NBA

Older McCollum tests NBA waters after success abroad

Josh Weir
josh.weir@cantonrep.com
An outstanding season in Greece this past year has created a buzz about Errick McCollum in NBA circles, highlighted by an invitation from the Denver Nuggets to play for their Summer League team in Las Vegas, July 11-21.

Overlooked and underestimated much of his basketball career, Errick McCollum has made it downright impossible to ignore him any longer.

Even the NBA is paying attention to the player who has been best known as C.J. McCollum’s older brother.

An outstanding season in Greece this past year has created a buzz about the elder McCollum in NBA circles, highlighted by an invitation from the Denver Nuggets to play for their Summer League team in Las Vegas, July 11-21.

It is just another step of progression for a kid who blossomed late in his high school career at GlenOak, had to go the NAIA Division II route in college and spent the first three years of his pro career in relative anonymity.

“You’re never satisfied,” said McCollum, 26. “You’re thankful and you’re blessed for everything God has given you, but at the same time you want more. It doesn’t matter what level.

“I always say, when I don’t want more, I think it’s time to stop playing.”

McCollum’s stock has never been higher. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard led the Eurocup in scoring at 20.2 points a game playing for Greek team Panionios. He also led the Greek League’s top division in scoring at 17.7 points a game, earning the league’s Import Player of the Year.

“I think it’s safe to say he’s one of the fastest rising guard prospects in all of Europe,” said Andrew Morrison, McCollum’s Philadelphia-based agent. “Some of the biggest teams in Europe and the Chinese teams aren’t inquiring unless you’re very, very good.”

Since returning to the United States at the beginning of June, McCollum has participated in minicamps with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings. After visiting his brother, who endured an injury-plagued rookie year for the Portland Trailblazers, McCollum is off to a minicamp with the Houston Rockets.

McCollum is a rarity: a high-level player in his mid-20s who basically is an unknown to NBA scouts.

He didn’t play significant AAU ball in high school. His four years of destroying the competition at NAIA Goshen College (Indiana), where he scored a school-record 2,789 career points, didn’t seem to catch anyone’s attention.

After two years in less-reputable Israeli leagues and spending the 2012-13 season playing for a junior team in Greece, McCollum emerged onto NBA radars with his play this season in the Greek A1 League, “which has a ton of history and is widely respected by everyone,” said Morrison.

“This spring, when I started to call people, it was amazing how many people were aware of and intrigued by Errick. It was very much their first glimpse of him.”

Greece was where McCollum was allowed to play point guard, something he feels was crucial to his NBA chances.

The NBA and many of the top international teams aren’t interested in 6-2 wing players. So McCollum felt he had to show teams he could play the point. That continues to be a goal this summer as he showcases himself.

“I think teams know what I’m capable of scoring-wise,” he said. “... I have multiple scoring titles in my career overseas. So I have to go there and show them other things.

“I’ll still be myself and be what got me there. But I think it’s an opportunity for them to see that I can defend and that I can create and set up the offense.

“If I’m fortunate enough to make the NBA, my role wouldn’t be scoring 20 points a game. I’d be a role player, a piece that fits into the puzzle.”

Morrison learned of McCollum from ESPN of all places. He saw the highlight of McCollum jumping over an opponent to dunk in a 2010 college game. The stunning jam made SportsCenter’s top 10 plays.

Morrison, who was beginning his career as an agent at the time, reached out to McCollum’s coach at Goshen and eventually signed him after McCollum’s senior season.

“I saw the kid had talent, but you still have questions on if he was beating up on weak competition,” Morrison said. “So we take him to this exposure camp in Las Vegas, and he goes up against this kid that had averaged 15 points a game at a Division I California state school. And Errick, without mercy, scored on him at will. I’m thinking, ‘Oh, wow, I might have been right.’ ”

What struck Morrison was the individual skill set. Much like his brother, Errick is a polished offensive player with a deadly shot, a scorer’s mentality and an array of moves.

“When NBA people ask me about Errick, I say, ‘You went through the pre-draft process. If you liked C.J., you’re going to like Errick,’ ” Morrison said. “He’s an inch shorter, a little lighter, but their games are so similar.”

The two brothers have been best friends for years and remain close. Interestingly enough, they both will participate in the Vegas summer league. Their respective teams aren’t scheduled to face each other, but that could change in tournament play.

“It would be so weird,” Errick said with a laugh. “I already told him, ‘It’s no prisoners if you and me match up with each other. I’m going to try to make my name off of you.’ ”

McCollum credits his brother, his parents and his agent for their support in this journey through professional basketball the past four years. He now has no shortage of options even if the NBA doesn’t work out.

“The biggest thing for me is I just wanted to try,” McCollum said. “I don’t want to be a guy who didn’t even try. Then you’re older and you’re thinking, ‘Could I have made it?’ ”

Reach Josh at 330-580-8426 on Twitter @jweirREP

Position  Combo guard

Age  26

Height  6-2

Weight  170

High School  GlenOak

College  Goshen (Indiana)

Career pro stats

Season    Team    PPG    FG%    3pt%     FT%    RPG    APG    SPG

2010-11    Netanya (Israel) Premier League    2.9    32.6    26.3    80.0    0.7    0.5    0.2

    EuroChallenge    4.2    41.2    35.3    60.0    1.3    0.3    0.2

2011-12    Hapoel K/S (Israel)    24.3    49.4    30.4    80.1    7.9    2.9    2.2

2012-13    Apollon Patras (Greece)    15.1    42.1    30.8    76.5    2.8    2.4    1.6

2013-14    Panionios (Greece) A1 League    17.7    41.0    39.3    80.8    2.8    2.6    1.1

    Eurocup    20.2    44.1    30.9    81.3    3.2    3.1    1.4

Errick McCollum