Waiting To Hear My Name Called: Blog By Jared Cunningham
June 27, 2012
Jared Cunningham left Oregon State after his junior season when he declared for the NBA Draft at a press conference on April 9. The 6-foot-5 guard concluded his Beavers career with 11 school records, 13th all-time in scoring, second in steals and is expected to be the first Oregon State player drafted in the NBA since Corey Benjamin in 1998. Cunningham will provide an occasional blog about his road from student-athlete to professional basketball player before and after the draft, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 28 and will be televised live on ESPN at 4 p.m.
It's the day before the NBA Draft and I can't believe it. It seems like yesterday I was a little kid playing hoops in Oakland. I was like everyone else who picked up a ball. I dreamed of playing in the NBA. Dreamed of jumping like Michael Jordan. Shooting like Reggie Miller. Passing like Magic Johnson. It's so surreal to think I'll be drafted in the NBA tomorrow.
I've worked as hard as I can to be ready for the draft. I've done everything I needed to do and now it's up to the teams to decide. I can't control where I get drafted. It's kind of nerve wracking, but this is what I have worked hard for. All I can do now is wait to hear my name called tomorrow night. I thank God for giving me this opportunity and for being blessed.
I'm going to watch the draft at my agent's house in Los Angeles. My parents and my sister are coming down to watch it with me. So it'll be cool to share the moment with them. After I'm drafted, I will go straight to the team for a press conference and meet the staff. I'd like to wear #1 if that number is available since I started wearing it when I was a freshman at Oregon State. I'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'm nervous, but excited for tomorrow. I've waited my entire life for this moment and can't believe the time has finally come.
NBA Draft Combine
The combine had 60 of the best players in the country there and it was cool hanging out with a lot of them. I was there for four days and it was a great environment seeing all of the NBA executives and past players. The interview process was really long. For a couple of days, I had to interview with some of the teams. Coach Robinson was there and it was great to catch up with him.
On the first day, we did a bunch of drills to showcase what the teams wanted to see. They put me with the point guard group and I think I had a good showing. Everybody was staring at you so it was one of the most intense points of the camp. A lot of the drills were the things we did every day at practice at Oregon State. So I felt comfortable with the dribbling and pull-up jumper drills. The only thing missing was Coach Pomeday yelling at me. LOL.
On the second day, I strained my hamstring just a little bit. If I wasn't able to go 100 percent, I felt like I shouldn't participate. I got great responses from people about my showing at the combine on the first day so I didn't want to push it.
Back To Los Angeles
After the combine I went back to L.A. to relax and enjoy my time before the draft. I got shots up every day so I'm ready to go when I report to the team.
Meeting A Beaver Legend
I had a chance to meet Lester Conner who played for the Beavers when they were the No. 1 team in the country. I had a great talk with him. We are both from Oakland so we were joking around about that. He talked about his time at Oregon State and told me he was one of the players to win Pac-10 Player of the Year. I told him I was close but didn't get it. He talked about how much he likes the pictures of him hanging in the locker room. I told him hopefully one day I will have one of me next to his.
Practice Facility
I watched the video on the groundbreaking for the practice facility online. That place will be great for the team and help get good players to Oregon State. I laughed when I watched Roberto speak. He looked nervous but he did a good job. I can't wait to see the practice facility when it's done. I wish it had been there when I was at Oregon State. Maybe they'll put a picture of me up in there. LOL.
I really want to thank everybody that helped me get to Corvallis and everyone who made my three years at Oregon State so great. My goal is to make everyone proud and make people realize I made the right decision to leave after my junior year. I know people had doubts. But Coach Robinson and Coach Stewart, Coach Pomeday and Coach Grace all got me ready for this day. I'll get back to Corvallis whenever I get a chance and I'll always be a Beaver. Be sure to watch the draft tomorrow night!
Go Beavs!
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