![Alex Poythress with Dawn Staley, WNBA President Lisa Borders, and Myles Turner. [Photo: @WNBAPrez]](https://i0.wp.com/www.vigilantsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Poythress-Staley-Borders-Turner-at-Fever-game-.jpg?resize=664%2C429)
Alex Poythress with Dawn Staley, WNBA President Lisa Borders, and Myles Turner. [Photo: @WNBAPrez]
There he was, sitting on the baseline on the visitor’s end of the floor taking in professional basketball. In less than one month, he’ll be on that very floor trying to prove to the Pacers, or any of the 30 NBA teams for that matter, that he can play in the NBA.
June was disappointing for Alex Poythress as the four-year forward out of the University of Kentucky did not hear his name called at the 2016 NBA Draft. He was one of 42 prospects brought to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for a pre-draft workout with the Pacers.
See Also: Pacers sign Pythress, Julyan Stone
His visit was the Pacers’ sixth workout (of seven) and he went against other notable bigs: Maryland’s Diamond Stone (40th overall) and UNLV’s Goodluck Okonoboh (undrafted).
Poythress has been in Indianapolis for the last several weeks.
“I’ve been here a couple of weeks just working out and doing normal workout stuff,” Poythress told VigilantSports.com Tuesday night as he sat courtside to see the Fever and Mercury of the WNBA square off.
“Things are going good. Going through the draft process, [the Pacers] really liked me. I’m just trying to make best of this opportunity.”
I didn't know Indiana had tornados
— Alex Poythress (@AlexTheGreat22) August 24, 2016
Poythress has been working out daily with Pacers players and coaches. Attendance has been high and the play has been competitive.
“All of the other players are here. All of the coaches have been in here.”
The 22-year-old says he is fully healthy and excited for camp. He plans to remain in Indianapolis over the next four weeks to familiarize himself with the Pacers in preparation of camp.
[Pacers six-game preseason schedule set]
A roster spot will be hard to come by for Poythress and whoever else is in training camp. The Pacers already have 15 guaranteed contracts for the 2016-17 season. The likely play is for Poythress to be with the team in camp and the preseason, and then move two hours north in Fort Wayne with the Mad Ants, the Pacers’ D-League affiliate.
“I’m not sure about it,” he said. “I’m just trying to compete everyday and am playing hard to make a spot. All I wanted was an opportunity.”
At the @IndianaFever game. pic.twitter.com/Ti8qFegkm9
— Alex Poythress (@AlexTheGreat22) August 30, 2016
[…] Poythress isn’t discouraged about his NBA dream despite being bypassed on draft night, writes Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports. The 6’7″ forward, who spent four years at Kentucky, recently signed a partially guaranteed […]