Local players bypassed in draft
Though they starred in Big 5, Temples Khalif Wyatt, La Salles Ramon Galloway must now hope to sign on as undrafted free agents.
KHALIF WYATT and Ramon Galloway had Big 5 senior seasons that will be remembered for years, big baskets in big games at big moments, huge scoring games against difficult opponents.
It was more than enough to reserve a special place in Big 5 lore. It was not enough to hear their names called at last night's NBA draft.
Temple's Wyatt has a unique game that nobody in the NBA thought was worth a draft choice. Does not mean they are right. Does not mean he won't get a chance to make a team.
Galloway, the better athlete, looks a bit more like an NBA player, but nobody thought him worthy of a choice, either. Like Wyatt, he should get a chance, too.
Wyatt's varied offensive game, his ability to see the game and his belief in himself are his best selling points. Galloway's unlimited range, explosiveness at the rim and ability to find the open man are why he will get a look.
Wyatt almost certainly will be on somebody's summer league team. Galloway would have been, but if he is, it might not be until later in the summer as he recovers from a sprained ankle. He was injured during his workout with the Wizards in early June and had to cancel seven more workouts that had been scheduled.
"I really think that hurt him," La Salle coach John Giannini said. "He's been guaranteed a summer league spot by several people. I wouldn't have been shocked if he had continued to work out for teams if he could have snuck into [the draft]."
Saint Joseph's junior C. J. Aiken gave up his final season of eligibility in March. He was always a longshot to get drafted. And that longshot did not come in.
