Charlie Parker has gone from being one of the best players in the NCAA Division II's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference to becoming a starter in the D-League for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Charlie Parker is proving players from PSAC can compete in the D-League.
If the rookie guard from Millersville decides to play in the league next season, he may be joined by a few other players from the NCAA Division II conference.
Here are three area talents that come to mind.
The creative Joe Jones has the complete package offensively and can play sound defense as well.
1. Joe Jones (Edinboro)
6-3, 180, SG, Erie
2008-09 stats: 21.4 PPG., 48.5 FG%, 35.1 3PG%, 69.3 FT%, 4.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 58 STLS, 14 BLKS, 109 turnovers. (Team leader in bold).
On if he’s even considering the D-League (Jones, who will receive his degree in business in May, is also considering playing overseas): I am. It’s another opportunity to showcase my game. I’m definitely giving it a thought.”
On whether he can play in the D-League: “I definitely think I can play at that level. Some people say they don’t know if I can, but I think I can go out there and play against anybody with a little bit of time and getting used to what’s going on. Adjusting to the different style of game and the different speed they’re playing the game.”
On a recent conversation he had with Parker about playing in the NABC Division II All-Star Game last week in Springfield, Mass.: When we talked this weekend, he talked about playing in the All-Star game and how it would benefit me. He said when he played in the game, it opened some doors for him and that it was a great accomplishment for me.”
On whether seeing his older brother, Lester Jones, not make the Erie BayHawks after trying in a free agent camp would deter him from trying to make it in the D-League: No. My brother has a great game and I know what he’s capable of doing. For them not to pick him up, I think it was more of something that they had going on or something that he wasn’t able to do. I’m not really worried about why they didn’t pick him. It’s not going to affect me because I think if I’m given an opportunity, I’m going to take advantage of all of it. My brother and I have two different games. He’s a great player and he developed my game today from just playing against him, but I think my game is a little more structured and it might fit the D-League than it would have fitted him. In either case, he wants me to make it and all hats off to me if it comes to that just like when he was purusing that. I want him to make it just as well.”
The gritty Kyle Goldcamp plays with great zeal, but being 6-10 and a lefty also makes him a tough cover.
2. Kyle Goldcamp (Gannon)
6-10, 230, F/C, Pittsburgh
2008-09 stats: 18.9 PPG. 59.1 FG%, 67.4 FT%, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 30 STLS, 36 BLKS. 56 Turnovers.
On if he’s even considering the D-League (Goldcamp, who will receive his degree in Biology in May, is also looking at playing overseas): “Oh absolutely. It would be a great experience to be a part of. I saw a couple of games (of the Erie BayHawks) and it was just fun. It would be a great experience.”
On his pursuit of graduate school and how that would factor into his decision on whether to play professional basketball or not: I would like to pursue graduate school eventually. I’d to pursue a Master’s in secondary education. I want to teach and coach eventually, but if I can do that now and be able to play basketball, that would be great. If not, I’ll put it on hold until basketball runs its course.”
(Essentially, Goldcamp is looking at the idea of either playing in the D-League with the Erie BayHawks and going to graduate school at Gannon or playing overseas)
On what he would have to do to compete on that level: My position would change. I’d no longer be a center. The guys there are not only bigger than me, they’re also taller. I’d be undersized playing the center position so I’d probably have to move more to a power forward position. I’d have to able to shoot outside a lot better and be more comfortable handling the ball. So probably work on those two things more than anything.”
On hearing Erie coach John Treloar having an interest in inviting him to training camp next season: That definitely adds to the confidence level a little bit. It’s a heck of a compliment coming from him especially. So yeah, if that’s opportunity is there, yeah, I’d love to try it and see what I can do.”
Although small in stature, Mercyhurst point guard Brian McTear has the quicks to blow by defenders.
3. Brian McTear (Mercyhurst)
6-0, 160, PG, Los Angeles
2008-09 stats: 14.5 PPG. 38.7 FG%, 29.7 3PT%, 69.9 FT%, 3.2 RPG, 4.8 APG, 49 STLS, 6 BLKS, 86 Turnovers.
On if he’s even considering the D-League (McTear, who will graduate with a degree in communications in May, is also considering playing overseas): “I’d say most definitely. I’ve pretty much shifted my focus on going overseas if I didn’t have other opportunities, but any time you have an opportunity to stay in the United States and play in front of NBA franchises and put yourself in a good position, that’s definitely something you can’t turn away from or not even consider. So definitely just looking at the options and evaluating that decision. It’s something I’m definitely thinking about.”
On keeping up with the D-League: “I haven’t caught an Erie game, but I’ve caught a lot of games at home. I have NBA League Pass so I’m able to see a lot of games. I have a couple of friends who played in the D-League so I kept up with them. (While in college at Portland, McTear was a teammate of Pooh Jeter, who played for the Colorado 14ers and Darren Cooper, who is with the Los Angeles D-Fenders).
On whether he could play in the D-League: Being the point guard that I am, I think the pro game is a lot more spread out. It’s a lot less gimmick defenses like some of the defenses I faced this year. I think I’m pretty good off the pick-and-roll. I think anytime you have a point guard who played in college, I think the transition to the pro game would be easier as opposed to maybe a big or a shooting guard. So I’d definitely say with the position that I play and how I play the position, I definitely think I could play in the D-League.”
