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Sean Singletary ‘s fearless approach easily won over Virginia fans. |
Two Februarys ago, Sean Singletary and I settled into a pair of blue seats in the bottom rows of University Hall for a one-on-one interview about what was becoming a highly successful sophomore season. Somewhere along the way, I posed a question comparing Singletary to Dwayne Wade and Allen Iverson.
Singletary? He shot me a sideways glance and chuckled out loud. I grew to know that reaction as a Singletary signature when he found humor in a reporter’s question. In this particular case, he just didn’t see himself on the same talent level as two of the NBA’s best. As I explained at the time, I meant more on the “relentless heart” scale than anything else, a trait Singletary admittedly admired.
Soon, Singletary – along with Sacramento Kings fans – will get to make an up-close comparison, relentless heart or otherwise. That’s because Singletary joined Roger Mason Jr. as only the second Hoo to be drafted this decade when the Kings made him the No. 42 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
“I knew I was going to get picked. It was just a matter of when. I did really well with my workouts and with the Orlando pre-draft camp so I definitely knew I was going to get picked,” Singletary said. “I thought I could go later in the first round … but the way the point guards were picked early [I knew it would be later].”
As it played out, Singletary was the seventh point guard/combo guard selected in the 2008 draft. He knew when Charlotte selected D.J. Augustine in the top 10 and when Indiana agreed to deal to acquire T.J. Ford that he would be picked later in the night. He had a hunch it would be the Kings. Not that the Virginia star saw it all unfold. After watching some of the earlier picks in the draft, he turned the TV off and went to a friend’s house where he eventually received a phone call to learn the news.
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Sean Singletary walks with his parents prior to the Senior Night game against Maryland. He put on a show that night with 27 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. |
“When I got the news, I called my mom and she was very excited,” Singletary said, something that is easy to picture for UVa fans that saw Singletary’s mom on Senior Night in the John Paul Jones Arena. The Singletary family was all smiles that evening against Maryland as Sean put on a show worthy of what morphed into a jersey-retirement party.
Of course, those same Cavalier fans might be scratching their heads when it comes to Singletary’s draft position. After all, when looking beyond the numbers – and being the only player in ACC history to record 2,000 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds, and 200 steals would seem to be reason enough – it is clear to Virginia basketball supporters why a team should have drafted Singletary. He plays hard every night and he hates to lose, no matter the circumstance. Take a glance at the CBI film if you doubt it.
More tangibly, he can get his own shot, create off the dribble, and is quick enough to defensively pester ball handlers with short bursts of speed, something even easier to do on the NBA level with a 24 second shot clock. He helped his team share the ACC regular season title as a junior and helped the program win its first NCAA Tournament game in more than 10 years that same year.
By the end of his career, Singletary had been a three-time captain and a three-time first-team All-ACC selection. He ranks in the top 10 in Virginia men’s basketball history in career steals (second with 200), career assists (third with 587), career three-point field goals made (third with 222), career free throws made (fourth with 573), career scoring (fifth with 2,079 points), and career field goals made (ninth with 642).
Production? Physical skills? Ability to help a team win? All checks. He even impressed scouts, who had questions about his ability to run a team, at the Orlando pre-draft camp. Still, pick after pick went a different direction.
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Sean Singletary will get a chance to show his leadership skills for the Kings. |
Did Singletary grow annoyed with the trend? Is it something that will motivate him as he starts his pro career?
“It will definitely motivate me, but I wouldn’t say I was annoyed. Being the competitor that I am, I was a little disappointed. … Everyone that got picked deserved to get picked and got picked for a reason,” he said. “I wasn’t annoyed at all. I’m happy with the situation that I’m in and I’ll definitely have a lot of motivation from where I was picked.”
The roster situation with the Kings certainly seems to be favorable. Beno Udrih is the only true point guard currently on the roster and he is being courted by other teams as the only starter-worthy unrestricted free agent in a market light on starter-caliber point guards. If he is offered a high amount on the NBA salary scale, Sacramento is not believed to be in the market to match.
While the Kings may, and will likely, bring in some veteran guards to see if they fit the team’s needs, the scenario could not have played out better for Singletary. Whether Sacramento re-signs Udrih or brings in another vet to take his place, it is unlikely that the team will fork out money for two journeyman-type veterans in a slim market. That means Singletary will have a good shot at making the team as a back-up guard at the very least.
“They’ve got a couple of guys and one natural point guard. I’m happy about that,” Singletary said. “I was kind of disappointed that I went so late because I knew I was going to be drafted I had so many good workouts and I did so well at camp. But with the situation I’m in for where I was drafted, I couldn’t be in a better situation for coming in and playing.”
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