wait for Vasquez this season, which begins Nov. 13 vs. Charleston Southern.
