|
MaTT4281
Posts: 33818
Alba Posts: 4
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #538
USA
|
http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/17815.htm
By MARC BERMAN
July 8, 2004 -- Before he left for Southern California yesterday for his Kobe Bryant recruiting trip, Isiah Thomas got to see the kind of athlete that region can produce.
Second-round pick Trevor Ariza, out of Inglewood and UCLA, put on a open-court show during a four-minute stretch of yesterday's summer-league scrimmage that reporters were allowed to witness.
The 6-7 Ariza, who played one year at UCLA, grabbed a rebound and sprinted out on a fast break before being fouled in the lane. He later scored on a driving dunk and an offensive putback. He then made an interception to spur another fast break, though ended up throwing the ball out of bounds.
"I'm very impressed with Trevor," Thomas said of his first Knicks draft pick. "Extremely impressed."
Ariza was selected 43rd overall, though had he stayed at UCLA one more season he would've been a surefire first-rounder, if not a lottery choice. Ariza, who has to work on his strength and halfcourt game, looks graceful enough in the open floor to make the Knicks as 15th man, and there's talk Thomas may even give him a guaranteed contract when it's all said and done.
"I feel I'm in place," said Ariza, who turned 19 last week. "I made my decision. I can't live in the past. Obviously, they showed interest in me. If I do what I'm supposed to do, I can make it."
*
Agent Aaron Goodwin told The Post the Knicks are "absolutely front-runners" to re-sign free agent Vin Baker despite interest from other clubs.
|
