The feelings remain strong, pushing Chris McCray to this day. He left his Maryland teammates in a bind this past season. Now he wants to make amends.
So he’s pushed himself the past two months, working out with former NBA star John Lucas each day in Houston. He’s not only trying to impress an NBA team, he’s trying to erase the memory of his senior season when he was ruled academically ineligible in January.
“It definitely motivates you,” said McCray, a Capitol Heights native. “I let those guys down and that anger is all built up in me. If I’m tired, I go for another half hour just because of what I did. I won’t let myself down no more.”
On Thursday, McCray and Georgetown’s Brandon Bowman were two of five college players who worked out for the Wizards, who have the 18th and 48th picks in the NBA Draft. Both players will participate in the pre-draft camp in Orlando June 4-10.
Miami’s Robert Hite, Colorado’s Chris Copeland and Delta State’s Jeremy Richardson also attended yesterday’s workout.
Bowman, a 6-foot-9 forward, has also worked out for Sacramento, Utah and Golden State. McCray, a 6-5 guard, has not worked out for anyone else. In Houston, he’s working out with Richardson, Texas’ Daniel Gibson and NBA players Mike James, Steve Francis and T.J. Ford.
“I wasn’t in the [NCAA] tournament so my stock dropped automatically,” McCray said. “I have to work two times as hard.”
Meanwhile, Bowman said his game, based on athleticism, might be better suited for the NBA rather than college, where he played in a more structured offense.
“Here, you get the opportunity to show what you can do,” he said.
That’s all he wants.
“You dream about it when you’re a little kid,” he said, “then you get the opportunity and you don’t want to blow it.”
