Wilson is ready for pro audition

Former UAlbany guard at Portsmouth Invitational

Three weeks after playing his final game for the University at Albany, Jamar Wilson will resume his basketball career tonight for ... Norfolk Naval Shipyard?

It might sound obscure, but it's a first step Wilson hopes will lead to big things professionally. Wilson is participating in the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament, an event that will allow the 6-foot-1 guard to showcase his skills for scouts from the NBA's 30 teams.

"I'm really excited," said Wilson, UAlbany's career scoring leader with 2,164 points. "I'm ready to get going. It's been a long (three) weeks since I played, so I'm going to put the shoes on again and get after it."

Wilson, one of 64 players invited to Portsmouth, will play for Norfolk Naval Shipyard in the eight-team event that began Wednesday night. Wilson is guaranteed at least two games and perhaps more if his team reaches Saturday's championship game.
The tournament gives Wilson a chance to measure himself against players from bigger basketball schools.

Wilson's teammates include University of Massachusetts forward Rashaun Freeman, a Schenectady native, and Ohio State guard Ron Lewis, who played in Monday's national championship loss to Florida.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard plays at 9 tonight against Norfolk Sports Club, whose roster includes Florida center Chris Richard and Big Ten scoring champion Adam Haluska of Iowa."It's going to be a high level of competition, and that's something I look forward to," Wilson said.

The odds are against Wilson reaching the NBA. Of the 64 players invited to Portsmouth last year, nine are on NBA rosters. Four were selected in the draft's second round, and five signed as free agents.

Wilson has hired an agent, Michael Whitaker of Washington, who said the goal is to play well enough to be invited to the more prestigious NBA predraft camp May 28-June 3 in Orlando.

"Unless he comes (to Portsmouth) and plays awful, I believe he will get an invitation to the (Orlando) camp, as well," Whitaker said.

Wilson also can earn invitations to individual workouts with NBA teams that begin on June 5 and run until the draft on June 28 in New York. "I think (Wilson) has a great chance of playing at the next level," Whitaker said.

Wilson, a combination guard in college, has to show NBA teams he can play point guard exclusively. He also said he needs to showcase his outside shot.
Wilson will be accompanied this week by UAlbany assistant Pat Filien and then coach Will Brown, who said Wilson needs to assert himself.

"He's got to go down there and be very aggressive and make plays," Brown said. "He's got to play like we're playing Vermont in the (America East) championship game. This is his time to shine."Wilson said he's not going to pressure himself because he knows playing overseas is an option. "I'll be playing somewhere next year and put some money in my pocket," he said.