Jordan prepared to reach his goal | Tulsa World
Jerome Jordan will be watching Thursday’s NBA draft with family and friends in New York City.
Just miles away — at historic Madison Square Garden — the former Tulsa star is hopeful that he will be selected by an NBA team.
“That’s been the goal from day one, just to get drafted,” Jordan said Tuesday.
“To come from nobody to getting on a few people’s radar to hearing my name called, it would be a dream come true.”Jordan has been projected from anywhere between a late first-round pick to a second-round selection.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, during a recent teleconference, was high on the 7-foot center.
“He is probably one of the two or three most skilled big guys in the draft,” Bilas said. “He has got great hands. He is smart … he is terrific.”
Bilas did, however, question Jordan’s motivation on the court during his senior season.
“He’s not as aggressive or assertive as he should be,” Bilas added. “He should have been more dominant. But, at the end of the first round, I would take him in a heartbeat because he could help you.”
Tulsa hasn’t had a first-round selection since Steve Harris was picked by Houston in 1985. The Golden Hurricane’s last selection came in the 1999 draft, when Chicago selected Michael Ruffin in the second round.
Jordan said he has been told he could be drafted anywhere from late in the first round to anywhere in the second round.
“It’s still a wide range, but all it takes is one team to like you,” Jordan said. “I think I’ve impressed enough teams that I have a good shot to go early.”
Would it be a disappointment if he wasn’t taken in the first round?
“Yes and no,” Jordan said. “Right now, I just want to get drafted and put in a position to play and show what I can do. I would be a little disappointed, but just hearing my name called would be a great accomplishment.”
Jordan began this week not aware of what direction his life was headed. On Friday morning, his future will be plotted.
“It’s tough (not knowing), but in the end all of the hard work will pay off and I’ll stick with it,” Jordan said. “I’m blessed to be in this position right now and I’m excited to see what happens.”
